So,I've been fired for something of a mistake.

[DigitalSushi]

Buy a Motorbike.

Then if you are late in the future, Who cares?!? you have a motorbike.

You get todays "Fuck Yeah" award for outstanding contribution to rebellious attitudes, you should be proud.

I'm assuming your quite young, the whole "its not fair" "its not my fault" is a thing young people tend to say, life isn't fair unfortunately, in future try to do a dry run a few days before hand so you know exactly how long it will take you to get to a destination.

 

[theSovietConnection]

Is there anything in the contract about being summarily fired for being what is (relatively speaking) only a couple minutes late?

It wasn't just a few minutes. He was late on a regular basis, mostly due to oversleeping. Also, the reason he couldn't make is on time was not because his mom wouldn't take him. It was because he irresponsibly let his car run out of gas and his mom wouldn't bail him out.

Ahh, I hadn't read that part.

Well, to me, it seems you are out of luck boyo, unless the team decides to take you back.

 

[manaman]

"Get a car" and, to paraphrase, "ha ha, your mom wouldn't drive you. You're a loser" are the standard, glib contributions from jerks. While you don't give a lot of information, no one seems to stop to consider that you have a car and it's in some form of dysfunction, that you can't afford one yet but are working toward it (hence having a job), or just generally that you do the best you can and they should not be dicks to you.
As to your job: if they're really that strict about tardiness, fuck 'em. Again, I don't know your work habits but, from what you've said, that's unfair. Sadly, there's not much you can do if an employer wants you gone. My best advice, assuming that you would like this job back, would be to continue to GENTLY persuade your mother to speak to someone in authority. If her pride is getting in her way, figure out an approach where she benefits from the situation (ie you get your job back, get paid, and buy a car so she needn't be bothered) or doesn't feel that she's admitting to being unconcerned and lazy (ie have her call and say that you both did the best you could under the circumstances but that she can assure them that, as your back-up ride, you'll have a way there from here on out... whether any of that is true or not).
It sucks that this happened and it sucks that you've gotten the responses that you have.

The source of most of those comments comes from two things. First: Nobody gets fired for being late the first time. The OP either had a habit of being late, or had other poor work habits and they used tardiness as an excuse to get rid of him. Likely nobody reading this thread but the OP is going to know what actually happened.

Edited the second half because I didn't see where he answered some of the questions:

The OP had a car, but let it run out of gas. I don't know about you, but it seems that the OP just has a responsibility issue. Probably the reason for getting fired rather then just being late 16 minutes. He didn't fuel up his car, didn't beg or borrow a bit of cash if needed (doubtful that a parent wouldn't have lent a child some money to put gas in his tank provided he wasn't spending all his money on beer and chips before trying to pay for necessities).

So the OP let the car run out of gas and had no way to get to work because of it. Then blames someone else because they wouldn't drop everything to bend to their needs immediately.

 

[Insanum]

Buy a Motorbike.

Then if you are late in the future, Who cares?!? you have a motorbike.

You get todays "Fuck Yeah" award for outstanding contribution to rebellious attitudes, you should be proud.

http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/0809/fuck-yeah-demotivational-poster-1221603794.jpg

 

[The3rdEye]

EDIT: Just took a quick read through American contract law (I assume you're American), and this seems to me that it is a rather unfair contract, and could be argued under the case of Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co.

In addition to what Pyode has already said regarding tardiness, most contracts I've seen have very strict explanations of exactly what rights you forfeit in them, ending with "I the undersigned understand that my adherence and comprehension of this contract is required for my employ at X studio/place of work".

 

[theSovietConnection]

EDIT: Just took a quick read through American contract law (I assume you're American), and this seems to me that it is a rather unfair contract, and could be argued under the case of Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co.

In addition to what Pyode has already said regarding tardiness, most contracts I've seen have very strict explanations of exactly what rights you forfeit in them, ending with "I the undersigned understand that my adherence and comprehension of this contract is required for my employ at X studio/place of work".

