Fuck You, I Quit......

Ok, well, I've got all sorts of stories to tell, but I better let this one out of the bag since you've been hanging around and I haven't been writing anything lately.  I quit my day job a week and a half ago....  I know, I know, I just threw almost 13 years of career down the tube because I was tired of the bullshit.  The two handed push that sent me over the edge?  An email asking me if I was retarded because I put the paper in the scanner wrong, and a voicemail chastising me for taking a short lunch and leaving half an hour early....  Ugh.  That was all it took for me to pack up three boxes worth of shit and write this letter, sending it to my co-managers and senior management.....



My Time At Best 


I’m copying all of you on this so there is no misunderstanding as to why I quit my job today. 


First off, I think it needs to be said that when you guys let Janice go, this place went into the toilet. I understand budget cuts and whatnot, but you got rid of the glue that held Best together. She was the one person that the management staff could go to and get answers, as well as a voice of reason on many occasions. After she left, your management staff has been left out to dry with employees who think that as soon as they’re hired they’re entitled to something around here. I’m not sure if they have an inflated sense of self worth or what the deal is, but it’s ridiculous. Most of those people are gone now, but a few remain.

I would be remiss not to mention what has to be the biggest offender, Lynn Oberdier. She must have interviewed great or you really were that desperate, one or the other. You hired a sociopath when you hired that one and I truly believe it will be her that ultimately drives this company into the ground, whether it be from pissing off customers or a harassment lawsuit from an employee. If I were lesser of a person, I might be that one who filed the harassment suit. I’m not sure how many times the average person can hear about her daughter’s dead baby, her breast cancer, how her nipple fell off afterward and all the other ridiculously offensive things that come out of that woman’s mouth. Couple that with the fact that every time she speaks to you she gets right in your face and berates you for the lack of HER being able to do her job because she’s not properly trained in our procedures or that she has no idea what she’s talking about, still a year after being hired. She has no management experience whatsoever, let alone any people skills in general, which is kind of a problem in her position, which leads me to the other problem in this place, Shirley. 


I sit right next to her, nobody can tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about on this one. From the fact that she spends most of her days online shopping for wedding dresses and chatting on gmail, or yelling at whoever is on the other end of her cell phone in whatever her native language is, to her general lack of discretion at all, we really picked another winner here. Not only was everyone around me disgusted that she had no tact at all when talking about confidential things, now we all know what the starting wage is for several positions here and it disgusts me that we would hire people in making more than some people that do an excellent job already make. Hell, there are several occasions where I thought, damn, if a warehouse person makes that much, maybe I should just downgrade to work out there. Less bullshit than in the office for a decent starting pay? Yeah, I’m sure I’m not the only person on this side of the building that has thought that. Additionally, when asked a question about our benefits, “just go on the Paychex website” or “I don’t have any idea” aren’t really answers that fly with the general public, especially when you’re talking about their paychecks, retirement fund or health insurance. And while I’m dissecting her, she obviously doesn’t understand the whole eat your lunch in the lunchroom thing, because nobody wants to smell her food that smells like a week old outhouse, but for whatever reason, if I say something I’ll look like the bad guy on that one. 


BEST used to be a great place to work. I used to brag about how much I loved my job and how many opportunities I had here, not having to job hop like many people I know. Hell, my best friend has a job here that I recommended to her, you let her go and she STILL came back when asked. Now it’s just a place I come from 7-4 every day and keep my head down and do my work as not to offend anyone or get handed even more work. I used to be a go getter. The person who anyone could turn to and give a project and not worry that it would get done. I’ve learned my lesson and don’t do that anymore because I may get the job done quickly and do it right, but there’s always someone who’s going to complain about something. I mean, who complains when someone else is doing their job and doing it well? People here, that’s for sure. I’m over all of it. 


I stayed through the down times expecting that some day things would go back to the way they used to be. When employees felt a sense of loyalty and wanted to do a good job. When the good people were rewarded for their service and given a sense of accomplishment, not beat down and given more work because they’re completing their own work too fast. It’s become quite clear that we’ll never be that company again. Things are starting back on the right track, but we’re hiring people who are dragging the whole place down.

I can’t continue to be miserable like this. I want to be happy to get up in the morning and come to work and that’s not something that’s happened in a long time. 


All that being said, good luck and remember the company saying that I was reminded of just today “No person here at Best is indispensible,” so I’m sure that you’ll have no problem replacing me and probably paying that person more than you’re paying me. I’m sure that Shirley will make the announcement to candidates well known to this side of the building. I have left both my key and company visa in an envelope on Susan’s desk and changed my computer and email password to best so that if people need to use programs that are located on my computer, they can.

It’s been a pleasure working for Best for the most part and I thank you for all the opportunities you have given me for almost 13 years now.

Tara

P.S. I inherited the radio on my desk. I’m sure it’ll have no problem finding a new home. 

So that was it.  I left for lunch with the other Tara and as soon as I made it to the parking lot, I sent the email from my phone.  I shook a little as I hit send, but as soon as we got to the restaurant and I let Tara read it, I felt better.  Of course I cried for a minute.  I mean, I've been doing the same thing with my life since I was 20.  I thought that was the only place I was ever going to work.  I can tell you when I got my management position there, I didn't think I'd ever have to look for another job.  I loved it. 

When they started making cuts to the management and got rid of some of the really good people in the company, that's where things started to go downhill.  What's that been, 4 years now?  Something like that.  Two years ago, when they let the second wave of people go, that's when it became the worst place to work.  I've been keeping my head down and muddling through ever since, thinking I didn't deserve anything else and that I needed to stay because I had bills to pay.  That all changed on July 20th.

I make enough money at the bar to sustain my lifestyle.  Will it suck? Yes.  Having two jobs has afforded me the money to pay lawyer bills and some other things that I haven't been able to do in awhile.  My primary job paid my bankruptcy and the other major bills and the bar paid the lawyer bills and afforded me entertainment.  Oh well.  A week and a half later, I haven't had a sinus headache (which I've had every day for months now), I have a GREAT tan (from using my pass to the local water park every single day) and I'm happy.  For now...


I know I'll catch a ton of flack for this, but I cashed out my 401k and should have the check this week.  I'm paying off all my lawyers, paying forward on my bankruptcy and taking August off.  My plan is to be back to work after the long Labor Day weekend....  Maybe longer if other things develop in a timely fashion like they're supposed to.  Quite honestly, if I never went back to Corporate America, I'd be ok with that.  My kids would be upset because I'm cutting into their "hangout with friends" time, but sleeping until 10 or 11 every day and being a night owl, really suits me.  We'll just have to see what happens in the next month.....

Anyway, I started some other pieces of writing to catch you up on what else has been going on, but I haven't managed to publish anything.  If it was easy to take my computer to the water park and sit on my lounger and compose posts, I'd have something cranked out for you every day.....  For now, you'll have to settle for this and I promise I'll try to keep everyone updated on what's going on......

Go ahead.  Bash away.  Tell me how stupid I am to quit my job and to withdraw my 401k....  I really don't care.  I'm only 33, I'm cute, I have a ton of experience in all different areas of the office, a degree in business administration and computer science and almost 13 years working for the same company.  I'd say I'm marketable......  We'll see.....

Have a great week peeps.  If you need to get at me without leaving a comment, please use taranwake (at) gmail.com.