My husband will likely lose his job soon
We survived the potential state shutdown recently but now, as I feared, my husband will likely lose his job. He has been in a position as a non-permanent employee for 2.5 years. That sure sounds permanent doesn't it? Well, for the state it isn't. He is not technically a state employee. They told him it would be made permanent the first year but they never got around to it. Now it is finally happening but he has lost out on two years of pay increases and time into state retirement.
The real problem is that he likely will not get the job once it is made permanent anyway. We have to compete for the jobs when they are made permanent, we don't automatically get to move into them even if we are doing the EXACT same thing and doing it well before. I was in this position. I took a non-permanent on the hopes I could eventually get the permanent position since it was an opportunity to move up. In my case it worked and I got the job.
My husband created much of the job he does now so there is literally no one in the world who has the experience he has. He has managed to keep judges and attorneys happy and work with the U.S. Marshalls as well as his regular duties of coordinating prisoner transport and dispatching the officers (who are Troopers) who move those prisoners. He is also responsible for security for the courthouse, which includes cameras, running elevators and doors (for safety the officers can't do it themselves) responding to panic buttons in the courtrooms, watching the courtrooms on camera etc. etc. etc. It is a huge job that requires access to federal criminal databases etc. and coordinating which prisoner going to which courtroom, via which holding cell and which officer. My husband is responsible for the movements of thousands of prisoners a year.
Most of the officers thank him and say they are so glad they are not doing his job since it is harder and more stressful than theirs. He is responsible for the prisoners and the officers. Where they go, when they go and their safety. He even gets calls directly from the prisoners in the holding cells when they need something and he needs to respond when there is a fight in the cells etc.
There is one officer however who would love nothing better than to get my husband fired. She was his trainer when he started. She disliked him since she doesn't like military people for starters. She also didn't like that he did so well in the job, she had to go back to being a regular officer. She lost her little fiefdom in the control room where she could boss everyone around. She also has the highest seniority of all the officers. She would hit him on the head when he did anything wrong when he was first learning (assault...he could have sued her back then especially since he was being hit by an officer with a gun, mace, baton, flack jacket etc and he had none of that). Yet, she concocted stories and tried to get him in trouble. He got sent home on administrative leave and got a letter of reprimand in his file...she should have been fired but wasn't. She was banned from being in the control room with him eventually though it took a year to clear his name and have the negative performance review removed from his file!
She also had lawsuits filed against her for mistreatment of the female prisoners and grievances filed against her by other co-workers. My husband has a co-worker that does the same type of job...he is on the third one now since nobody else can stand the abuse.
My husband has been very stressed and upset about all this and it goes against his nature to put up with such treatment. He only stays there since we need the income and it seems impossible to find another job.
Now they will hire permanent positions to replace the two non-permanent positions. This officer who gave him so much grief is on the hiring committee! How ridiculous is that? He heard them talking and saying there are 20 applicants in the pool that are better qualified than my husband and his co-worker now. If that is the case neither of them will even get an interview. There were over 80 applicants for the two jobs.
How is it such awful people skate by in life? She also used a state government credit card to buy personal items and hacked into the payroll system to change her paystub! She is like Teflon...everything slides off.
I think we can squeak by for awhile since we bought the 4-plex and spend so much less on rent and my job pays more than his. I just feel so bad for him though. He is a truly good, hard working, dedicated person and beloved by his co-workers. They even offered to be subpoenaed to testify in his defense when she tried to get him fired with false accusations. He doesn't deserve this.
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Very sorry to read this, and I understand how your husband must feel.
My husband lost his job in April. He was the only truck driver at his company and had to do a truck drivers course. The boss didn't want to pay for it, so he wasn't allowed to drive anymore. They hired a subsidized replacement for him, and he got fired because of he was over complete as a fabric floor worker.
He was mad as hell, in the first place, but now, after 3 months, he enjoys his early retirement very much:)
I am glad he could retire...my husband is a long ways away from that. He is 34. I am glad he is getting out of there though.
That's too young to retire:( I hope he will find himself a new great job. My husband has 41 years of duty and is 60.
Good morning Jessica,
I had really hoped this issue was gone but here I see it is not. I am very sorry to hear this as you will be the one to keep the show on the road till your husband finds something new.
My sympathy goes out to you and I wish you both good luck.
