i have found myself becoming increasingly agitated, testy, obnoxious, and depressed lately and with good reason.
on October 2nd 2007, i had a good job making 75k+ with excellent benefits, a nice bike to let my hair
down and use for my relaxation a healthy outlook for me and my family.
on October 3rd 2007 my world ended as i know it. i was out winding down releasing the tension from
a tough day at work, enjoying the pleasant fall weather when out of the blue i was hit by a careless driver.
when all was said and done i was just happy to be alive, i find that no longer to be the case.
on February 1 2008 my doctor cleared me to go back to work, three weeks after my last surgery. i was neither
prepared nor capable of returning to my job in my estimation, but hey, he's the professional.
i took my release to the HR department that day which was Wednesday and told to report to work the following
Monday much to my surprise, being that i had previously received a letter informing me that they would not be holding
my position once my FMLA leave ran out in December. on that Friday i received a call not to report to work on Monday
due to the fact that i had in fact been replaced while being off on leave, and there was no longer a position for me.
at that time i was informed that i would be contacted the following week to facilitate my departure.
now, this is not as bad as it might seem, due to Michigan motorcycle insurance law. because i lost my job due to
the accident, the insurance company was on the hook for my lost wages for up 3 years. so if i end up either unemployed
or under employed they have to make up the difference.
i was contacted the following Tuesday and asked to come in and sign some paperwork and pickup my things. i was presented
an exit package of paperwork which contained an exit agreement saying that i would not sue them for age discrimination or
unlawful discharge and in return they would give me a severance package which amounted to 3 months health insurance and
a couple of weeks of pay and they wouldn't contest my unemployment benefits, which they have a history of doing. i signed it,
as i had no reason not to. they were well within their rights to let me go for any reason once my fmla leave was up.
and this is where it starts to get ugly. when the insurance company contacted my employer they informed them that i was let go due to a reduction in workforce not related to the accident or the fact that i had missed the previous 4 month's. due to the fact that i signed the exit agreement i have no recourse to contest this determination and they ran it past their lawyers first just to make sure.
which brings me to the present.
i am still unemployed almost 4 months later living on $300 a week feeding a family of 4. i started
out with several tens of thousands in savings which are dwindling fast.
i not only can't find a job, i can't even get an interview. i am under educated, i have college level engineering courses, but no degree and not even close to getting one. i worked my way up from a skilled trades position. i am a journeyman status in two trades, neither of which i can get a job in.
i am damaged goods with a gimpy leg and arm and am still facing at least 2 surgeries.
realistically, in another 2 to 3 months i am looking at filing for bankruptcy. there is no chance of selling my house due to the fact
that there are an average of 1,000 a month being repo'd in my county and frankly it's all we have.
so in closing, even though you might think you have done everything right to protect your family, it can be snatched away in the blink of an eye.
i find it best that i stay away for the time being.
