| About 6 years ago, I had applied for Bank of America's customer service call center. I was offered the job and I took it. The initial first day was an orientation day located in Downtown drive Providence. I know this sounds crazy but one problem with a lot of Rhode Islanders is the fact that they do not like to drive "all that way"; and although I was not too familiar with Northern Rhode Island much, I was familiar with Providence. It was an easy first day as far as commuting is concerned. Jump on a RIPTA bus and get dropped RIGHT there, in front of the building. The following day would not be as easy, however.
My second day consisted of a trip to Lincoln, RI, which I wasn't familiar with at all. So, i had decided to follow someone up there, so not to get lost on my first day in the training area. It was fairly simple, or at least I thought. Lincoln, RI is kind of rural, although oddly enough, there is a mall. It seems strange to have a mall virtually in the middle of no where, but they have one.
I made it there the second day, but the next day (second day of training, third day as an employee of Bank of America) I did not have anyone to follow, and yes, my worst fears were realized. I got LOST. I picked up my cell phone and tried to call a few of the various numbers they had provided us with on orientation day. I really just wanted help getting there. All I received was voice mails -one after the other, nothing more than voice mail. It was up to me to try and figure this out. I left a message on one of the voice mails, informing them of my mishap, explaining that I would be late, but that I was feverishly trying to find my way there.
After I left the message, I dialed 411 and obtained the number for Lincoln police, where I called to get directions. I looked at the clock. I wondered if I was going to make it on time. Unfortunately, I was 5 minutes (if that) late for training class.
I walked into training class late, which already was embarrassing enough, but when I did, the trainer apparently decided I was going to be made an example for the rest of the trainees. I was told this was an "incident" and that I would be reprimanded by a call center supervisor. I did not say a word, but took my seat. Ten minutes later, two other trainees strolled in, making them at least fifteen minutes late. Not a word was spoken to them by the trainer.
Half way through the day, the time came when the trainer decided to march me down to the call center floor, and make me answer for my tardiness to a supervisor. I had never been so humiliated in my life. I did not know these people, and was already thoroughly embarrassed by the simple fact that I walked into the room late, and by the way the trainer "scolded" me in front of the entire class of trainees.
The supervisor sat down at her desk and said to me "You were late this morning. What do you have to say about this?" So, I very cordially explained the situation, at which time I was told it would NOT be tolerated, and that THIS would be considered an "incident" (which is obviously the term BOA uses for "warning".) I again tried to nicely plead my case and explain what happened. I then inquired about the other two girls who strolled in ten minutes after me. "With all due respect, I understand your position, but are you doing this to the other girls also?" to which the supervisor sharply replied "What I do with other employees is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"
I was appalled and shocked at the way I had been treated, after just my 2nd day here. Never in my life had I been belittled so unprofessionally by any manager or corporation. I took a deep breath, and kindly stated to the woman "Well, I apologize for being less than five minutes late, however, to be quite frank with you, if this is how you treat your employees, seasoned or new, I really don't think I want to work for you." I took the work ID badge off of my neck, and handed it to the lady, and smiled and said "You have a nice day now." I calmly left the building.
You may be asking why I am telling you this story. That is a good question. After I left that day, I wound up with another job at a different banking center, for a different bank, and had much success while working there; that is until they started to downsize as a result of the dwindling economy.
PRESENT DAY: Let's fast forward 6 years. It is February 2010. Everyone is out of work virtually, or at least a good percentage, with Rhode Island coming second to Michigan for unemployment severity. I put out no less than fifteen resumes per day. From the nicest of jobs to the worst possible jobs imaginable. To me, at this point, ANY job will do. The other day I received a phone call from a temp agency telling me that they sent my resume over to their client and the client wanted me for the position. I agreed to the position. Turns out the position is for Bank of America. I really didn't give it much thought. It wasn't in the Lincoln call center it was in downtown Providence.
The agent stated that BOA does a check to see if you are rehirable. (Remember, I would have been working for the AGENCY not BOA) I received a phone call stating that after my information was run, it came back that I was NOT rehirable. I said to the agent "I don't understand why, I wasn't terminated...", And I proceeded to explain the story.
In the meantime I obtained the HR department's phone number. I wanted this straightened out. I called. Transferred 4 times. Finally, in the right department. I was told it was a code that supervisor I met with put in the system after I left that day, and that there was nothing anyone could do about it. I was also told that the supervisor who put the code in was no longer employed by BOA so there was no way to get it removed because she is no longer there to verify the incident in question. Then I was told it was put there because I didn't give a two week notice before terminating my employment with BOA.
REALLY??? BOA blacklisted me because a trainer and supervisor were having a BAD DAY? And decided to make ME an example? They never even reprimanded the other two girls who were THREE TIMES AS LATE AS I WAS?! I demanded it be lifted. I was constantly told no.
With this information, and my story, I am going above their heads and writing to the CEO. Bank of America FAILS.
As for me? Back to the painful relentless task of job hunting...
~Chrissyisms |
