Lucabrasi - 7-2-2008 at 10:13 AM
I enjoy my job quite a bit. I work at a youth homeless shelter and it is a very rewarding job. However there are times when things get hectic but they
always tend to smooth out.
During my weekly meeting with my Supervisor it was brought to my attention that one of the female residents (we'll call here Jen) Has some issues with
me. Now I knew she wasn't to fond of me because I try not to put up with to much shit from the kids, however their teenagers and it goes with the
territory. Anyways, apparently this girl is hell-bent on getting me is some serious trouble and possibly even fired.
Before we even met it was noted in her individual file that she was a little nervous to meet me. Thats fine, I get a little nervous before I meet the
new residents because neither one of us knows what to expect. We seemed to have hit it off pretty well. There were no issues the first week I worked
with her. When I returned to work the next week it was noted in her individual file that she said to another staff member she had a hard time getting
along with me...kinda strange because I dont remember anything that could have caused this, so I toned down my sarcasm with her to see if that was the
problem.
For the next couple weeks things seemed fine between us but there was a constant issue with Jen and another resident who would be chit-chatting after
10:30 when they needed to be in their rooms. Jen (along with the other resident) had been doing the same with the other staff members so during our
weekly staff meetings our supervisor said if it happened again to write them up for it. Well it continued on my shift so instead of engaging in an
argument with them I wrote them up. The other staff members had done the same. Jens case worker talked to her about it and of course she would try to
justify her behavior that caused her to break the rules.
Now a couple weeks ago a past shelter youth moved back in (we'll call her Erin) Erin is a nice girl but is very manipulatable. Some of the youth tend
to pick on her so I have to constantly keep an eye on her to make sure she feels safe in the shelter; its the number one rule. Well Jen has a very
"I'm really smart and know everything" persona about herself and Erin seems to buy into everything she says. Fast forward to my meeting with my
Supervisor yesterday morning, it was brought to me that Jen feels as if im playing favorites with Erin and giving her extra privileges that others are
not getting. To put it bluntly she thinks I have a thing for Erin. Jen said to my supervisor I was "doing stuff" that brought her to the decision I
was playing favorites. One example was one night Erin came downstairs and said she was having trouble sleeping, I asked her what was wrong and she
said "nothing" which was obviously not the case but I didn't feel like prying. I mentioned to her she should try reading a book to help her fall
asleep, she said she didnt have any. I then said if she wanted too she could play x-box for a bit (since I was going to be downstairs anyways) in
hopes it would take her mind off her problem and make her tired. She played for about an hour and went to bed. Nothing unusual; I've let kids to it
before if they have trouble sleeping. Well when Jen found out about this she said I was givin Erin a "special privilege" by letting her do this and
not anyone else in which I said to my supervisor " How is it a "special privilege" if Jen has never once come downstairs and asked to use the x-box
because she couldn't sleep? She has nothing to test this "special privilege" against because there is nothing. My boss completely agreed. Jen had also
mentioned that I was playing favorites because I had referred to one of the bathrooms in the shelter as "Erins bathroom" which was done because Erin
is the only member who sleeps on the second floor and seeing as each floor has a designated bathroom in which the members of that floor are only
allowed to use that bathroom I had referred to it as Erins bathroom. She was the only one sleeping on that floor which ment she was the only one
allowed to use it. It had become apparent to both my supervisor and myself that Jen was looking for any minor detail in order to spin it and get me in
trouble.
