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Working Moms
I need someone to care...
I recently obtained a job at a law firm as a legal secretary. During the interview I did not mention that I have a child. They did not ask and I did not bring it up. Well 2 months into the job I was told that I am not a "good fit" for the firm and once they found someone new I was no longer needed. I was concerned it had to do with me missing several days due to my daughter being sick, but I was reassured that was not it. When I asked for details they just said I was not a "good fit" and this is not a 9 to 5 job. They have never asked me to work over and I
stopped taking a lunch break because no one else does. They told they would pay me for four weeks and let me keep my insurance to the end of April even if they found someone before then. They also said that they would give me a good recommendation and would allow me time off to interview other places. I am surrounded by girls without children or women with grown children. I have never been fired from a job and have good recommendations from my previous jobs. All I can figure is that me having a family makes me not a "good fit"; however they know better than to say that. I am into my third week and it is miserable. I have an interview tomorrow and I am a nervous wreck. My husband is currently unemployed and if I cannot find work by the end of April my daughter is without health insurance. Thank you for listening and if you pray please keep me in your prayers.
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Re: I need someone to care...
I don't mean to sound insensitive but If your husband is unemployed why did you need to miss several days because your child was sick? Absences in the first three weeks don't look good. They may be less concerned about why you missed than they are about the fact you were not at work.
My twins are 5! My baby is 3!
DS#2 - Allergic to Cashew, Pistachio, Kiwi
DS#3 - Allergic to Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts and Sesame
I don't think they're lying and even if they are, you can't do much about it. They're lawyers, they'll be careful not to incriminate themselves.
Sounds like they're an "all hands on deck" and they didn't find you a team player with the absences and not working alot.
It might be that having a family makes you a bad fit, but it is what it is. Having a family makes you a bad fit for being a nun too...it's just the job.
For health insurance, look into COBRA insurance. Expensive, but can get you through in a crisis. Or look for a high deductible health plan in the case of an emergency. At this point with 2 unemployed parents, someone needs a job even if it's delivering pizzas.
Having worked in law firms for well over a decade, you very well can be a bad fit, regardless of your family status. I don't mean this as an attack on you, but a bad fit is a bad fit. I wouldn't automatically assume it has anything to do with your being a mom. Sometimes it just doesn't work out the way they hoped it would. It sucks, but I hope you're able to find work soon. Good luck!
It is hard to even find a job at somewhere like Wal-Mart (I have worked there in the past) if they know you are looking for other employment. My husband graduated from law school and with that on his resume it makes things difficult. They know he will not stay if he passes the BAR. If he leaves that off then he has to explain 3 years of unemployment.
I am working with a temp agency to find a full time position. If I cannot find one in two weeks then I will start doing temp work. My husband is also working with the temp agency to find employment. They informed him that it will be difficult to place him because of his circumstances, we find out his results in 3 weeks.
I would have been more than glad to work over. I was never asked to or given assignments that I was unable to complete within my shift. I have never been in a job where they did not talk to people before letting them go. If they would have told me what I needed to do differently I would have changed.
I got a call from daycare onmy 3rd day at my new job and they didn't care. My hubby stayed home the next day because I started is new job and I had to leav early a week later to bring dd to the dr. I felt bad and let them know and she said it was not a big deal. amply First. You don't want to somewhere that won't fit into your. I do agree though that if your husband is unemployed then you should not have stayed home.
Thank you!
Uggg...that sucks. But I agree with another poster who said if the company culture is that rigid then it probably would not be a good fit for you. I hope you and your DH are able to find great jobs soon.
My twins are 5! My baby is 3!
DS#2 - Allergic to Cashew, Pistachio, Kiwi
DS#3 - Allergic to Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts and Sesame
Sorry you are going through this ...
If you are worried about health insurance, particularly for your daughter, you might want to call/email your state's insurance commission. They may know of programs that would work for you in this time of uncertainty.
Just as an example, I live in Washington State, but had been on Canadian health insurance because of DH's job. I got pregnant as we were making the transition back to the states. The insurance companies were telling me that my pregnancy might not be covered because I had been out of the country and they considered that to be an insurance gap. Long story short, I got the coverage I needed (so far; we'll see if they cover L&D, as they hinted that they might not) but also learned a lot of things along the way.
The part that might be of interest to you is that Washington state has a program called Apple Health for Kids, which offers low-cost or free coverage, depending on your family's income/size of family plugged into some formula. Maybe your state has a similar program.
I don't have any advice but I wanted to say I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers and I hope you and your H find awesome jobs very very soon!
#1 I absolutely care, and I am sorry that this happened to you.
#2 Just because they are lawyers DO NOT assume they are operating within the scope of the law. Are you in a right to work state? was there a letter of agreement or any information regarding warning or termination procedures given to you when you began your employment?
#3 Were you offered COBRA as an option?
#4 You can ALWAYS get a new job, you can't get a new family. If they have to be put first they have to be put first.
My father was the VP of HR for a major banking corporation who often had to untangle messy situations like this that in many instances began with professionals thinking that because they know the law that they understand HR practices and procedures.
In doing my research about telling my new job I am pregnant, I read an article earlier today that talked about this exact situation. I will copy the relevant link below and share the pertinent excerpt as well:
"In the last decade, a new workplace concept has been identified: Family rights discrimination, which means discriminating against an employee who serves as a caregiver to a family member. The number of cases filed against employers has increased 400 percent in the last decade...."
https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25414034/ns/business-forbes_com/t/when-tell-boss-you-are-pregnant/#.T3I1IdluAgk
Just to share a little bit I had a great fast track job as a marketing manager that I loved, I was indispensable, and literally got to run an entire district.
My son had asthma, Ricketts, fell OFF the weight and had repeated hospitalizations despite everything we did to treat him for two years before I finally had to quit to be a SAHM for a year to get him on track.
I now am severely underemployed, am about to short sell my house and have borrowed thousands from my parents and in laws, and am dreading telling my mom that we are expecting again.
But you know what? My son is healthy! he hasn't been in the hospital for a YEAR (knock wood) he is growing and thriving. That would be the case if I had not done what I did.
Your work can be your passion, but your family is your life. Have faith, have hope and walk in there tomorrow secure in the fact that you CAN do the job. GOOD LUCK!!!