"Deficits" & Employment & ADA
 

Hi all. It's been a crazy coupleo of weeks at work. My exec. director has been out of town so my supervisor (the assoc. exec. direc.) has been running the place and lets just say it hasn't been all that pleasant. I managed to make pretty bad copying error in some training publications she was taking to use in some presentations and when she came back she freaked out (I would have been ****** too). When she got back to the office she had a "difficult conversation" with me where she pointed out my mistake (man was I embarrassed) and told me that two other girls in the office had told her of other mistakes I had made before (why they didn't tell me like I tell them when I catch their errors I don't know), but to make a long story short she told me that while I was a great on the phone, doing the banking, and the mail - the receptionist job as I pointed out to her (the job I was hired for) I wasn't great at the other things that took too much focus for me and memory. She said she knew I was trying my best and that because of what I've been through (the brain surgery) I couldn't help it, but that she couldn't have it anymore even though everyone there really likes me. It's in my best interest to start looking for another job while I still have one (she thought she was being nice by telling me this instead of just firing me without warning).
Now, I take the next day and a half off from work (to look for another job - naturally I'm pretty ****** and stressed out at the thought of losing my job. I just had a review and was doing fine. They did tell me to watch my accuracy on copy jobs when I'm in a hurry because I do tend to make mistakes but otherwise I was doing a great job).
When I go back to work, my ED is back and he wants to know what happened so I tell him about our conversation and he says that she was out of line and had no right to say what she did. She doesn't have the right to make those decisions and has a few lessons to learn (this is her first management job). Now, I have done management several times and have given her some leniency since I remember all the mistakes I made (there were plenty) when I first started out but this is rediculous. My ED made a proposal to rewrite my job description to take away some of the things that I struggle with and keep what he really likes that I do well (I'm incredible on the phone- he actually said he would pay me what I make now to do nothing but sit there and answer the phone - and it doesn't ring that much).
He later went on to ask me if "Are we okay?" and tell me that he was "going out on a limb for you, against the advise of numerous attorneys. I'm fighting for you even though I've been told not too, know what I mean? I can't say anymore." I looked at him and asked "ADA?" He said "yes"
So, he's atttempting to make me a "reasonable accomodation" to satisfy the requirements of the ADA to avoid a lawsuit (which I am totally not out for, I just want to work and not be judged constantly).
Later my supervisor tries to tell me that had she known what my Excel and Word skills were when she hired me (she knew at the time of my interview) she probably wouldn't have hired me. She would have hired someone with more experience. She tells me in this same conversation that due to my memory issues she doesn't know if I'm worth spending the money on training, if I'm a good investment. She doesn't know how well I can learn. Whoa! I told my ED that yesterday and told him that was crap. I distinctly remember discussing that in my interview and also if I was open to taking any classes to increase my training and I said yes I was very open to taking classes. And I told her that I am quite capable of learning. It may take me a little longer than it used to but I am quite capable indeed. Most of my personal trainer courses were done during and after testing and surgery. Granted if I don't use the material right away Iwon't retain it, but I can definitely learn!

Now I have another job offer pending from the company I interviewed with on the day I was off and I'm just really nervous. The idea of switching jobs again is really uncomfortable. I realize I have "deficits" as my ED calls it. What if this new company isn't willing to work with them and then I'm out and looking again. Do I stay where I am or do I go to this new company and give it a go? What do you make of all this?

Stefie - I'm not much help ....... I'm scared of change. I'd have to stay with the present job and keep plugging along.

Thanks Jingle. There once was a day that I thrived on change and now I'm scared of it too. My supervisor and I spoke today about my pending job description change and I was up front with her about having another job offer. She wanted to know what my decision was going to be. I told her I was considering it, but for now I wanted to stay where I was and until further notice that was my plan. I told her that security and stability were my concerns. To be totally honest I'm not sure I can trust them completely, her at least. Part of me feels like its just a matter of time before they just try and find some reason to get rid of me. There's so much political junk that goes on there and yet I'm happy to be there at the same time (it could be worse).
In the meantime I'm keeping my options open. I've gotten two more callbacks for interviews on resume's I had submitted. Who knows maybe my dream job is out there (and closer to home) somewhere. Benefits included. That truly would be a dream.