So a funny thing happened on my day off today!

Around 4pm (Melbourne time) I received a phone call. In fact it was a phone call I had been waiting to happen for over a month now.

It was the owner of the new company taking over the contracts where I currently work. He basically wanted to tell me that I have in fact been laid off. That next Wednesday will be my last work day, in a job I have loved since my first day.

Funny! I am the only female security guard in this particular mall. All the managers of all the stores barr one love me. My supervisor and second in charge love me. They had nothing but high praise for me. Most importantly I got along with all my work mates. We are a diverse bunch with a varying interest in politics, and yet we managed to keep a smile on the job each and every day.

I am working tomorrow night, and for the first time since getting the job, I won't be smiling. I have to tell all my work mates (no one at work knows yet) that I won't be with them once I finish my shift next Wednesday evening.

My second in charge has often praised my work. He was always telling me how impressed he was with me. How proud he had been of me. And the fact that I was one of the better guards they had. I was able to solve problems easily.

In the time I have been there I have not had one sick day (even though I had gone to work not feeling at all well.) I have stayed back to do paperwork. I have helped the customer service team with computer problems, gift wrapping (when needed), and just watching the CS desk while they took their breaks.

I never thought losing a job could hurt so much. This was a job I wanted since I first studied to get my security licence almost a year ago. I applied for this job and received it the day I walked into the office after only 20 minutes of chatting with the supervisor and second in charge. I have enjoyed every single minute of working there. Even during the times I had been abused physically and mentally. There wasn't a thing that could wipe the smile off my face, or how proud I felt in myself until today.

The owner of the new company was very belittling to me on the phone as well. He continuously called me baby, babe and doll, and that did nothing but manage to piss me off even more. First this asshole hasn't got the respect to give me a job after all the high praise he heard from the guys at work about me. But he had to go and play macho dick head on the phone and totally hammer it home that I am a woman, and security is mans work. He also didn't have the balls to tell me a month ago when we sat the interviews that I wouldn't be hired, so I could at least have more time to try and secure employment.

And through all this, no real reason was given as to why he didn't want me to continue on with the work.

Now I am gonna go get drunk before bed! Thanks for listening guys!

Sounds to me like you'd have yourself a legal case if you were here in the States.

But without real proof as to that being the reason I got laid off, there is nothing I can do about it.

for written documentation of the reasons you were terminated? I.e., "grounds for dismissal". Hand those to a lawyer and they'll be able to tell you pretty quick if you have a case.

I wonder if you could find out if he has a "policy" of not hiring female security guards.

I'm sorry you were laid off! :hug: