I may be getting fired??

My CEO called a meeting with me today to "discuss my annual review", which really, as it turns out, was to tell me he has a decision to make and he may let me go??

I had a GREAT annual review, btw, and I've had great performance in my year there.

So it turns out that it has to do with my A-hole boss misconstruing things I've said to him and whispering in the CEO's ear. My boss, I have now figured out, IS TRYING TO GET ME FIRED.

I am beside myself!

So I tried to clear up the misconstrued info with the CEO today, and then separately and later on, with our HR representative as well.

She told me that what I had to say about everything is very different than what she's heard.

IF I lose my job, I am screwed financially. I am stressed beyond belief.... and the fact that this wouldn't be performance related??????

I also have NO recourse legally IF I am let go. I am an employee at will, which means they can fire me without cause.

ARGH!!!!!!!!

Just trying to receive some support right now since I am so upset and distraught...

I hope the situation turns out better than you fear.

Thanks so much.... right now, I have NO clue. The CEO said let's talk again next week. So he's (in the meantime), thinking about what I said and is making his decision. Talk about being on the chopping block!

What gets me the most is this has nothing to do with my performance, and everything to do with things I've said to my boss, which he totally turned against me. I was told, by the CEO himself, AND My boss, that if we're not happy in our positions, that we should speak up and say something..... and that they will try to accommodate us. Then, when I did say something to my boss about not being as passionate about my role, they turn it around against me and may lay me off or fire me???? This company is VERY two-faced.... and my boss also made it seem like I cannot handle anymore work when my plate is lighter, and that is point blank NOT TRUE. I told the CEO this is not true... so I am fighting against a boss who clearly wants to see me get fired and a CEO who really likes me. He told me this twice in our meeting today... that he likes me a lot.

Anyone out there? I really could use support around this... my anxiety is through the roof.

@goldeneve I am so sorry about this. I learned the hard way that when a superior says you should bring concerns to them and they will try and make it better than its basically a lie. They would rather you STFU about it all and work. And in your case for whatever reason your direct boss is threatened by you. Didnt you say your boss was basically trying to take credit for your good work? If you have made your case to the CEO I would sit on that and wait so you do not give the impression that you are justifying. I will tell you what though if you are asked to leave I would ask the CEO, not your boss if you can ask for a good reference or referral. Make sure that your next job will not be sabotaged by that boss asshole.

Did you ask him what you need to do to not get fired? I asked my last boss that near the end, and he was like, no that ship has sailed.

What work do you have scheduled for today / next week?

I'm sorry I haven't been around much this week due to a seminar that I'm taking. I'm sorry to hear things are going like this at your work.

I'm sorry to hear you are going through this. I really hope it's not as bad as it sounds.

My boss has threatened me and another co-worker with firing because of not meeting the arbitrary production targets, which are honestly useless - when one woman can constantly publish updates with the boilerplate language saying we couldn't find information, and those count as much as an update with real information, they are BS. Anyways, we are both still here over a year later, the veterans as my colleague calls us.

Maybe it's just an empty threat. You said he seemed to be threatened by you, maybe it's a way to take you down a notch? It sounds like the CEO supports you. In small companies, as you said this is, the CEO may make the ultimate decision.

I'd definitely continue to job hunt. Hopefully something better will come your way soon. You do need to get out of there, but, obviously, it's much better if you leave with something else lined up.

I hope things work out in your favor.

^^This 100% I agree with because I've been through this exact scenario multiple times in previous jobs.

Anytime a supervisor tells you to bring your concerns to them DONT DO IT - they say that to vet out the employees they perceived as a threat to their "rule" if you will; employees who hold others accountable and who strive for a healthy, functional workplace are viewed as 'threats' to supervisors since its the supervisor's job to make sure the workplace is a place where employees are held accountable and respect each other. But most supervisors don't like it when their employees point out problems or weaknesses in their own dept.,. by one of their employees.

If you are fired by the CEO, ask the CEO for a job referral and NOT your boss. I agree with Sarah that from your other posts about your boss, that person is the wrong person to act as your job reference since they have tried to sabotage you and take credit for your work at your workplace.

You've become a target b/c you stood up for yourself. Sad isn't it, that employees who try to hold their bosses to the same standards they're expected to hold, get fired or put on the chopping block? It's toxic American work culture at its finest: "every person for themselves." That's the American way in the workplace today. It's pretty disgusting.

Thank you all SO very much. I really appreciate each of your replies, support and input!!!!



Yes, my boss has tried to take credit for my work, he has downplayed my achievements, and he made erroneous statements in my review about my efficiency level. It's the CEO who ultimately hired me, not my boss. My boss wasn't even in his position as a Director until after I was hired.

And yes, I've pointed out an inefficiency in the department and improved that process for the whole company. But I didn't go to my boss, he was out of the office, and I went to HR about it instead, which resulted in a big meeting about it between myself, the CEO, my boss and HR. It all turned out positively in the end, but I think my boss has had it in for me ever since and I became his enemy ever since.

I am still employed as of today and have to talk to the CEO again next week. It is then that he will have made his decision, if he hasn't already. I've pleaded my case with HR and with him, separately, and like I had written above, tried to clear up the misconceptions that my boss had made to them about me.

I went to work today as usual and did my work as usual.

It really is "every man for themselves'. It's SO disgusting. And I am one of the top performers in my whole department, with a glowing annual review that says I am an asset to the team.

Unreal!!!!!!

Thanks for the update. My department (boss, really) encourages an every man for them self sort of enviroment too. I have a lot of knowledge that would be useful to share with my co-workers, but since my boss devalues me and these things give me a competitive advantage, I only dole it out in certain situations, like with the other "veteran", I help her with Portuguese sometimes. I feel like I have to keep my competitive advantages. It's really sad. More collaboration would help everyone, I think.

It's usually the company's top performers who are most at risk of losing their jobs for being 'insubordinate' aka good employees. The terrible employees seem to have job security. Not sure why it works out that way, but it ALWAYS works out that way.

This thread makes me want to rewatch the comedies Horrible Bosses 1 and Horrible Bosses 2 for some comedic relief.

My experience is that anyone who takes a complaint to HR, no matter its validity, is in danger of losing their job afterward.

Ugh. That really is very sad, Rechu. And I am sorry to hear this. I just don't get it. I see it over and over again whereby upper management does not foster great teamwork OR a collaborative environment.

I told my CEO that we're lacking true leadership in my field within my dept. That my boss is a former Web developer... we don't have a Director of SEO anymore.. they fired him early on in my tenure. I also told the CEO that a part of my disgruntled state has to do with lacking that leadership that I sought when I was first hired. In order to keep my job though, I also stated that I hope my SEO colleague who was promoted above me can step into that role more.... that was to save myself from being TOO honest. The guy above me who was promoted really has less experience in our field than I do, however, so I don't consult with him too often.

LOL... those are great movies to watch right about now.

Yes, it does always work out that way. I will never understand it.

I've never seen that happen, but I'm sure it does happen. I knew later on that it was a big mistake. I made an enemy of my boss..... but the end result was positive. And I know full well, had I gone to my boss only, that nothing would have been changed or overhauled. SO ironic.

Oh, it happens. To me, it did:

1. I went to HR to complain that my supervisor promoted a fellow call center representative to another department despite the fact I'd been there longer and she had only been working there less than one month. Within the week, HR notified my supervisor, so he put me on a 2-week 'disciplinary plan' (for what, I did nothing wrong!) and then fired me, without giving a legitimate reason since I live in a 'fire at will' state.

2. I went to HR to complain that the man who trained me to engineer the weekend shift at a local radio station had sexually groped me and sexually verbally harassed me. The radio station director called me into his office and fired me, accusing me of making it all up.

3. On a long-term substitute teaching assignment, a student punched me both in the face and the stomach after running amok around the classroom (this student had a reputation for violent outbursts at this school already that the principal was aware of but ignored). When I reported this student to the school principal, he fired me on the spot, citing 'poor classroom management skills.'

There's more but those are the top three I can recall.

So yeah, it happens.

That is atrocious!!!!! OMG, I am dumbfounded.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with these people AND this world????????? Why is it SO corrupt and just assbackwards?????????? That makes me angry on your behalf.

I may need to create a whole new thread on work injustices!

[QUOTE=golden_eve;6586571Seriously, what the hell is wrong with these people AND this world????????? Why is it SO corrupt and just assbackwards?????????? That makes me angry on your behalf. [/QUOTE]

I am sorry golden but this world is corrupt, always has been and always will be. Best that you learn that now.

There is no justice.

If you choose to be an employee... never ever complain to anyone but trusted co workers at work.

HR doesn't work for you.. they work to protect an employer from law suits. Best way to do that... be the first line of person to complaint to and then, they know who the "malcontents are" and then they fire them.

HI @Emily Fox Seaton. Thanks, but I am well aware of how corrupt this world is. I am not naive. Your post is almost offensive. I am 48 years old and I have been working for 25 years full time. I am fully aware. I am simply exasperated by all of it. Plain and simple. And people have varying views on HR and on going to HR. I have found in my experience that it CAN benefit a person sometimes. And it has in the past for me. So I disagree with you on that as well.

I'm going to just say it here and now. I don't feel there's anything wrong with ME. It's this toxic organization that is incestuous practically, with loads of favortism, nepotism, and the like going on, plus a boss who is clearly threatened by me. I don't feel I have done anything to deserve this. I work hard, I am a big success with my clients, and I do a great job. I have a strong work ethic, I am moral and I am respomsible. The only thing that may have rocked the boat in the wrong direction was going to HR about a work process when my boss was out of the office. I did not know or realize that it could potentially backfire wiht me with my boss. That was the one mistake I may have made. But other than that, I've been an awesome employee and most certainly do NOT deserve tot be freaking fired.

Since you have a negative view of your employer ("toxic" etc.) and are wondering if you are going to be fired, have you started applying for other jobs?

You know I support you and am totally in your corner, rooting for you. Some thoughts to try and help you make it through til a better gig comes along:

Is it possible that you are coming off in a way other than you intend? It may be worth it to take feedback from your colleagues on how you occur for them and see if that's how you intend to occur. This is in no way an insinuation that you are intentionally doing anything or anything less than what you stated. But we often think we are behaving one way while others perceive us a different way.

It could also be that your idea of an awesome employee is different than your boss's or the CEO's. It might be worth it to ask them what they would say an awesome employee is and see if you are matching up to what they want for an employee. That is, if you want to try and make things work at all or at least to keep your job until you find a new one.

Hang in there. You are incredibly skilled and talented. If you can learn to work with others who don't have your level of integrity and work ethic and not get bothered by them (and in this case, based on the situation, not rock the boat) you will find a lot of success. And actually, as I typed it, that kind of would explain a lot, I think. It may be possible your boss views you as someone rocking the boat. No matter your skill set, if you're rocking the boat, that will put you in the hot seat.

You'll survive this. You are strong, and like I said, talented. Just have to keep treading water for a while longer.

Ugh. It is really unpleasant. So terrible.

I agree with tecomsin. You should search for a new job right now. Even if they failed to get you fired this time, they would try again later. It's such a toxic place. I know you need money, but you must also get out ASAP.

I know you're a smart woman and you must have documented everything. Show those evidence to the CEO, including the time when your boss tried to take your credits. I hope it would end well.