Now at this point in my meeting with the Supervisor she mentioned that I needed to "protect myself" because Jen could possibly be trying to have Erin
turn this into a sexual harassment issue. At this point I was completely shocked and extremely angry that it could get to this point. My supervisor
insured me that she stands behind me 100% and knows Jen is the instigator in this whole case while Erin is just blindly agreeing with Jen ( during the
meeting that Jen and Erin had with my supervisor Jen did all the talking while Erin said maybe 2 words. When Erin would try to talk Jen would talk
over her in order to keep the situation in her perspective only) As if this didn't make me mad enough my Supervisor said that Jen isn't even homeless,
she can stay with her mom and was basically "sneaked" into the shelter by the old supervisor because he though it was be a great learning experience
for her to learn how to live on her own. **** that, There are kids on a waiting list who need Jens bed and not only that, Erin who is placed in an
emergency room (meaning all her belongings must leave with her in the morning and she must share the room with another female resident) could use Jens
room because 1) Erin has never been in trouble and has never had any kind of violation while staying there. Jen is on shelter "probation" because of
the bad choices she has made ( I should mention that Jen is a "transitional resident" meaning she has her own room in which she can keep her stuff in
it and does not have to take her stuff with her in the morning before she leaves) Now if this girl doesn't even belong in the shelter and is trying to
pull this shit by trying to get me fired if not worse then she needs to be kicked the **** out. I dont even feel safe going into work now because I
have to constantly monitor everything I say and do. If Erin get a job I cant congratulate her on it because Jen would spin it into me playing
favorites. If Erin enrolled in College I couldn't congratulate her on that either. Which is ****ed up because kids like Erin who have had such a
shitty life growing up dealing with family abuse and drug addiction need this kind of encouragement because they never got it from their parents. So
tomorrow is our weekly meeting and im going to lay it all out on the table. Jen has got to go, she doesn't belong there, she is not homeless, she is
putting MY job in jeopardy as well as MY safety.
ok- vent over..
BDx13 - 7-2-2008 at 10:25 AM
you should state your concerns in writing and submit it to your supervisor.
maybe even submit a daily report of your interactions with the two of them.
is sucks, but in situations like this, you need a paper trail.
any vacation time saved up?
maybe a little break would help.
XHonusWagnerX - 7-2-2008 at 10:28 AM
wow man.... that really sucks. I know that any of the kids your dealing with have problems, but it sounds like this one girl is just an asshole. good
luck at your meeting!
Lucabrasi - 7-2-2008 at 10:31 AM
I just took a vacation about a month ago. I do have some vacation time left but I'd have to give two weeks notice and I dont even think it would get
approved.
Each resident has their own individual file in which we write down our interaction with the youth during out 12 hour work shift. I think I might walk
over to the shelter and have a talk with my supervisor as so I don't completely blow my top tomorrow morning at the meeting in front of everyone.
clevohardcore - 7-2-2008 at 10:44 AM
Man, just be cautious. That could get messy but with your hands clean no one can have anything on you. You did no wrong so its all good. Just remember
that.
Discipline - 7-2-2008 at 12:56 PM
I could never do your job. I'd get fired in about 10 minutes after smacking around a resident for saying something stupid.
Lucabrasi - 7-2-2008 at 01:02 PM
for what they are paying me I can put on a happy face for 12 hours 3 days a week.
clevohardcore - 7-2-2008 at 02:14 PM
Right on.
xChino_Martinezx - 7-2-2008 at 03:10 PM
I'm with the rest of the guys on this one, especially with what BD said... keep track of absolutely everything on their files, even if one of them ask
you what time is it, anything, write it down in their files with the exact words if posible and try to send your report pretty much daily to your
supervisor so she also can have a record of what's going on and back you up...
just keep your head up, be careful and keep your good job, bro, kids like this Erin girl need more good and honest people like you that actually care
to help them... 
Lucabrasi - 7-2-2008 at 10:45 PM
thanks everyone. Apparently someone felt sorry enough for me because when I was at the shelter tonight to pick up something, I was told by the staff
member on for the night that Jen had been kicked out of the shelter for threatening another member. What a huge weight off my shoulders!
BDx13 - 7-2-2008 at 10:54 PM
wow, good timing.
rest a little easier tonight, huh?
Lucabrasi - 7-2-2008 at 11:11 PM
very much so. I'll be grinning ear to ear at the meeting tomorrow morning.
defstarsteve - 7-2-2008 at 11:28 PM
dude that was some good fucking luck right there
how long before the bitch started calling rape or some dumb shit...
Lucabrasi - 7-2-2008 at 11:46 PM
I know dude. I've never been so lucky before. It was awesome.
xChino_Martinezx - 7-2-2008 at 11:57 PM
good news for sure, I'm glad for you, bro... she had that shit coming anyway, people like her always get kicked in the face sooner or later, karma is
a bitch even greater that her...
newbreedbrian - 7-3-2008 at 06:31 AM
nice! that couldn't have worked out better