Getting
back on my feet this time, has been the hardest, the loneliest and the scariest
ever. Last December, I lost my job, and
it was the most traumatic ever. I wasn't fired, my company MedPro Staffing, lost its contract with CSC.
So, all the MedPro employees were called on the same day and told that
their contract was ending and that Friday was their last day. The company called me first and told me not
to tell anyone. So, I sat in the office
watching people one by one getting a call to say that they had lost their job
10 days before Christmas. I was sad that
I was losing an income, but the job had been difficult starting the first
day. I was hired to help make change;
however, if change isn't really wanted, or accepted, it benefits no one. And, it is torture to the person that you bring in to make change, have them review your situation and then do nothing, except fail. Do I believe if they had made
my changes we would still have a job, maybe, a few months later the State of Maryland suspended the
contract and everyone lost their jobs.
And, I have to admit, I do believe that my changes could have helped
save that contract. I think that the state would have looked at the contractors as trying to make an effort. Anyway, when I lost my job, I filed unemployment, however, when the state of Maryland contacted MedPro, my company told the state that I was still employed. When that happens in the state of Maryland, a red flag
goes on your case and they do an investigation, because there could be
fraudulent activity. I immediately
called ADP which was my company’s payroll and benefit handler, they were rude
and unpleasant, and then I would call MedPro in Florida.
MedPro told me that it was their policy to keep their employees on the
books in case another position came up, and then they wouldn't have to start
the hiring process and paperwork again.
Also, I could keep my benefits. I
understood this, however, MedPro specializes in Nursing and Medical Staffing,
and I was a Technical Writer working on a state Medicaid project. So, I didn't fit their typical employee
profile. Their policy works for their
typical employee, and it may have worked for me, if someone there was also
looking for employment for me. However,
that was not the case. Also, I found out
that the insurance coverage was not even true.
I went the dentist to get my teeth cleaned, and I was not covered. So, I had to cancel my appointment, I thought
about complaining to them about it, because they had taken money out or my
check for Dental Insurance, yet I was not covered. Technically, they do still owe me that money, however, because they had it taken out of my payroll, but never enrolled. But, now, I was worried about how I was going to keep a roof over my head. So, I kept calling them as well as well as
job hunting. Meanwhile my money was
going fast because I did not have any income, I had a small 401K through MedPro,
which theoretically I should have been able to either remove or take a lone on,
because I was still an employee, but I couldn’t get access to that little money
either. At the end of December, I called
because MedPro still did not change my status, and the told me that my rep was
on vacation and only she could authorize the change. I spoke with everyone up to the president,
and all I ever received was I am sorry, but that is our policy. I also continued talking with the State of Maryland, and the Unemployment
office representative asked me if I explained to MedPro what type of position
they were putting me in by not releasing me as an employee. Not only was I unable to draw, unemployment,
I could not take advantage of the state’s employment assistance program. Maryland
has a few programs that will assist you in finding employment. I was locked out of everything. Also, I was locked out of some financial
assistance programs because the requirements were that you had to be working
with proof of income or receiving unemployment, I had neither. It puts a whole different spin on talking to
bill collectors. They would ask me when
did I think that I would get paid, or receive any benefits, and I had no
answer.
I didn't give up looking for a job, or calling MedPro and ADP. No matter how rude they were to me, I talked
to them on a regular basis. When I
finally got my rep from MedPro and told her that the company had not taken me
off their books (nor found me employment), she demanded to know who I had
talked to because I should have been off.
But, her “surprise and outrage” didn't matter. I was behind in all of my bills, I was being
evicted, my accounts were in the negative and what little money I had was being
used for food, lights and gas. I continued
to look for a job every day. I no longer
had internet access so I went to Panera Bread and used their free Wi-Fi. I would get a coffee and apply to jobs for as
long as I could. I kept thinking that
things would have to turn around.
However, I just couldn't seem to make it work and I couldn't see the
light at the end of the tunnel.
After
MedPro finally reported to ADP that I was no longer and employee, it took weeks
for ADP to tell the state of Maryland
that I was not an employee. I know
because I still called everyday. After Maryland was informed I had to have another case review,
and Maryland
had a case backlog because not only were they handling unemployment, there were
the cases of where people had run out of unemployment benefits and they were seeking
assistance as well. So, the state couldn't tell me when they were going to review my case. I just needed to be ready when they sent me a
time slot, because if I didn’t my case would go back in the pile. This consisted of more months of waiting, with
no idea of when I would receive my money.
I
received my money the same day that I lost my apartment. The property management company wanted all of
their money, and I didn't have that. So,
my money went to renting a storage unit and a U-haul truck. It was in February, and it was extremely cold
outside, and when I sat down that evening and ate, I bit on something and my
back tooth split and started bleeding. I
wanted to start crying, because even though I knew this was happening to other
people, I didn't see it coming and I wasn't prepared. And, I couldn't stop what was happening. It was like watching a train wreck. Also, even people see this happening to
others all of the times, if it happens to someone you know, many people wonder
if that person is going to ask them for something. I think that it also frightens others. It is like you now have the failure plague,
and it may be contagious.
A
friend let me stay at her house for a few weeks, until I could get myself
together. I continued job hunting and I
started filing my taxes, because I was sure that I would get a refund because I
had been unemployed last year longer than I had been employed. Plus, while I was employed I had been trying
to finish grad school, which is expensive, but also something that you can
write off on your taxes. My plan was to
either start working, if I found a job, or move back home to Detroit and collect unemployment there until
I found a job.
I
found a job, but it was in Albany. I actually had the interview in my car. I brought what things I could, and I have
been trying to make a go of it in here.
It has not been easy and I have had a few financial setbacks, which is
hard when you are already in trouble. I
have also lost contacts with some friends and family. It has been a really trying time, and like I
said, in some way it is like having the failure plague; people don’t want to be
around you. Mostly, because they think
that you will ask them for something.
Now that I am in Albany,
I am trying to start over by myself.
And, it has been difficult. My
brother thinks that I should get over what MedPro did, but it started a ball
rolling that I couldn't stop. And, I did
try to stop it. I tried everything that
I could think of doing. And I have
prayed. I don’t know what else to
do. The other issue is that as you
falter people wonder if you are really trying to help yourself up or are you
looking for pity. Meanwhile bill
collectors just ask you, to get a loan
from your friends and/or family (LOL).
TJ
Maxx www.tjmaxx.tjx.com
– This place has clothes, gadgets, snacks and accessories. What else could a girl want? Don’t get lost in the shoe and purse aisles;
you are shopping for others, not for yourself.
(OK, this is what I tell myself.)
You can also shop online with TJ Maxx.
But I think that you will find better deals if you pound the
pavement. 
