Next in the series of unfortunate events I got terminated from my job this morning.
→[More:]They wouldn’t even say why. I will say I have hardly been some ideal employee (spent too much time on the internet [cough] though I always met my deadlines), but I think it was mostly about money. I’d been there 11.5 years and the starting salary has not been raised in all that time, so I was making much more than many of my more recently hired co-workers. Mind you I hadn’t received a raise in nearly three years, despite receiving good, if not perfect, performance reviews and though I had also seen my workload significantly increase during that time. In 2010 there was a company-wide salary freeze so no one got a raise, and in June 2011 my manager told me I already made so much more than everyone else I didn’t deserve the measly 3% “merit” raise they give out. I strode back to my desk in an ice-cold rage after that little interview. I did find out later I wasn't the only person who didn't receive a raise, so I didn't think it was entirely personal.

And now that they’ve gotten rid of me entirely they can hire someone on contract to do the same job for much less and not have to give them benefits or much vacation time. I also note that we were to get our annual bonuses any day now, and of course now I won’t get mine — I’m sure that timing was not accidental. I’m considering having a lawyer review my termination package before I sign it. The package does seem to be pretty good, I will admit, so though I am worried about my future there is no need to panic.

I haven't shed a tear over this and doubt I will. My only real regret is the loss of income. I am so very relieved, even happy, to be out of there. I was bored out of my skull by that job. As I told the employment counsellor they had there to speak to me, "I'm blowing this popsicle stand. I was so bored here. Soooooooo soooooooo bored." I also simply despised my manager and director. And the company is not what it was. It used to be a good place to work and now the current president, and some of the directors and managers don’t seem to see it as part of their job description to treat their employees well. There is a growing culture of disrespect for employees, and so many there are becoming increasingly unhappy and anxious. I’ve been fearful of losing my job for several years now, and now at least the penny has dropped and I may spend my time concentrating on finding something else. I also get employment counselling as a part of the package.

It sucks though. After struggling financially for years, with my income as an editor plus the rental income I finally had an average household income for Toronto. And I'm quite good with money, so I made the most of it. I was paying off my mortgage aggressively and contributing to my RRSP and getting the house in shape and still had some spending money for some fun extras. And now I have next to nothing again — the rental income only pays half my monthly housing costs.

Well, I just have to pull myself together and do the best I can. There is a company that I used to work for that I'm sure will take me back — they don't treat their employees well and so are always hiring. I’d rather not have to go back there, but at least it’s a not completely terrible option and I won’t have to go work at McDonalds or lose my house. Perhaps I'll give myself a set amount of time to look for something else, and if I find nothing I will apply there. It would be a shame to burn through my entire severance wth just living expenses when I could use it to knock down my mortgage or build a deck or something.

But what with my favourite brother’s so sudden and tragic death in November, being hit by a car on Valentine’s Day, and now losing my job, this is not shaping up to be my year. I’m expecting a plague of locusts minutely, frankly.