Regards, Taetske
We have a discussion and Toastmasters about why good guys finish last in the workplace and why jerks succeed so much. It is exactly the qualities of being a jerk that makes you a leader. I'll be making this post in the next couple of days. I have a lot of things in the queue and three websites that we need to get done by Friday.
By the way I worked at the DOJ for 12 years. I have seen some low-level employees who do have grievances. For me it was a $60,000 a year second job. Or as I like to call it sideline.
Thanks. Yes, it does seem to be that you can't be too careful at work. You have to be ruthless with putting your interests first until you know can trust people!
Jessica, I am so sorry this is happening to you and I also wonder at how people like the lady who is abusive skate by in life!
Life if not fair! We'll be thinking of you and yours and hoping for a better turnout than you could imagine at this point. Funny how much difference a day can make and you never know what is just around the corner!
Keep us posted and thanks for being candid about what is going on. Hope it can be resolved and this distraction be put in the past.
Lynne
Thanks Lynn. Yes, it just doesn't seem to make sense! I am sure there will be a better outcome though. Anything would be better for my husband than continuing to deal with that place! He is overworked, underpaid and not appreciated by management (which is continually changing so no one knows him!).
In the end, we all get our just desserts. This female officer will eventually get hers. I am convinced that karma exists. Your husband sounds like a good man. Another door will open although it's hard to see the door at this particular time. Tell him, please, chin up and keep moving forward.
He is...can you imagine a U.S. Marine having to put up with this treatment? Thanks Pablo! We have been invited by his friends here to go watch the fireworks at midnight for the 4th. It is Alaska in the summer so it never gets truly dark but midnight is the best we get!
Wishing you all the best and hope things work out fine for your hubby though it seems that he is over qualified and would be difficult to have him removed from his job. Indeed, there are many jealousy individuals out there that will do whatever they could to do harm to others. Likewise, I send you all our prayers and best wishes. Take care and God Bless.
Hi, Jessica...
Things have a way of working themselves out over time, as with your 4-plex, so hopefully that will be the case for your husband's situation as well...
I have worked with such poisonous people as what you describe, and they eventually get caught up in their evil ways and crash and burn...
Sometimes they become President before this happens, but this is the exception, normally they will not luck into avoiding jail or other that long. It does catch them sooner or later though....
Fingers crossed the permanent job will be his, having it now will be some plus points, not sure what other things could turn things in his favor...Is he prior military, or can he get some endorsements from highly regarded people, etc.?
Let us know how things go...
Cheers!
Dave : )
Yes, he was in the U.S. Marine Corps. I can't discuss it but he had positions that most Marines never see...way higher security clearance and access. He didn't chose it, they chose him. Yes, he is overqualified for so many jobs but can't even get an interview...nobody cares here. He also double majored and graduated with honors. Once again, nobody cares. There are too many people and too few jobs. The competition is fierce and you need a pH D for a entry level professional position or to know just the right person.
This crazy lady officer at his job actually dislikes military people...that was part of the problem to start with.
Without GOD there is no hope ,I personally know without a doubt if you trust in him to help he will open the doors for you and your husband in his time, just trust and watch he always has a plan and it's not always what you expect but he'll show why his way is better he will surprise you. Amen
Hello Jessica,
God will make a way he always has and Always will; I shall say a Special for you and your husband. I'm Pray for Our LORD To Shower His Abundant Blessing UpOn You and Yours And Answer Your Most Urgent Prayers.
Have a Safe and Blessed Holiday;
To God All Glory Is Given;
We Should Always Praise His Holy Name;
Hallelujah And Amen;
Your Brother In Christ;
Respectfully;
William
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I"m a practicing Buddhist - and karma has a way of working itself out. Don't think because she seems to get away easy that she is...karma can return in all kinds of unpleasant ways - health, family, etc. It has been my experience that when someone acts like that, it's because the rest of their life is miserable.
I much older than you and I have discovered in life that obstacles sometimes clear a path for something better, or they put you on a better path.
Your husband sounds very qualified to do many things - maybe it's about going back to school, maybe it's about brainstorming for a new career path. Sounds like he would make a great security consultant for companies big and small. Since you are here on WA, you can put together his website and put him in front of potential clients.
Where there is a desire to move forward, there is always a way. :-)