My Relationship History with ALBB

I have plenty of other stories to tell, but I wanted to stay on ALBB a little longer.  When I moved to Maryland, I was not hired by ALBB, but Daft Industries.  Yes, that was the company with the recruiter who lied to me about the safety of the hotel that I had picked.  After Allen called Daft Industries (DI) and said that I was hired; we started on all of the paperwork.  The last portion of the paperwork consisted of payroll.  The document stated that I would get paid every 2 weeks.  But what they glossed over was instead of the typical 2 weeks in the hole before the 1^st pay check, they made their employees have six weeks in the hole.  Therefore, since I started working in the beginning of November, I wasn't going to see my first paycheck until after Christmas.  So that meant that my Christmas was ruined and I really had to juggle my finances.  I was very unhappy and I was vocal about my situation.  Allen kept telling me that if I was really that upset that I needed to resign.  Well, I decided to take his advice and I found another job and I turned in my resignation.  Once that happened, a surprising chain of events began (at least to me).  Allen contacted DI and Annoying United Systems (AUS) and told them that I had turned in my resignation, however, I was a needed employee, and they needed to resolve whatever issues that I had with my company.  The contractor, AUS was surprised about DI’s policy, because as a small minority business, AUS was required to pay DI every two weeks, so my salary was just sitting in the bank earning interest.  AUS contacted me and told me to tell DI to make an exception and start paying me earlier.  I followed their instructions and DI replied to me that they would not ignore their policy and that AUS had no right to make that request.  I informed AUS of DI’s response, and AUS decided to get Come Get These Nuts (CGTN) involved.  CGTN asked DI to do the same thing and to allow me to find another small company to work for instead of them.  And, they told them that if they did not look the other way and let me find another company, they would never be selected for another project with them again.  DI released me and the slot for that position.  Next CGTN gave me two weeks to either find another company to work for or work as an independent contractor.  I felt uncomfortable working for myself, so I started interviewing other companies and that is how Act Like a Broke Bitch (ALBB) came into the picture. 

ALBB was happy that I selected them.  Before I selected them they did not have a business relationship with AUS.  So, not only did they get another employee but a new profitable business relationship that lasted for years.  The only thing that I got out of setting up that business relationship was a thank you.

This is a Government Contract…We do not lock people in Rooms!!

The title of this blog was the Director’s (Lester) response to the Deputy Director (Bob), after he found out why I was looking for another job within the project.  I had decided during my Easter vacation, that it was time for me to look for another job.  I had tried to keep the fact that I was looking for another position quiet, because I didn't want anyone to find out.  However, when I delivered my resume to the hiring manager upstairs, he went directly to Bob, and said, “I didn't know that Cara was available.  We will take her!! “   Bob, who by the way was happy to see me leave, wished me luck.   However,  he made the mistake of telling the Lester that I wanted to leave.  Lester was not happy and he wanted a reason.   I told him that there were many reasons.  And finally, there was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  He asked me to provide a list.  So, I provided him a list that consisted of the top ten reasons why I was leaving, and number one was the final straw.  This story is about that straw…

It was the Wednesday before Easter.  I was in a good mood because I was only working half a day, and I was then driving home to Detroit.   I got to my desk and started to log into my computer.  However, when I went to log in, I noticed that someone had been sitting at my desk, and someone had logged into my computer.  The person had not used my log in ID, but a Rational Tool’s administrator’s ID.   In commercial offices, an admin logging into your computer isn't a big deal, and it probably wasn't today. However, it is different on a government contract, if someone logs in to your computer, you should know why, even if it is for a standard upgrade.  It is just a matter of security.  So, I went to the Deputy Rational Tool’s lead, Dave and asked why someone had logged onto my computer this morning.  Was there an upgrade that I didn't know about, is there something wrong?  He told me that I needed to talk to another manager, and stated that they would explain what was going on.  So, I went to the next manager and he told me that a previous tools admin had made some errors on various desktops when she performed an upgrade, and that Dave logged into your computer to see if she had made a mistake on yours.  She hadn't performed your upgrade, so everything was fine.  So later that day when I passed Dave in the hallway, I asked him.  “Hey, why didn't you just say that it was you and what you were doing?”  His response was “Young lady, you don’t ask me about what I do or don’t do.”  My response was “I am not your wife or your child, and you don’t address me in such a manner.”  Well, apparently this upset him and he reported me to the Bob.  Later that day Bob asked to speak to me privately.  I said OK, and he said, let’s meet in the Software library.  I told him, that I don’t have access to library.   This wasn't strange because the library contained expensive software, computer and media equipment.  There were only few people whose badges could enter and exit the library.  Yes, if you did not have a badge that granted access, once inside you were locked in the room.  Well, he let me in and then he said that he would be right back.  He did not return for over a half an hour.  And no one came in, so I sat there, waiting and wondering why I was there.  When he did return, he brought Dave with him.  For the next 20 minutes, Bob went through this lecture to me about how everyone on this project is treated fairly and with respect.  There is no such thing as sexism on this project, so I should just take this idea out of my head.   He also stated that he left me in the room, because I needed to calm down and think about what I had done that day and how I had talked to Dave.  I looked at Dave, Dave didn't say anything; he just sat there looking stupid.  After, we left the room, Dave apologized for his behavior earlier that morning and he apologized for reporting me to Bob.   He told me that he didn't know that would happen.  However, it didn't matter to me.  I was livid!!  I had been locked in a room like a child.  

At the end of the day, it was time to drive home to Detroit.  I was very lucky that afternoon, because I didn't get a ticket driving home.   The average time it takes to get from Laurel, Maryland to Detroit, Michigan is about 8 hours.  I made it home in a little less than 6 hours. 

I didn't leave the job, although I probably should have.  An Emergency Exit door was installed at the server room entrance to the Software library.

#finalstraw
#livid
#sexism