I read back and saw what was pointed out, which is why you will find that what you are discussing is removed from my post =P

 

[KiruTheMant]

EDIT: Just took a quick read through American contract law (I assume you're American), and this seems to me that it is a rather unfair contract, and could be argued under the case of Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co.

In addition to what Pyode has already said regarding tardiness, most contracts I've seen have very strict explanations of exactly what rights you forfeit in them, ending with "I the undersigned understand that my adherence and comprehension of this contract is required for my employ at X studio/place of work".

Well,I'm going to skim along my contract,and if nothing Prohibits it,I will post a copy here.

Also Pyode, I don't think Tardiness was a problem at all,but even if its just me and a flew others,people are often late,including the writers. Mostly people are on time,and namely the only reason people get fired is for letting work build up or missing one very large meeting,which directors are the only ones who really care.

Buy a Motorbike.

Then if you are late in the future, Who cares?!? you have a motorbike.

You get todays "Fuck Yeah" award for outstanding contribution to rebellious attitudes, you should be proud.

I'm assuming your quite young, the whole "its not fair" "its not my fault" is a thing young people tend to say, life isn't fair unfortunately, in future try to do a dry run a few days before hand so you know exactly how long it will take you to get to a destination.

17 is young to certain people but I (Like to at least think I) Act mature often,and rarely blame others for my faults,but this may be one of those moments. As for the dry runs,I know how long it takes me,I was just stuck in one place.

 

[disturbed0ne]

I don't really have a yellow pages,I generally have anyone I need written dwn on a board.

But you obviously have a connection to the internet, and the internet has http://www.yellowpages.com/

 

[unoleian]

Is there anything in the contract about being summarily fired for being what is (relatively speaking) only a couple minutes late?

It wasn't just a few minutes. He was late on a regular basis, mostly due to oversleeping. Also, the reason he couldn't make is on time was not because his mom wouldn't take him. It was because he irresponsibly let his car run out of gas and his mom wouldn't bail him out.

Agreed. If there's one thing employers hate almost as much as no-call/no-shows, it's the guy who's late often enough to remember. One minute, five minutes, a half-hour, it doesn't matter. When you're late, you're late. And employers remember that. Once or twice every few months, that's easy to overlook. I mean, really, a spare occurrence you better be able to chalk up to some freak happenstance. Everyone has hiccups every now and again. But, if you're late a couple of times a month, or even less than every other week, that definitely raises eyebrows, and draws attention.

"I ran out of gas" is never an excuse, unless is money is tight, and your boss sympathizes with that. Even then, don't expect that sympathy to pan out more than once or twice a year. It shows irresponsibility. "If he can't even watch his gas gauge, how can I be certain he's performing the tasks I expect him to? Is he really paying attention? Does he need someone to monitor things he should be fully capable of watching on his own?"

There's a definite trend these days for people to show some sense of entitlement towards their employment, or that mistakes can be overlooked. This is not the case. No one is special in the work-force. There is no merit for "good enough." There is only merit in "damn, that guy is good." If you're "good enough," or on time "often enough," you're not doing enough. You always hang on the line, then.

ed- corrected small line. Employers hate no-call/no-shows more than anything!

 

[KiruTheMant]

How old are you!!

get a fucking backbone and take responsibility.... don't count on your mother for a ride, get there yourself. alternatively use public transport...or just buy the fuel for your car..

I always plan ahead and get to work a little early to get my head in the game try thinking ahead.

A little harsh with the response,I didn't expect the ride from here,she wasn't even on my backup list. But my luck boiled down to her,and my work puts me in direct responsibility for my accidents,but within rights,true,but they WILL give me a second chance if I can get a witness saying my transport was limited. I realize this is generally my own fault now,and will speak to a witness like the Stamp Neighbor or my mother to call in and explain my lateness,so I may get a second chance.

I will do that tommorow though,I need sleep.

