At Will

If you're wondering why I chose this particular title for this post I'll tell you. During my peaceful sleep this title came to me. Usually, when something like that happens it's embedded into my memory. If I live until I'm ninety-five and unfortunately devolope Alzheimer's disease, I'll always remember the incident that caused me to write this.

For those of you that have been following my blog, I thank you. You know that recently I was fired from a job for a reason that most of us feel was simple. I've moved on past that incident but I feel I have to tell you what has given me an extra boost to do so.

First things first. I have applied for seven jobs in which I am qualified for. Actually, I wasn't qualified for one but I applied anyway. I had a dollar for the thirty-seven cent stamp to mail off my resume and a dream. I didn't get the job but I used the change to help do my laundry. Ahh, progress. I have an interview Monday, April 18th with another prospect so wish me luck!

Now, back to the title of this post. Just to see if the little people have rights I contacted the Labor Board about my situation. After answering various questions via telephone I was informed that my situation is within the law. I was deemed as what is an employee 'at will.' I knew a guy in High School named Will who got on my nerves. Maybe I should have been nicer to him.

I listened intently as the person broke it down to me. Basically, move on, lady. There's nothing you can do about it. Oh yeah, I could try to sue for mental duress but the voice told me he doubted that will go anywhere. Gee, thanks.

That prompted my need to exactly define the meaning of 'at will.' I had a basic understanding of it but as a writer I needed more. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary has the word at meaning - a point in time, a goal, a position or condition, or means cause or manner. The word will is in my version three times so I'll just give the first listing of each.

1. wish , desire
2.wish or desire often combined with determination
3.to dispose of by or as if by a will, bequeath

With this information I took the definition of 'at will' in my circumstance to mean your condition or manner is disposed of - Your Fired. Oh well.

Today is a beautiful day. I know that and know why I'm here. Tomorrow is a day that I hope to see. Will my job put me 'at will' of another employer? Probably. The one thing that gives my steps bounce is the fact that I have new knowledge going in. Lessons come when they want. They force you to learn them. I have. Think, Wanda. Think before you go into action. My lesson. My question...are you 'at will' of your employeer?

Come'on career. At will of self. A writers' dream fulfilled.

My Bookmark Cost Me My Job

In my previous post I said my next novel would be the title that I chose for this particular post. Creating an entire novel on this wouldn't be fiction, which is more my forte, so I'll place my non-fiction pieces here.

Yes, it came to pass. I wouldn't say the ax fell, being that I'm still intact physically and mentally, nor will I say the other shoe has dropped. I love shoes and allowing them to hit the floor without a soft place to land isn't up my alley. I, Wanda D. Hudson, one the most competent, hardworking and knowledgeable individuals you may ever meet, was fired from my job on Monday, April 11th, 2005. What a way to start the week off.

This is how the event unfolded, or shall I say, exploded. Well, I really don't know what took place. I wasn't priviledged to attend any kind of conference or meeting or even speak on my behalf. My previous post ended with the decision to terminate me being postponed. This should have happened on Friday, April 8th, 2005. As a result of this I had to work my regular scheduled shift, the twelve midnight to the eight a.m. shift, Saturday and Sunday night. First question. If what I did was such an offense and a violation of policy, why was I allowed back on the organizations property AND paid to be there? Why didn't the powers that define what is righteous suspend me, without pay, until the matter was resolved? What level of stress do you believe I suffered? Oh, the mental anguish this has caused me! Mental anguish is a condition you hear in what type of setting? I may need a few of you to refresh my memory.

Well, I left work that Monday morning with a seriously diminished hope of returning that night. I mean, I didn't even get to say an apology. With that information my job search began the day I was told I may be fired. Everything else about my world continued with normalcy. Using the health insurance I had just became priviledge to I took my daughter to a doctors appointment, and would find out my verdict when I returned home.

My answering machine revealed it all. Actually, the message was only half there and I had to call my immediate supervisor to hear the words I waited stressfully to hear. Basically, there was nothing that could be done on my behalf. The decision came early and was made before Monday morning even arrived. Turn your uniforms in at this particular location, I wish you the best and yow-sah, yow-sah, yow-sah....

I think I got fired for promoting pornography. No, I believe it was the image and words on my bookmark. Wait a minute, could it be I was let go because of one persons perception of what pornography is? If you're unmarried and having sex is that correct? If you have children out of wedlock is that holy? If you're married and choose a few positions that are, well, uh...anyway, is that disgusting? The itty bitty school girls skirts that are worn as part of a uniform, what exactly is that promoting? Not the study of any English language found in Webster's. Remember these are MY thoughts. Please don't criticize or downgrade them. You can, however, feel free to voice yours.

I'm really not complaing. I'm doing what the blog demands from us. Write it down, get it out and maybe someone will read it. I know that I wasn't supposed to be employed there. So many people say when a door closes...The sad thing is that I'm not the only person that has ever gone through this. How many people have been viewed strangely because they choose to do what is their passion? It doesn't matter if it's erotic writing, science fiction, children's books, photography or a masseuse. The plain fact is someone will ALWAYS have a different opinion from yours. That I can deal with. If your opinion offends the masses do you have to change your stance or will an apology suffice? Should you get a second chance on probation, or, does probation mean tip-toe, kiss butt and breathe?

I've moved on. The passing out of my bookmark cost me my job but it will never, ever interfere with my career.

Job Or Career? You Make The Call

Hmm, I guess the only way to begin is to begin. The end of this past week has been a bit stressful for me. Writer's write. That's how we breathe. In order to make your chest continue its rhythmic heave, we promote. That's all I thought I was doing. Promoting. Nothing to offend, nothing to sicken, nothing to cause any dispair. My first work, which happens to be in ebook form, is a short erotic collection of stories about women. The title It's a Woman's World says it all.

My next work may be titled, My Bookmark Cost Me My Job. Does it sound idiotic? Maybe, but it could be true. I, like any writer, had certain promotional items made to annouce our work and keep our names on the lips of readers. My items are bookmarks that consist of the book cover, which is a silhouetted woman holding a globe, and the saying, Seduce your mind with a literary tryst by escaping to It's a Woman's World. Your sexual fantasies will never be the same. It also has the web address, my name and my email account.

Temporary insanity? Laspe of judgement? Mistake? These words may constitute why I handed out bookmarks promoting sexual, erotic, but in my opinion, no way pornographic stories. As I handed the promo items out with a smile I stated, "Now, don't go to this site at work. Visit it at home." In all honesty I'm sure I mouthed some other stuff but without hypnosis I probably won't remember.

A few hours later I received a call from my immediate supervisor informing me that he had just come from a meeting where serious events transpired pertaining to me. "What?" Basically he told me of the bookmark caper and that termination loomed over my head. "What?" One of the women I gave a bookmark to went to the site and proclaimed that I was promoting pornography at work. My job deals with sensitive issues, an issue I personally dealt with a year ago, and I may pass these things out to the clients. "Huh?"

It's a Woman's World. This isn't the way the women treat each other in the stories. Ripping off and burning your bra happened when? Everything goes these days. I think I sexually harrased a few women with the bookmark. For that I apologize.

I'm going to keep this short. Are my bookmarks offensive? Do they portray full frontal nudity? Yes, there are a few words of sexual nature, and I may add they are in the dictionary, but would that warrant me getting seriously garbage canned? I can go on and on as to why I'm right, that I did no wrong, but my voice won't be heard. The plain fact is I offended someone. I'll be a dark damper on the entire organization. Oh, I forgot to tell you that I've only been there a month and am still on probation. We all know you'd better not do a diggity dog thing wrong on probation! And I scraped the bottom of the barrel promoting porn.

I need a job. A job pays the bills. A job keeps my internet service active so I can talk to you. A job offers health insurance, which with a small child, I desperately need. I guess I'm not so upset because I know that my job will never define my career. One day my career will do all the things of a job and more. With this knowledge I'm willing to let this job go and find another for the sake of my career. I'll never stop writing. I will, however, think three times before I promote my work to someone with a totally different view.