The Click Trilogy
Page 48
Absolutely! Hang in there!
Chapter 11 – Changes
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 11:02 AM
To: PBCupLover, Shelley Manning, Mark Finlay, Ashley Gordon
Subject: QUIT MY JOB!
Holy shit! I just quit my job. I am literally shaking and freaking out. Why is no one picking up their phones? Someone, anyone, call me. Please!!!
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 11:14 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
I just tried your cell but there's no answer. You're probably on the phone with Shelley. Call me at the office. Don't panic. Everything is going to be fine.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 11:17 AM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Why is your frickin' voice mail picking up again? Where are you?
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 11:19 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
I just got on a conference call that I can't get off of. I will be at least 40 more minutes. Are you okay? What happened?
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 11:32 AM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Neil called me into his office and told me that we just won a new global assignment and I was being assigned as the lead for the U.S. The client is Monsanto. You know, the company I believe to be greedy bastards who are poisoning the food supply with their genetically modified seeds?
I explained to him – calmly and rationally, of course – that I just couldn't in good conscience work on this account. I have a huge objection to what they do and what I think are the terrible effects their products are having on our food, the environment etc. He – calmly and rationally, of course – told me this was the single biggest account the agency has ever won and that it's not a choice. I was being assigned to this account.
I said, "Is this because of Ethan's behavior at your July 4th party?" He said no, but I'm not so sure. ;) I once again – calmly and rationally, yada yada yada – explained that I couldn't be effective on their behalf. He – VERY bluntly and rudely – said, "Renee! Either roll with it or get rolled over!" So, I walked out.
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 11:35 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
It's going to be okay. You can only shoot an arrow by pulling it backward. This is just going to launch you into something even better.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 11:36 AM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
OMG! Could you be any more perfect…or annoying?
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 11:37 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Perfect? Why, thank you! Annoying? WTF!
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 11:42 AM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
You just always have these perfect expressions for every occasion when all I really want is to feel sorry for myself and have you feel sorry for me, too.
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 11:45 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Well, I don't feel sorry for you. You can let this get you down or you can pick yourself up and get motivated to move ahead.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 11:46 AM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Again, could you be any more perfect…or annoying?
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 11:49 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Fine. You're right. This is the worst thing that could ever have happened to you. Your life is a mess. I don't know how you will be able to get yourself out of bed each morning. Maybe we should just stay in bed all day tomorrow…together.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 11:51 AM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Leave it to you to find a way to turn this around and make it about having sex.
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 11:53 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
What can I say? I have been told I couldn't be any more perfect.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 11:54 AM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
I wasn't suggesting that comment was an example of you being perfect.
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 11:55 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Trying to cheer you up with a day in bed certainly doesn't qualify as annoying, does it?
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 11:56 AM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Nah. I'm just teasing.
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 11:58 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Aha. You must be feeling better. I was going to bring a can of frosting home, but looks as though you don't need that.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 12:00 PM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
That truly would be the perfect – and not in the least bit annoying – thing you could do.
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 12:00 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Consider it done.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 12:01 PM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
But did I make a huge mistake?
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 12:14 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
When I was in business school, there was this snooty girl who had done her undergrad at Yale. She walked around like she was better than everyone because she went to an Ivy League college. Big deal!
We had this crotchety old statistics professor who would go off on tangents a lot. (Kind of like you, my love.) One day he started ranting about morals and ethics. He explained that you might be asked to do things in your career that are ethical but against your personal morals. At some point, if you can't reconcile the two, you just need to walk away, like you did (for which I'm so proud of you!).
This girl raised her hand and asked (I am just shaking my head again thinking about it), "do you mean like go into another room?" We all just whipped our heads around looking at her like we couldn't believe what a dipshit she was. She had never heard that expression before. Dr. Lowell just snapped at her. "No! I mean you quit!" What an idiot.
At least you not only have the right morals but the street smarts and savvy to know you'll be okay.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 12:15 PM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
At this moment, I'm not so sure.
