<p>Didn’t catch this thread until today. I am hoping that today went okay.</p>
<p>We have all had jobs that didn’t fit and bosses that were difficult, or work environments that were toxic. I had one of those jobs that had all three of those! It was still hard to leave, even though I knew the boss’s right hand assistant didn’t like me and made my life unbearably difficult at work. Whether we left of our own free will or were let go under duress, fired or laid off, it’s still just really hard.</p>
<p>My thoughts are with you. Looking forward to hearing how it went.</p>
<p>Well- I’m back. He terminated me- no option to resign. Gave me two weeks of pay and the three weeks of unused vacation. He would not offer more. It was all said and done within 20 minutes. He took my keys, relieved me of my duties immediately and told me to set up time with one of the deacons (who happens to be my best friend) to get in to get my things. The HR rep was there who assured me this wouldn’t hurt my chances of getting another job within the Archdiocese. (Yeah, right)</p>
<p>Anyway- it’s done. I will call my pal the deacon and set up a time to get my stuff. I have a lot- I decorated all the open areas of the department with my personal belongings as well as my own office stuff. </p>
<p>I said goodbye to the HR rep. I ignored the pastor. The pastor let me out the back door and as I left, the religious medal of our parish’s patron saint fell off the keychain. He looked to see what it was that fell and as I picked it up, I said- St,xxx,. pray for us.</p>
<p>Do you think your deacon pal will be able to tell you what their reasoning is? It must be really frustrating not to be told the reason, though I suppose, oft times, the real, emotional story is never conveyed to the employee, but rather a justifiable reason for labor laws.</p>
<p>How can he refuse to tell you what the complaints are, and at the same time tell you to “fix it”? </p>
<p>It sounds like you love working for the diocese, and today must have been very painful. I am so sorry that this situation (and what sounds like a very difficult priest!) are preventing you from doing that.</p>
<p>maybe the HR is right. for your future employment interview, you need only to direct the new potential employees to the HR department, they can verify the emplyment with the HR and not with the pastor directly.</p>
<p>lafalum- I recognize that I have been working in a dysfunctional environment for some time. The pastor is unable to articulate the complaints against me and has been unwilling to get the complainers and me into the same room together to hash anything out. I have asked for meetings with those who complained to try to hash things out. The pastor refused. </p>
<p>artlover- the Church, even at an archdiocesan level, is a very small place. HR is unlikely to involve itself in parish hiring practices. It is common knowledge that a pastor will call the preceding pastor about the potential employee. I do agree that outside potential employers are likely to only get date of hire, date of termination and no other info. </p>
<p>I have worked for the Church for quite some time. And I have to say that there are good pastors and bad pastors. Neither one of them has any real experience in personnel matters, but the good pastor seeks and accepts the benefit of wise counsel. The good pastor recognizes that his job is to bring people together to resolve differences. The bad pastor wants to keep everyone happy and ultimately ends up satisfying no one. His day is coming- I know. And I also know that my reward will be great in heaven, cuz it ain’t here right now on earth. </p>
<p>My guess is that my former employees will freak when they hear of my departure. They apparently like to complain, but I know they won’t want to do all the work until he can find another fool to take this job. And I know he doesn’t have a Plan B.</p>
<p>This makes me so sad and irritated at the same time. I can not imagine how you must be feeling! I would never be able to do it, but the ultimate would be to walk into church on Sunday and make him look you in the face while delivering the Word of God! For those members of the parish that inquire about you leaving, simply smile and say ‘I have no idea, you’ll have to ask the pastor. If you find out, be sure to let me know.’</p>
<p>As I said, I’d never have the personal strength to do it, but it would serve them all right to have to continue to face you, knowing what they did was wrong. People have disagreements. It’s human nature. We also come together like adults and solve them, or at least agree to disagree and leave it at the door.</p>
<p>Again, I wish I had something more substantial to say. I have to think the pastor knows it was wrong and it will stick with him a long time.</p>
<p>Well, I don’t have anywhere else to go on Sunday! The pastor will be on vacation this coming week, but I have every intention of continuing to go to mass there weekly, if not daily. </p>
<p>If anyone asks, my answer will be- I don’t work here anymore. And I really don’t want to talk about it. If you want to know more, Please ask Fr.xxx, the pastor.</p>