Fired for an insane reason

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I had recently had a sit-down with a therapist whom I've nicknamed Manny Misdiagnosis behind his back. That being said, I compiled a list of behaviors and experiences for him to review, but also so I didn't forget important things to mention when he asked me the million questions.

One of the things I wrote down on the list was,

I was friendly at this job. I was always nice to people. I did my work and I got it done on time. I had a friendly tone, an optimistic attitude, and I only got edgy when something wasn't working (I was the secretary but I was also in charge of maintaining the office's computer network... which is not my forte) or when people would just walk behind my desk and start fumbling through my stuff (just ask me, I'll get it for you). I was always on time and never complained about working weekends or holidays... or not getting paid any overtime pay (even though it was illegal for me to be an exempt employee). I also only took one sick day in 6 months which was sorely needed since I had a 106.7 degree fever and couldn't even hold a cup of tea, my hands were shaking so badly. It was really scary. The next day, my fever was at 101.3 so I took DayQuil and went to work.

But the boss's wife - who half-arsed ran the office when she was motivated to pop in - really did not feel that I smiled enough for her liking. She had a meeting with me, wherein I pointed out how much I work, how well I work, how little I am paid, how much people like me (a client actually bought me in flowers because he yelled at me for something the boss's wife did and didn't realize I wasn't the one who screwed him over. he felt bad and had a bouquet of flowers delivered with an apology card.) and that other than pointing out the facts of this situation, I don't complain. But, three months later, I still hadn't met my smile quota and I was canned.

The boss agreed to let me say that my employment was terminated because they reorganized the office structure. In interviews I play it off like I'm not sure what that means but it ended up being two part-timers doing my job for less money combined (which is actually true). That always plays well in interviews.

But still... I was fired for not smiling enough.

(And, if you look at my avatar, do I look unfriendly or unapproachable when I'm not toothy smiling? Not at all. Nobody ever thought I was unfriendly.)

Have you ever been fired for a reason that makes no sense to you?

While people do get fired for incredibly stupid reasons, I'm wondering if perhaps you were actually fired because she was actually jealous of you or insecure and worried that her husband might have a thing for you.

I got fired from a Food Lion for 'destroying customer property'.

It was late at night, I was the only cashier, there was a long line and a lady paid with a check. Food Lion requires a driver's license for checks and she didn't have hers. I thought she asked me to destroy the check, but it turned out she wanted me to wait for her to drive home and get her license (presumably driving without a license in the process...seriously, am I the only person who knows you are supposed to have your license with you while driving?).

As far as I know, its just ridiculously easy to get fired from retail.

PS - If your boss let you say you got laid off, there may have been a disagreement over whether to fire you.

I agree. I don't buy the "not smiling enough" story. There was probably something else going on, or she didn't like you for some other reason (like Chronos suggested), and the smiling bit was just her excuse. You certainly don't look mean or unapproachable in your avatar.

There was one time when she got really weird because I needed to scan a photo of him for the website they told me to build for the company. This was real estate and he was the broker so it was kind of important that his image has to be present on the website for people to make a connection. She just was really weird about letting me have to photo to scan, like I wanted it for myself or something. It was just odd.

There were also other people in the company (he brokered a franchise of a bigger company) who were sleeping with their secretaries, other realtors, clients and so on. There was always hot gossip after a convention.

But my boss never flirted with me. We didn't have lunch, he didn't buy me anything, there was nothing. I obviously would have never smiled at him. But I'm not in her head so who knows!

I would expect to be fired for that, even if it was a genuine misunderstanding (and it would have to be because who destroys a check unless they think that's what they're supposed to do?) Did she ever return to the store?

This was years ago and I definitely was terminated. I could have gotten unemployment but I was really just so pissed off at the incident and preoccupied with getting another job (I started work at a new job the next day) that I didn't think about that.

You can drive without your driver's license as long as you have a license in existence. An officer will cite you for the violation but you will not be prevented from continuing to drive from the very spot the officer gave the citation. It's not like not having current registration on a vehicle or driving on a suspended license. Sometimes people forget things, like the little card that conveniently proves to anyone who you are and that you're legal to drive a car, but it would be unreasonable to expect her to phone a friend for a ride back to her house because she suddenly can't drive without that card in her pocket.

Sometimes I wish I could wear a Burkha just so people wouldn't keep telling me to smile.

I got fired from a fast food resteraunt when I was younger when I told a woman to stop sucking Arbys horsey sauce from a bottle that was kept where the customers can put it on their sandwiches.

I have a hard time smiling it comes off as a smirk and makes me look like a smart ass.

Ewww! I'm glad horsey sauce comes in individual packets now!

That was back in 1986 so odds are you not old enough to even like it. The woman did get upset with my boss for firing me so I guess she was not all that bad just nasty.