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 12:19 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
I am! See you at home later where we'll talk all of this through. In the meantime, I'm proud of you, Babe, for standing up for your convictions. I love you.
From: Skye@skyesloane.com – October 3, 2013 – 12:31 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: I'm with you!
I just tried calling your cell phone, but you didn't pick up. I imagine you are talking with your fiancé right now. Anyway, I wanted you to know that I think what you did is just amazing. Quitting your job because of this is incredibly noble. So much so, that I just quit, too.
I don't know if you have a plan of where you're going to go next, but I'm sur
e you do. You're so organized and on top of things. Just know, I want to go with you. So call me.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 3:32 PM
To: PBCupLover, Shelley Manning, Mark Finlay, Ashley Gordon
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
Sorry all. I know I told you all to call me and then I didn't answer my phone.
I initially panicked and felt like I needed to talk, but then panicked and realized I needed some time to sort all of this out. What the hell was I thinking quitting my job before having another job...and in this shitty economy?
And not only that, but now I have another person to worry about. Skinny Skye pulled a "Jerry Maguire" and walked out after what I did in solidarity with me. She doesn't have a job lined up either but was certain that I knew what the hell I was doing. What the hell am I doing?!?
From: Ashley Gordon – October 3, 2013 – 3:54 PM
To: PBCupLover, Shelley Manning, Mark Finlay, Renee Greene
Subject: Re: QUIT MY JOB!
You're not picking up. Hope you are doing okay. Call me when you get this message. I'm here. Or come over if you want to. Just do me a favor and DON'T ring the doorbell. I don't know if Siobhan will be napping and I don't want to risk waking her up. She's been teething and if I can get her down, then I want to let her sleep.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 3:59 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: HR Question
I'm freaking out! I gather you're busy because you haven't emailed me or called me back. I could really use your help. Can you see what legal rights I have with regard to my job?
From: CarrHR@carr.agency.com – October 3, 2013 – 4:02 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Exit materials
Renee: I'm emailing to let you know that pursuant to your dismissal from The Carr Agency, a packet of exit materials is being mailed to the home address we have on file for you. In addition, you will receive a check for your last days worked and your severance pay - two weeks for each year of service to the agency. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.
From: Karen Corley – October 3, 2013 – 4:11 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: On your side
Renee: I'm now emailing you from my personal account because I didn't want there to be a record of this email on the agency's servers. I'm SO sorry to hear that you have left. You were truly my favorite account person. You were always so respectful and appreciative of the job we have in HR. We all know why you quit and support you in your decision to stand up for what you believe in.
But if you quit, you don't get severance pay. So I coded your exit as a dismissal so you're now eligible for both severance and unemployment benefits. Knowing you, you won't be unemployed for long, so you probably won't even need to file.
But I figured the extra months of severance you've earned would help ease the financial burden until you figure something out.
Please don't share this email with anyone at the agency, or I'll get fired and will wish I had a severance package of my own. Wishing you the absolute best of luck!
Best, Karen
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 4:18 PM
To: Karen Corley
Subject: Re: On your side
Karen: You are a rock star. Thank you! Thank you! First, thank you for saying such nice things about me. I truly did (or should I still say do) appreciate all of your efforts in making sure everyone in the office is doing the right thing and getting all they deserve.
And more importantly, thank you for looking out for me. While being "dismissed" – which is a total euphemism for being sacked – is not something I ever wanted on my permanent record (that sounds so elementary school), it never occurred to me why that was so much better than quitting.
I'm so grateful to you for continuing to look out for me. Wishing you the best as well!
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 4:31 PM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Fwd: On your side
So, turns out that while I thought I quit, I was officially sacked. Turns out that if HR codes it as a "dismissal" instead of a resignation, I get severance and am eligible for unemployment if needed. But my severance is more than 4 months pay.
