Today I may get fired. At the very least I will get a pedantic ass-chewing.
As we recover from a self-prophesized recession, A can't pay B and B can't pay C and so on.
My annual salary, ALL commission, qualifys as "working poor". It's annual bonus time and I NEED my bonus to get a car out of the shop and pay off a snowblower. No fun stuff for me this year. Well, I have two accounts so far past due for services already rendered and product already used, that they are no longer eligible for commission even if they pay. BUT it's not too late for them to still qualify for the 2010 total which will determine my bonus.
My employers won't sue...even with a contract. They won't go to collections...even when it's a pay-if-we-get-it service. Their collection agency is ME and I cannot threaten or imply legal action. All I have to work with are my words.
The tools of my trade, words, can make dangerous weapons when held that way. I used them that way. No threats, just truth; you, delinquent client, have screwed me & my family out of income. Please pay in full so that I can at least get SOMETHING for the months of work that I did for you.
Delinquent Client suddenly feels insulted and entitled to my ass on a silver platter. Today.
This is a day full of possibilities. Not all of them attractive. We'll see...
Well, good luck anyway. If you were polite, I would hope your employer would back you up or at least turn a blind eye. Heck, one would HOPE they would use the occasion to keep pressuring the deadbeats.
__________________
Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's.
Rough spot for sure. Good luck. Careful about projecting though. If you're confident you acted appropriately and professionally, things may just work out.
Good luck Rob! Yes it is a trying feeling(putting it mildly) im sure to know your employer is not coming to bat for you, the clients are one thing but the people you work for is another.These are the times where our spiritual principles are put in action and that strength and direction only comes from our Higher Power and Our continuos work applying principles.I will keep you in prayer. For me, I would request another meeting with my employers and again request some type of help..Let us know how it goes!!Have you ever been more tested??(could we say "oh yeah") Keep it in perspective,don't let them take you to a place you don't wont to be!!! peace.....
__________________
Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Thanks, ya'll. Starting to look like I don't need a box today. I'll know this afternoon.
On a good note, the NA meeting is getting bigger and because of the time and location, we're feeding people into the AA meeting down the block. Two meetings in three hours. Now THAT'S a double-shot I can live with!
Prayers for you Rob. It sounds similar to my recent situation. Have faith that God may be doing for you what you couldn't do for yourself. After some serious discomfort and unsureness, I left a job I didn't like, was not progressing in, and tomorrow will start a new one that pays better. I was comfortable in that job but was getting so fed up with certain things that it was costing me most of my serenity. Also...a real similarity was that management was repeatedly asking me to do the impossible...which I did and then whenever there were screw ups or inevitable systematic problems, I either got blamed or got no back up. The company cared about money and not about helping kids. It was driving me nuts (sounds like similar corporate structure of demanding the world from you and giving you next to no support at the same time).
So....even in worst case scenario...one door closes and another opens. Just maintain your faith.
Remember you and your skills are a commodity and while people say "Just be grateful to have a job," that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't go looking for a better one.
Peace,
Mark
-- Edited by pinkchip on Wednesday 16th of February 2011 12:25:51 PM
__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Hey Rob, really bad position for you to be put in. I never ceased to be amazed by such economic irrationality one the part of business owners. Heck, you'd think that they'd catch on that they are giving their stuff away for free. Sounds very much like us with booze - they seem to be thinking that if they let people not pay the bills, it'll be different next time and yeah, let's let deadbeat clients dictate to us how our hard-working and loyal employees should act, since we don't want to hurt their feelings as they might...what, pay the bill next time. Sheesh.
But, it sounds like you've applied everything that you've learned in this program to good use, to deal with it really well. You weren't a doormat but you didn't go postal. You just dealt with it and what will happen will happen.
And you can see the one door closing/opening options. Sobriety is good.
Loved what you were saying about the NA meeting too. :)
This bad doggy got his nose slapped with a newspaper and told not to chew up daddy's slippers. Whatever. The REAL lessons I learned is that 1) Life's not fair. Period. and 2) I absolutely, positively, without a shadow of a doubt CANNOT allow anger and/or resentment to burrow in and make a nasty little den in the structure of my soul (must turn it over any way possible and at any cost) and 3)...
The Program Works! If this happened in June of '08 I likely would have spent the whole day drunk and stoned in an abandoned quarry acting stupid with guns. And called that "therapy".
Thanks for all the support and well-wishes. I'm okay and I wish you all serenity.
