If You Found Out Your Boss Says Horrible Things About You, Would You Quit?

So I have a summer job where I live and work at the same place, where i clean rooms at a b&b. Last year I was working as a volunteer and the owner told me partway through the summer that I was doing a great job and she wanted me to come back this year for a paid position. I thought it was a fun way to travel and I liked it here so I said yes and am back again. I work with another girl and we share all the tasks evenly. The entire first month we kept being toldwe were doing a great job. Occasionally I missed something but if I was told about it I went back and redid it immediately, and then was told it was done well after I redid it.

Yesterday though, the owner asked to see me alone and told me that I never do anything right. That there were places all over that I have missed cleaning. She said it as if the other girl had absolutely nothing to do with it. When i asked her to show me what i had been missing so i could do it properly from now on she said no. She also told me that I always smile and act polite and say I will do something but that I'm clearly being fake and act that way to get her off my back. I take huge offence to that. I have done every thing she has asked me to do and many many other things that no one asks me to do (including spending an entire day stripping paint from an ugly old stairway, sanding it down and repainting it just to surprise her). When I act polite or smile that's because it's who I am. I act like that to everyone and it isn't a fake thing.

Later that night while talking with the other girl I work with she told me a bunch of other horrible things my boss had said to her. Before I arrived this summer she told the other girl (who is german by the way) that she will have to really watch me because I'm a Canadian and all canadians and Americans have a bad work ethic. She said she never hires canadians but she felt sorry for me because I probably can't get a job anywhere else. This is from a woman who has NEVER seen my resume and doesn't know what jobs I've had. I also left an awesome job to come out here. She also said she thinks I have drug problems. (Last summer I didn't smoke, drink or do any sort of drug even one time while I was here) I have smoked weed a few times in the city this year, but she had decided I was a druggie based on last year's interactions and told the other girl this before I arrived this year.

I feel very confused and hurt. None of these things about me are true. If someone had told me from the beginning hey you missed something I would have known to look and clean wherever I was missing and I wouldn't have been upset about it. Why would someone tell me I'm good at this and ask me to come back only to say all this horrible stuff about me?

I'm now halfway across the country with a job I agreed to take for the entire summer. I don't want to be around people who think this way about me.

Any advice?

 

Before I answer you in more depth, I would like to know if you signed any type of employment contract.

 

This sort of thing is pretty common. When an employer goes from Jekyll to Hyde on you, they want to drive you away. At least you have clear indications. Sometimes they wait till payday to screw with you and take a week or more to fix the problem. This is no way to live and it will only drive you into an unnecessary depression. Especially if you start buying into their BS and begging for "another chance".

Since you seem so certain that you're NOT a lazy, incompetent, drug-addled bum, I suggest bailing out entirely. And don't look back, it's not your fault. However, it IS your fault if you choose to stay in a toxic environment. You've been the recipient of underhanded smearing and blatant bigotry. Your coworker should also see this plainly, unless she's part of the problem (don't ignore the possibility). I've been working for 40 years and have seen more rotten employers than I like to remember. They're not worth your time.

 

I did not sign anything.

My coworker said she was very confused as to why we both weren't reprimanded. She said herself "everyone knows we do all these jobs together!" She has also said that if I leave she probably will too, since she isn't very impressed with how the owner is acting anymore.

 

That would be a hell situation to be in. I would not stay if I did not have to.....Why be around someone who bad mouths you and shakes you down ?
I agree co workers can be snakes, too....and tell you everything you want to hear to your face....while destroying you behind your back.

 

I asked as often with seasonal type employment they pay for transportation and if they terminate under just cause they do not have to pay for your return ticket. There are legal avenues you can take to deal with that which is why I checked with you.

Given that you do not have a contract and the situation you are in with this employer, if you can afford to leave then it is probably the best thing for you to do. You are obviously not going to make her change her mind or attitude and that creates an unpleasant environment for you to work in.

As George mentioned be a little wary of your co-worker as often it can be the case of talking out of turn, sometimes without any intention of harm but it does happen.

If you can leave, give your notice and move on. If you can not leave due to financial hardship at this time, possibly working towards finding another employer would be an option.

It is unfortunate that this has happened and hopefully you are able to remove yourself from this environment.

 

It's always better to quit than to be fired.

 

^ excellent advice...ITA

I, too, have seen more bad than good employers, as well as more 2 faced co-workers than I care to remember. I wouldn't totally discount the co-worker starting or encouraging your boss's line of bs...but ultimately this is on your boss.