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 4:56 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Fwd: On your side
It's like that Seinfeld episode where George gets six months severance and decides to have "The Summer of George." Just don't squander it like he did. Now you have the financial cushion to start your own agency. We'll talk about it tonight.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 5:02 PM
To: Skye@skyesloane.com
Subject: Re: I'm with you!
Wow! I'm just speechless. Sorry now that I didn't give a Jerry Maguire-style, inspiring, compelling and erratic speech upon my departure. I'm so flattered by this, Skye. I'm also just horrified to say that I don't have a plan in place. I was blindsided by Neil and made a rash decision without thinking through the next steps. I'm sorry. So so sorry. I'm sure if you call Neil, he'll give you your job back. Just chalk it up to youthful idealism. He loves that stuff.
From: Skye@skyesloane.com – October 3, 2013 – 5:08 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: I'm with you!
I'll be okay. My cousin owns a temp agency and I'm sure I can just get some work until you find a job at an agency. In fact, I'm sure he can get you some work too. When you do get an agency job, please keep me in mind. I would love to work with you.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 5:10 PM
To: Skye@skyesloane.com
Subject: Re: I'm with you!
Thanks, Skye. I'll be in touch. Good luck to you.
From: Renee Greene – October 3, 2013 – 5:12 PM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Fwd: Re: I'm with you!
Oh, great. Skinny Skye's cousin owns a temp agency and she thinks he can find me some work. My problems are solved.
From: PBCupLover – October 3, 2013 – 5:14 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: I'm with you!
Calm down, Babe. I'll be home soon and we'll figure this all out.
From: Shelley Manning – October 6, 2013 – 9:34 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: HR Question
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you, Sweetie. I'm sure you've already got a plan all figured out. But I checked into things like you asked.
Under California's Labor Code, without an employment contract, you are considered an "at-will" employee. This means, with a few exceptions that you don't meet, that the employer may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause.
Even if you sued, you probably wouldn't win. Your case is classified as a dismissal according to the agency paperwork, but any testimony will contradict that and prove you quit in protest over an assignment.
From: Renee Greene – October 6, 2013 – 9:37 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: HR Question
Thanks for looking into it. The next stage in my seven stages of grief looks like depression. Watch out!
From: Shelley Manning – October 6, 2013 – 9:39 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: HR Question
No need to be depressed! Just gloss over that and move onto stage 5 – "the upward turn." You'll enjoy it much more.
From: Renee Greene – October 6, 2013 – 9:42 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: HR Question
Since when do you know the stages of grief? What have you been mourning? Moving away from me – your best friend? The loss of your virginity? A missed sale on Kate Spade bags?
From: Shelley Manning – October 6, 2013 – 9:48 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: HR Question
Ha-larious, Sweetie! I d
on't miss you that much (j/k), I certainly don't miss my lack of sexual experience, and I prefer Michael Kors. But seriously, you would be surprised what you pick up when you are involved in recruiting/HR. But I see the "upward turn" in your near future. You've certainly still got your sense of humor.
From: Renee Greene – October 6, 2013 – 9:51 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: HR Question
A sense of humor and penchant for frosting will only take me so far in the PR world. I may need to stay depressed for a little while.
From: Shelley Manning – October 6, 2013 – 9:52 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: HR Question
Alright. Mourn away. Just don't wallow for too long.
From: Renee Greene – October 7, 2013 – 1:32 AM
To: Ashley Gordon
Subject: Are you up?
I figured you would be up right now, likely doing a feeding or something.
From: Ashley Gordon – October 7, 2013 – 1:38 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Are you up?
Good guess. Sorry to hear about your job troubles. That really stinks. If you want to see how the other half live, just come hang out here tomorrow. One day at home with Siobhan and you'll be motivated to get a new job. It's a very long day with her when it's just the two of you. I love her, but I think I need more adult conversation. I'm thinking of going back to work.
From: Renee Greene – October 7, 2013 – 1:41 AM
To: Ashley Gordon
Subject: Re: Are you up?
Really? I know it's been tough adjusting to this new lifestyle, but I thought you wanted to be home to raise her.