Advice Needed - I *think* I was fired/layed off

[CrunchyKnitter]

I don't normally post here, but I need some outside opinions and advice besides DH and my parents!

I have worked for almost 2 years for a CPA. Small firm, just him and I. I was his assistant basically helping during tax season, visiting clients' offices with him and sometimes on my own to do their bookkeeping things, etc. Great job, pay, great boss, flexible, etc. Wonderful situation.

Our office was about 20 min. from my house in a busy area of town where I always had other things to do as well anyway so it was convenient even though not super close to home.

This summer, just before I had my baby he closed that office and we planned to each work from home on the things we didn't need to be at the clients' offices for. PERFECT situation for when my baby came and I was very excited to be home, but making some money still.

Then he built a house about 30 min away from mine (in the middle of nowhere) and decided to rent office space there. Not cool. But I was going to deal.

So I am working up until the weekend I have the baby and we talk occasionally over the next few weeksto check in. His wife has their baby about 8-10 weeks premature so I checkin on them and of course realize he needs some time to deal with all of that and not talk about work.

My baby is 3 1/2 months now and about a month ago I sent him a text (how we communicate a lot, he bought me an iPhone) checking in on his new family and telling him "we need to chat about work stuff, give me a call when you have a chance".

I waited 1 week. No response (Keep in mind, he always has his phone on him and responds quickly in the 2 yrs I've known him).

So then I call and leave a voice mail. Same thing "I really hope everything is okay, I texted you last week and didn't hear back, we really need to talk about work - call me".

another week goes by - no response.

Now I'm worried about his baby and send an email. This time I left work out and just said that I was very worried and hope everythign isokay.

I get an email back 2 days later: "Got your messages, been busy running around, baby is good, how is yours blah blah blah". Then this at the end he basically says "probably the best way to stay in touch is through this email".

ummmm okay. Did I basically just get laid off? Who says that to their assistant who has now told you for 3-4 weeks I'm ready to come back to work after my maternity leave?

I'm so confused. I emailed him back saying I'm glad all is okay and asked about work and that was 2 weeks ago. I've heard nothing.

I filed for unemployment this week. I just don't even know how else to handle it. How am I going to find a job that is so flexible, I can do work from home, make such great money, etc? Not going to happen easily. I'm so annoyed with the way he's, apparently, handling this. It's very unlike him. If he really doesn't need me anymore, fine, but tell me! And he could have told me months ago while still on maternity leave so I wasn't sitting around for 2-3 months expecting to have a job to go back to. Or spent the last 4 weeks trying to get in touch with him and figure out what's going on!

If you made it this far, thank you...you deserve a cookie or something. lol

So what would you do in this situation? Do I have any sort of recourse? It's all so weird and out of character that I think I'm still dumbfounded and somewhat hurt. I was a great employee to him and helped me out a ton, he always told me that and showed me (with little bonuses, etc) so it's not like I totally suck. haha

[lolar2]

Do you have anything in writing about your earlier agreement? What about your original employment contract? Maternity leave contract? Or do you have old emails about those?

[CrunchyKnitter]

unfortunately I have nothing in writing (except the current email I wrote about) about our plans. No contracts of any sort. Very small firm with just him and I so there was nothing very official about any of it.

[JessieBird]

That's really strange. I think you need to ask him outright what his intentions and expectations are regarding your return to work. It sounds to me like something has changed and he is hiding something. Could it be that he doens't have enough work right now to be able to have you back (or some other kind of financial trouble) and so is avoiding you?

At this point you have nothing to loose by being bold and starting a frank conversation about your desire to return to work and when he expects you to start again. The worst that could happen is you find out that you are in fact laid off and then at least the wondering will be over. If texting is out of the question and he's not responding well to email, then it's time to phone. Better yet, is there a receptionist at the new office? Call and book time on his calendar if you can.

Good luck!

[CrunchyKnitter]

Originally Posted by JessieBird

That's really strange. I think you need to ask him outright what his intentions and expectations are regarding your return to work. It sounds to me like something has changed and he is hiding something. Could it be that he doens't have enough work right now to be able to have you back (or some other kind of financial trouble) and so is avoiding you?



Good luck!

After finding out via email that his baby is fine, I pretty much wrote back with that. Saying I was wondering what the work situation was with the idea of working from home, new office, etc.and to please let me know. No response.

No clue what the phone # is at the new office (or if he is even there, he was in the process of doing it and moving right before I went into labor so I'm not sure what really happened). I would have been the receptionist haha so unless he hired someone else, I doubt it!

I think it's more he decided he doesn't need me/restructured his business. Which is honestly fine at this point thought it leaves me without a job and (I don't mind, but DH and our bills do!) and finding one similar to this is going to impossible. I think it's just rude to not say either way and his "keep in touch" remark in the email made things more clear.

[Carita]

Did you just ask him about work? Have you asked him outright yet? Maybe you just need to say "I really need some hours now that I am ready to work again. If you do not need my hours, please let me know so that I can find other work. thank you" Or something a little nicer, but no less direct.

[Tofu the Geek]

In Canada, if you apply for EI (unemployment) your last employer is contacted to verify that you were laid off (and just didn't quit, etc.). If they do this in the U.S., he will be contacted and with the lack of/mis communication going on, this could lead him to believe that you no longer want to work (or he could be happy about the situation). Regardless, I think I'd give him a call (I think you need to speak to him directly on the phone or in person), and just explain that you are ready and willing to go back to work, and have asked about it, but have got the sense that he doesn't need you back. Ask him to confirm whether he wants you back or if you are laid off. If he says he no longer needs you, you may want to let him know that you have gone ahead and applied for unemployment, because if he tells them you quit, then you likely will not qualify (assuming it works that way in the U.S. as well, if it doesn't well then you can likely skip telling him about the unemployment part).

[greenemami]

I worked as an assitant in a similar set up, just he and I, and he e-mailed me about two weeks after I had my baby to tell me he didn't need me anymore. We didn't have any official contract either, and it really sucked for me, since we had planned for me to work from home/bring the baby to work with me (I worked from his home office). So, I can definiteily commisterate with you! Of course, I ended up managing to be a SAHM with several odd side jobs, so it worked out in the end!

You say this is out of character for him-did he usually avoid conflict? Because, yes, the lack of communcation does sound like he does not intend for you to continue working for him, but it also seems like soemthing else must be going on for him to completely avoid you like this. Any chance you can just go and see him at his office/house and kind of force a meeting so that you can find out what the heck is going on?! Good luck-again, I have been there and it is not what you want to deal with when you have a little baby at home!

[GuildJenn]

I'd get in the car Monday and go and talk to him. You don't have anything to lose. If he says yes, he's laying you off then I would ask for paperwork at that point. Good luck!

[Tofu the Geek]

Do you have an update OP?

[justKate]

PM'ed you, OP.