 

[Doctor VonSexMachine]

Did you call to say you would be running late so that people wouldn't be waiting around wondering where you are?

I *detest* lateness, but I am usually willing to forgive someone who lets me know they will be later than expected. Being late less than a 1/3 of the time is a pretty shoddy record. In my 8 years of work experience, I can recall be late less than 5 times, and that's an estimate on the high side. Never more than 1/2 an hour, and I always called ahead. No, I don't have a car, and yes sometimes the public transit took 1.5 hours each way. Sometimes, you just need to bite the bullet and grab a taxi.

I always plan ahead and get to work a little early to get my head in the game try thinking ahead.

Me too. I am generally 10-30 minutes early so that I can relax into my setting and get my game face on.

 

[Pyode]

Also Pyode, I don't think Tardiness was a problem at all,but even if its just me and a flew others,people are often late,including the writers. Mostly people are on time,and namely the only reason people get fired is for letting work build up or missing one very large meeting,which directors are the only ones who really care.

Just because a few others are late, doesn't make it ok for you to be late, especially if the excuse is that you "overslept".

Also, were they late as often as you and did they miss this meeting? It's obvious that this last meeting was "the straw that broke the camels back". If they didn't miss an important meeting they wouldn't have been fired, but that doesn't mean they aren't on thin ice.

17 is young to certain people but I (Like to at least think I) Act mature often,and rarely blame others for my faults,but this may be one of those moments.

You are definitely blaming you mom for something that was definitely your fault. As someone pointed out in a previous post, either you sprung this on her at the last possible second and she was absolutely right to tell you to fuck off or you got to her early and sat around and waited to see if she would give in when you could have already been out the door and on your way. In either situation, you are completely responsible for being late.

 

[Nouw]

You relied on your Mum for transport? Always have a backup plan. Always.

Also, just steal her keys!

 

[Samurai Goomba]

-snip-

At this point Its not irresponsibility,its overly carefreeness. The issues I faced were coincidental or accidental, and Being overprepared does NOT stop accidents

What is the difference between being carefree and being irresponsible? Aren't they pretty much the exact same thing, with different emotional connotations? Aren't you fending off an accusation by spinning it?

That said, some people are being a little harsh on you. You shouldn't be habitually late to work. That's probably the real reason they fired you. Forgetting to fill the tank-anyone could do that under the right circumstances. And you did walk the three miles... I dunno, fight for the credit for the work you did do if you want, but I think you should find another job and be more "overprepared" in the future.

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

I did. Point in Point,All the backups backfired. I didn't watch my gas gauge,and it got stuck at the house with a Empty tank. Sadly Automatic, so no clutch popping. Friends were busy,and walking was a bit out of the way.

So you were irresponsible and didn't watch your gas gauge as well as not being willing to walk 3 miles. Not to mention you admitted to being late at least once a week, sometimes due to sleeping in. Sounds to me like you deserved to be fired.

I walked the 3 miles,or else I would have NEVER shown up at the center. As for the gas,well,that is my own fault,I admit,and I was late 1/10 times due to oversleeping. Mostly it never mattered as I worked when I was called in,not on a strict schedule,and often the boss didn't mind. It was the fact I was late to the final production meeting which got me fired. Otherwise I could've just gotten a memo.

I can see your Mom's point. She wants you to learn to take responsibility for your own actions. You had planned to go there yourself, and you didn't have enough gas. It would have been nice if she drove you, but she had no obligation to do so. This is your fault.

Well Aware this is my fault. As for Obligation,She had none,but she also had nothing else to do,and wouldn't let me borrow her car. Also,I like the avatar,Is that Kirby with an AK-47?

Well then you should probably change the title for this thread and take some initiative towards either a) getting your old job back or, b) finding a new one, without your Mom's help. Try telling your old emplyoer that this was a one-time circumstance that happened because your car "broke down." As for my avatar, it is a deleted scene from the Kirby anime, wherein Kirby is in a police station, grabs a revolver, and somehow starts firing it on full-auto.