notaclue

Needing a little pick-me-up. I don't seem to have the best success with employment in the US in the two years I have been here and the year I have been able to work.

Last April I was offered a job only to have it revoked over a case of mistaken identity and today I am given fired or hearing for something so trivial no one can actually believe it - However sadly, probationary period means bye bye and the reputation of loosing this big job will haunt me for a long time.

We own our home, but were literally about to sign the dotted line to build our dream home, wife was about to buy her dream car now that I was making excellent money.

So alas, my career of 15 years is essentially over in the US as I am highly unlikely to win my hearing (99% failure rate in my line of work - 911) and everyone knows everyone in this tight knit community - Getting a full time, well paid position at my skill level is extremely hard.

I feel so sorry for my wife who just needs stability that I cannot provide. Is it normal to be the foreign guy with which nothing seems to go right for a few years?

This past week our house has flooded (badly), wife in a wreck, lost my job, father in law in a wreck and our household has been ill for three weeks.

I'm at the end of my tether and had it not been for my wife to I'd be heading back to the cold and miserable UK with my tail between my legs. I literally have no idea what career to look at now my existing one is essentially over. We've talked about starting a business but again - No idea what!

Who's got hugs?

Kiwikaye

I'm so sorry - I can't help much with practical matters, not being in the US, but I am happy to provide a ((hug)) when you so clearly need it.

I hope things improve soon.

Englishmum

So sorry to hear of your woes.

I’m sorry I can’t offer any practical advice really. However, my brother in England is a plumber; he used to be employed by his local council to work on their council properties, but they were handed over to a Housing Association so he is now their employee (although on less desirable terms than the Council provided). He’s always getting requests in his free time to install central heating, investigate and repair leaks, work on kitchens and bathrooms etc. and never seems to be without work.

Is there anyway you could learn a trade? Is this possible at a local community college or technical school? My friend here in NJ has a partner who left his investment banking job (I suspect he was fired tbh) and at the age of 45 recently ‘graduated’ a college course to be an electrician.

(I remember when I lived in London and Essex I could never get hold of a plasterer....).

Sending you some virtual (((((hugs))))) and all the best to you and your family x

SpoogleDrummer

If I had a job that enabled me to buy my dream home and dream car I wouldn't give up on it until it was 100% over. You say the hearings have a 99% failure rate, well be the 1%. If it's really so trivial that no-one can believe it then there's a chance the people at the hearing will feel the same way.

BEVS

I've got {hugs}

I wish you all the best for the forthcoming hearing & really hope it will be fair.

I was subjected to one once and they stink. A right stitch up.

notaclue

Sadly the hearing consists of bosses and board members who are likely going to be biased. It's my wife I feel sorry for, no one else. She needs stability and I'm not providing it. We did a court house wedding and our actual wedding is in four months, she now wants to cancel.

Lion in Winter

It's a lousy situation. I know all about personal financial setbacks.

If they worst happens and they fire you, is moving somewhere else for a fresh start a possibility? And are your current skills transferable to another type of business that is not emergency services?

Also, I know about at-will states (most of them here) and that employee protections are generally lousy, but have you sought any legal help to see if there is anything that can be done, even if only in terms of a payout?

I know it doesn't look like it now, but things will look up eventually.

Anian

So since you didn't buy the dream car and dream house, you are in a much better financial situation than you would be. Think of this as being very good luck.

Rete

He married a woman with children. It might be that she is not allowed to move far from their present location, let alone out of state, for him to find new employment. All in all, he has been fortunate to-date with his adjustment of status being adjudicated quickly, the quick intervention of political powers to get him his EAD before the 90 day timeline and finding gainful employment almost immediately upon searching.

You are in Kentucky. Does anyone have to say more? Do they harbor ill will against foreigners? Some might but are you being singled out because of your British accent? Doubtful. They are probably more than most very insular.

We've no clue what the incident was that brought you up for dismissal and/or probation. Just 3 weeks ago, a friend who had a civil service job in New York State was placed on probation on Christmas Eve and subsequently told at her hearing last month that she could either choose being fired or retiring. She was only guilty of telling someone at work that her immediate supervisor had a sh!t personality. So if your offensive is listed in the rule books, it can be a firing offense. If you are given the option of leaving without a mark against you on your permanent employment record, take it and move on.

There is no such animal as job security.

Rete

Apparently he is still within the probationary employment period. Payout is not something that would be available to him or available to most people who work civil service type jobs, i.e. 911, EMS, etc.

mrken30

This seems to be the week of people losing their jobs, it's not just you. More layoffs at work, my tenant also got laid off this week. The economy is not the best for skilled labor, but there are jobs out there.
I know in my State there is no legal requirement to give employees any type of redundancy package. Employee rights and protection are pretty much nonexistent in the US.
I wish you all the best, you have a great wife by the sounds of things. Hopefully she has some kind of job at the moment.

Octang Frye

Good luck. Remember, the sun is always shining above the clouds.

carcajou

Consult an employment lawyer, if you haven't already; the sight of which might cause the bosses to at least cough up some kind of severance deal.

plasticbag_uk

Apart from the obviously top job you had, the story reminds me of when I first came to live here. We too had a court wedding followed by a church wedding a few months later. I got my work permit before the full green card and found it very hard to get employment because I was an alien, my first job here was salesman for the main Ford dealer, customers would prefer dealing with me just because I had an English accent, I was however verbally abused by management constantly and quit, it took a year to find someone else to employ me, but I have a good wife, just as you do, she stood by me and worked to support us both, I eventually got a job by resorting to driving a septic truck, I was so ashamed but had to do something, it didn't last long before I found a family run trucking company who took me on. I now work for a nationwide trucking company who are in my eyes the best in the nation. As for the being an alien, this company think so much of me and another Englishman who works with me that they would love to hire as many English drivers as they can get hold of. You shouldn't give up or think you are not liked by people because you are an immigrant, have some confidence, stop looking at the down side, stand up for yourself at the hearing, don't let them intimidate you because if they see you are downtrodden by them they will feel even stronger. Go to the hearing, give your dam best and if after that they let you go then you are better than they are and they do not deserve decent employees.
I have no idea what the work you do is but if it is so important a job you will be able to go elsewhere. Good luck to you sir and do not give up.

ddsrph

If the OP wants to remain in his present location with no job prospects in his field driving would not be a bad option. There are so many jobs he would never face the possibility of being unemployed, at least for very long. Pay and benefits are not bad and many of the larger companies will train. It's also a job with no one looking over your shoulder. My brother just retired from a lifetime of driving and did well for himself.