The fact that I am a 22 year old working for a non-profit organization is pretty unique. Many just want money and lots of it, so they work for companies that pay more than $7.25/hour. I work for Goodwill Industries. It is pretty neat and I feelproud to be a "Goodwillian." We're the coolest individuals, lets just face it. We help the world go round. Every step we make while on the clock makes a difference in someone's life. Goodwill's mission statement is "To support persons with disabilities and other barriers to independence in achieving their fullest potential as workers and as members of the broader community." Lets just say, that is pretty amazing.
I started at Goodwill in late July of 2007. I really needed a job because at the time, I was paying for my community college education. I went around to all the stores in a shopping center that is right near my house. I saw that Goodwill was hiring so I went to apply. I filled out the application and returned it 20 minutes later to the cashier on duty. She then handed it to the manager and my manager, C, asked me if I wanted to be interviewed. Now, not expecting to be interviewed, I was wearing sweatpants and my Montgomery County Community College T-shirt. I said yes and she took me into her office. I noticed right off the bat that she was super serious about the company. I knew I was being judged severly. After the interview, she showed me around the back room, introduced me to all of the current employees, and showed me what everyone does with their specific jobs. I figured this was a good sign. A week later, the assistant manager, J, called and offered me a job; I was going to be a sorter. The sorters go through all of the textile donations. It was a fun job, I was able to see all of the merchandise before it hit the store. Goodwill employees are NOT allowed to take what they want. Customers get first dibs, I am just going to put that out there. It was also a really gross job because people donated their dirty underwear; enough said.
I always say that it is the people and the mission that keep me at Goodwill. My co-workers mean the world to me...well most of them. In the 3 years that I have been with the company, I have seen countless people leave. It can be a tough place to work at; the people, the customers, the amount of work for only $7.25 is enough to make people go nuts. But in the end, I found my best friends, my sisters, my 2nd mom, my grandmoms, and my 2nd dad there. My (old) assistant manager, J, is like my 2nd mom. She gives me the best advice on work and men. I love her so much because she is so real. She doesn't play around and she works incredibly hard. A, my 2nd dad, is the sweetest man I have ever met. He is so adorable and kind. He has the sickest sense of humor and sometimes, I think I inhereted it from him. E, she is my grandmother. I love her so much. B-bins, whenever I see her face, a smile just can't help but creep up on my face. and then there is S and Jenny. They are my sisters, my best friends, and my rocks.
and there is/was my manager, C. C was one of those managers that was impossible to have any positive emotions for. She was extremely insulting, rude, and just plain mean. She never appreciated what her co-workers did for her. She looked down on all of us and she was jealous of those who had and were leading successful lives. She glorified the lazy ones and punished the hard workers. She was insufferable. And that is the best I can describe without going beyond what I am allowed to say.
For 3 years, every summer we were wishing for the moment that she would retire and leave us. For 3 years, we complained to the high-ups and never heard a word. For 3 years, we endured her terrible self. We didn't know in the 3 years we worked for her, that they were collecting data, stories, and facts.
So yesterday ,in my opinion, was history in my Goodwill Store. It started out as every other day. I was a keyholder because I had been with the company for so long. I opened and closed the store and last summer, I was promoted to management. I went out on the register and C stayed in her office doing God knows what. I minded my own business and she left me alone unless I needed a break. C's boss, Ap, is one hell of a lady. She is nice but one not to be reckoned with. When I saw Ap enter the store, I figured she was here for an audit. I acknowledged her and went on with my work. The last I heard was "Angie! I am not on the floor anymore, ok?" which was her way of saying I'd be on the floor all by myself the whole day. While C and Ap were in the office, I received 2 calls for C; 1 from a seasonal employee and 1 from C's manfriend. 20 minutes later I see C coming out. I went to tell her that her loveybear (as I affectionately call her manfriend) called until I saw how red her face and neck were. I could tell that her eyes were seconds away from tears. My first thought: oh fuck, they're letting me go. My second thought: who died? She put her right arm around my shoulders and looked into my face. "Whats wrong?" I asked. "They're letting me go" She said in a very hushed voice. Those 3 years of anguish disappeared in that moment. I hugged her so tightly and kissed her cheek. She was my boss; the woman who hired me in sweatpants. The woman who taught me a lot. The woman who promoted me and gave me a chance. She read my articles. She annoyed the piss out of me but in that moment, it didn't seam to matter. What do you say to someone who has just lost their job. Goodwill was C's life. That simple. But now and I told her this, she could live the life she is meant to. Travel; go to Africa. Marry her manfriend. Live in Florida. Enjoy life without a care in the world. Ofcourse, we all would have rather her retire; leave Goodwill with some sort of honor. When she left, collecting her items under the supervision of Ap, she waved at us and said "Good luck everyone!"
Why was she let go? "Because I was mean to my employees and co-workers." So why now? Why after 3-4 years? Because 1 complaint finally cut the cake; made everything complete. They moved in quickly and it happened so quickly. In a snap, my boss was gone. She left, the last image being her back and her hand waving away. The aftermath is still spreading through everyone. We're shocked and amazed. Happy but sad. The sweetest thing? Ap told us that we'll always have her support. Other PA Goodwills' would be supporting us. Because after all, in one week we lost our assistant manager (not J...though she'll be coming back after surgery) and our manager. And all of this happened the last day of work. Now I am leaving with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I don't want to leave my co-workers when they are going through this. But I guess I get to escape it. Hopefully when I come back, I will still have a job and my fellow co-workers will still be there.
I still feel uneasy.
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