I quit my job

So I returned to work today after missing 9 shifts and was sat down by my 'team-leader' (nice euphemism) to fill out a back-to-work report. We got two minutes into it when she said to me "now apparently there has been an incident. On Monday you called in sick, but we received a conflicting story from Beth. Your stories don't add up. Therefore, we've decided not to allow you any sick pay for this time."

The way my boss was looking at me made it clear that she thought I was lying. At Privilege insurance they always think you are lying.

"okay." I said, knowing that Privilege bosses have problems comprehending simple situations. "Could you please elaborate?"

"Well, when I talked to you on Monday you said that you were poorly and wouldn't be coming into work. But when Beth was asked [who was already at work] she said that you were better and would be coming in."

"Right...You seem to have missed the point, Mavis [real name changed to protect from libel suit]. Let me try to explain this to you, as you seem to have found it quite complex."

"On Monday morning I said to my wife 'Wife. I feel better today, I shall go to my 3-5 lecture and see you at work.' [Beth starts at 5 on Mondays, I start at 6. We work at the same place.] Now, Mavis, during my 3-5 lecture I began to feel quite wretched and experienced a number of anxiety attacks. By the end of this session I was feeling thoroughly distressed and did not feel well enough to come into work as I was worried I might have a freak-out. At which point, you rightly remember, I called you to tell you that although I had thought I would be able to return to work that evening, I no longer felt up to the challenge and would hopefully come back on Thursday. I then asked you to please pass this information on to my lovely wife, because I had told her I would be coming in to work and she might be worried. 'Actually, I can't' you replied, 'I'm not at work right now'. 'Oh well,' I said 'she will figure it out'. "

"Now, my dear Mavis, one can only assume, based on the information we have come up with together, that at some point (probably between 5, when Beth came in, and 6.15, when I called in sick) someone at the office asked Beth how I was doing and whether I would be coming into work that evening. Having not seen or heard from me since that morning, she would have replied 'he is better, and will be in at 6'."

"Simple Mavis, I hope I haven't moved to quickly for you, but perhaps you can see that Beth gave the information she thought was correct, whereas I had told you different, and also, had asked you to pass along this information to Beth because she did not know my circumstances. Perhaps, now, you can see that our stories do not actually conflict or prove any guilt? What's that? You're not capable of abstract thought? I can see that that would be quite a difficulty. Perhaps you would be willing to take it on my authority that these two accounts don't conflict."

Anyways, you get the idea. My bosses at Privilege had called me a liar before and infuriated me so that I took it up with my floor manager, who, of course, was patronizing and thick. Long story short, I kept trying to stay calm, but my two bosses kept calling me a liar about many issues [very unimportant issues, about which I never the less was telling the truth]. I had had all that I could stands, and I couldn't stands no more.

"I think I don't want to work here anymore" I said calmly.

"Really," replied Mavis, "what do you want to do then?"

"I think I'm going to go home."

"Right, I'll just have to go talk to Ruddiger [real name changed] so he can sign you off."

I sat for about 5 minutes fuming in my emotions, while my two superiors paced and made phone calls from their white manager phone. After a while the floor manager asked to speak with me:

"I'm afraid that you can't just leave right now, but will have to give 4 weeks notice like everyone else."

"Okay." I was beginning to calm down.

"Besides," he added, "you should know that if you are away sick for more than 5 days you need a sick note from a doctor. It's no wonder your team leaders don't believe you."

"Actually," I replied, starting to feel unrelaxed again, "I did not know about this 5 day rule. But I can get a sick note for you, that is no problem". [I have been seeing my doctor regularly about this problem and he is quite sympathetic.]

"Of course you know that" my boss said, telling me with his tone of voice that I was again lying. "They tell you that at your induction".

"I never had an induction"

"That's rubbish, how long have you been working here?" He snarled.

"2 years" I said. "And I'm not lying. I started working here through a temp agency and just never left. I never received an induction."

My boss then explained to me that I was lying again.

"You know, this is the sort of thing I'm fed up with" I said, "I'm going to be leaving now."

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that" said Ruddiger.

"Right" I calmly replied, weighing up my options and eyeing the fire escape. "Let's say that I don't give you four weeks notice, but instead leave right now. What would you do?"

"Well, you wouldn't get paid." He replied.

"Right, as in I wouldn't get paid, because I wasn't working here anymore?"

"That's right" he answered, seeing the weakness of his threat "and you wouldn't get a reference from us."

"Well" I thought to myself, trying to weigh up the situation, "they clearly think I'm a lying scum-bag. What kind of reference could I hope to obtain anyways."

"I can live with those consequences" I told Ruddiger. "I'm leaving."

I then had to write a quick note of resignation with shaking hands, and sign a disciplinary document for my 'sickness shenanigans', which seemed quite pointless, considering I was leaving.

I then cleaned out my locker, and gave my floor manager my key and pass. He then escorted me down 3 flights of stairs and out the front door to beautiful freedom.

I walked away carrying my belongings (work clothes) in my arms, and reflected on the bittersweet emotions coursing through me. I wonder what my co-workers thought? It was probably exciting and uncomfortable. I was well liked by a lot of people at my work, but I will keep in touch with them.

New beginnings, that's what it is. The crap rolls down hill and the screws tighten until another person just can't take the pressure anymore. The great wheel of capitalism keeps on spinning.