When you ask someone to show you what you've done wrong and they can't immediately show you and/or give specific examples, I know they are completely full of shit at that point.

Since you didn't sign anything, I'd leave and explain - concisely - in a letter exactly why I was leaving...and I'd be prepared to go post haste.

In this situation, I'd also give NO notice...be aware of any laws regarding her keeping any money owed to you. Knowing myself, I'd demand to be paid in full before leaving...but I also know the law here and that they can't withhold last checks for made-up reasons.

You're young...you don't need to put down this place on any references.

 

But she does need to have an explanation prepared for where she spent this summer. Future employers will ask. An inadequate or evasive answer may sound to them like, "I got fired, but I don't want to tell you." Or they may guess that she'd rather goof off when she can find temporary sources of cash. The gap in time is a yellow flag, not a red one.

 

Hmm that is a hard situation kim

Well your paid position is just for the summer to though right? How much longer would you have to ride it out?

Frankly, if she's gonna think low of you no matter what, I'd give her what she expects and then some, half ass work.

You don't need to be passive aggressive about it either, you can tell her you've worked hard, and that if she treats you to a lower standard, you'll work at that lower standard.

 

2 things - since it seems she is young, and referred to it just being a summer job, I didn't (and don't ) think it would be a big deal not to show work for a summer...

I'd come up with something like I went back-packing across Canada, or where ever for the summer, if it is going to be really important to report every moment of one's young life in regards to work...or taking care of an aging or ailing (or non-existant lol) relative.

2nd thing that occurred to me - I wouldn't want to put that place down as a reference or a place of work for fear of this asshole woman being contacted, and who knows what all she would say.

I do realize that it is supposed to be against the law (here in the US) for a former employer to reveal anything about an employee except for their dates of employment and if they quit or were fired. I think they can now state if that person would be eligible for re-hire. However the reality is that a prospective employee is never going to find out what any of their past employers said.

 

Cat's got a point (not the one he hides with a hat). When you're dealing with an asshole sometimes the only option is to be the bigger asshole. I still think it sounds like the boss and your coworker might be colluding. Getting rid of you cuts the payroll budget. If you have to hang on to get paid, fine. But keep your stuff packed and ready to go.

If you happen to leave during the day, call a pizza place from their phone and be sure to order a dozen large pies with regular toppings (asking for anchovies is a dead give away) and have them delivered 2 hours later. When you're on the bus and down the road!

When you pass a library, go in and sign onto Yelp and let people know that the cheap cleaning supplies don't do much for the bed bugs and that you'll never be staying there again (as if you were a guest). If you REALLY have some time, get a bowl and fill it with ice, then cover the ice with garlic powder and put it in some out of the way place like on top of a high shelf or even in an attic. When the ice melts the garlic powder will mold and the stench will permeate the whole place.

Again, use your own judgement as this sort of pranking can be seen badly by oinkers and shysters.

 

I don't think my boss and coworker are colluding. I think I didn't explain everything very well. I am very close with my coworker and she is just as fed up and ready to leave as I am. She had not told me what my boss said about me until then because she said once she met me she realized none of it was true. She only brought it up because my boss had already said so many mean things to my face yesterday that she thought I was leaving either way.

 

You probably explained it fine. I'm pretty stupid. Ask Cat!

 

Leave the place in a total mess... but wait until right before their most influential client/customer shows up.

 

Sounds like slander, maybe? Slander is actionable, I believe.

(A punch in the gut is not visible) Pretend I didn't just say that. The "devil" made me---you know.

 

I've had friends in similar situations where they didn't want to list an employer. One friend said he sold a rental house and made a pretty substantial profit (he did sell the house but didn't make as much as he claimed). Another friend said he was self-employed but decided he didn't like it. I've also had a few good friends who needed a void in their resume filled so I told them to just list me, give me the dates you told them and I'd handle it from there.

To the OP....I'd quit. I wouldn't do anything to the property or damage anything in any way. I'd go in there and politely say "I really enjoyed working here and thought I was doing a good job. The fact that this situation grew into what it did is a reflection on your management skills, not my performance and I won't work for someone like that. I quit."

 

And THEN-the punch.

 

Thanks for the input everyone! I think I will do something similar to what wizardofodd said. I plan on going to her and saying that what she said about me was very hurtful and untrue and I don't feel comfortable working or living in an environment like this. I'm just trying to decide if I give her 2 weeks notice or not. Once I tell her I'm leaving I think it will become extremely awkward to stay here.

 

I have never been fired and I don't plan on letting it happen now.