Suck it Up

I had to look back a few entries to see what I told you last about my job search and issues with Maryland Unemployment. Let’s start with MD unemployment and the rest will just flow from there. The question as to whether or not I would receive benefits was up in the air when last I left you with any news about my situation. Sorry about that, but frankly, I haven't felt like writing. MD unemployment was conducting a series of phone interviews between my former employer and me. The goal was to determine if my dismissal was my fault, thereby making me ineligible for benefits. They called me and I gave them my story.

They called my former employer, who delayed the process by saying that they needed time to pull records and talk to people. STALL! Unemployment called me back and rescheduled my rebuttal for a week later. They called me at the appointed time only to reschedule again for two days later. They finally spoke to my former employer and got their highly distorted side of the story, complete with a slew of “witnesses.” I told my side of the story again. The woman on the phone was very cold and she asked more than once, “why would your employer lie?” Finally she said, “well, I now have enough information to make a determination. You will be informed by mail in three to four days.” BY MAIL! TELL ME NOW!
She wouldn’t tell me anything else and then hung up. Well, that, as they say, is that, and I felt sure that benefits would be denied me. In the meantime I would “suck it up” as it had been suggested to me and go to an interview I had set up for a job at Arundel Mills Mall. How I came across this job is an interesting little story in itself. I was sitting home and had become very depressed. I needed to talk to someone and with Jenne at work, I decided to call Lynn. Lynn encouraged me to get out of the house and go for a nice walk somewhere. To get some air, some exercise and put in some time for meditation and prayer. I took her sage advice and went to Arundel Mills to walk laps, it being cchilly outside with a threat of showers. While walking I came across a table for the National Park Trust and they had a sign up that read, "employment opportunities." I figured that they were entry level jobs more suited to college students than me and I walked on. On my second time around I thought, what the hell, what do I have to loose? I stopped, chatted and left my contact information. A few days later I received a phone call and set up an interview not with the NPT, but with a company that coordinates fundraising initiatives for various charities. The position was titled “charity ambassador” and it is entry level more suited for college students, but they were very interested in people with management experience. So I went to the interview and pushed for a management position. The bottom line is that I, like everyone else who works for them, would start out by standing at a booth in the mall trying to get folks to stop, talk about and sign up for continued support for the charity of the month. Entry level with definite growth potential. Promotions are from within the ranks and only happen after you “suck it up” (my words) and pay your dues. Okay, not ideal, but I was facing the possibility of not having unemployment benefits, or a slim chance that I would get them. So I was looking at either $0.00 a week, or, if bennies would be awarded, $350.00 a week! The job I was interviewing for pays a little more than unemployment and more in this situation is good. There would also be flexible hours and time to continue my search for another job and go on interviews if fundraising didn’t pan out in a couple of months. I talked it over with Jenne and a few close friends and I decided to interview and accept the job if offered it, even if I was to be awarded unemployment bennies. My interview went great and I was offered the job and I have actually been doing it since Tuesday April 25th and liking it. Shortly after, I received "thee" letter from Maryland Unemployment. It reads as follows.

“DETERMINATION – The claimant was discharged on 3/27/2006 from XXXXX, Inc on 3/27/2006 because of alleged insubordinate, unprofessional behavior toward a supervisor. The employer HAS NOT PROVIDED SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THIS ALLEGATION OF INSUBORDINATE OR UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR. Insufficient information has been presented to show that the claimant’s actions constituted misconduct in connection with the work. As a result, it is determined that the circumstances surrounding the separation do not warrant a disqualification under section 8-1002 or 8-1003 of the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Law. Benefits are allowed, if otherwise eligible.”

The benefits are indeed “otherwise eligible” and a nice check was enclosed with the letter. I am vindicated! I was indeed setup, I was indeed ambushed and I was wronged by a major bee-otch! The dismissal was NOT my fault and not my doing! Legally though, and, yes, I have spoken to a lawyer, there is no legal action I can take against the former employer. Maryland is an “at will” (no pun intended) state. However, and in the meantime, I will continue to “suck it up” and work my charity job, which I do really enjoy. I hope that it does pan out to be something really good over the next couple of months, but in the meantime I will continue to look for better opportunities. Whether they be in the IT world… well, we will see. Make no mistake, I am still looking in the IT world (not test or QA), but I have expanded my search and networking into careers that will use my creative, artistic and people skills. I’ve known for a long time now that software testing and QA is not for me. Many of my friends knew it too and told me so on many occasions. I do it – did it – because I can/could, because it pays well and because it’s where others with good intentions and hopes for me saw me. It’s not where I belong, unless you like a depressed and suicidal Will. Me, I prefer happy, energetic and upbeat Will, even if he is a poorer Will.