Think I'm getting fired - how to deal with the anxiety

[Anonymous]

I got into an unexpected argument out of nowhere with my boss today on a conference call with our team. I said something fairly innocuous, or at least I thought so, and he went off the handle, started screaming, and took me off the project. I didn't argue back but I admit that I removed myself from the call. I did so because I was concerned that I would start arguing with him for real. It was one of those moments where I got very angry very fast and knew that I needed to exit the situation.

He has a tendency to blow up irrationally over nothing and be very emotional. I am usually good at avoiding the minefield but today I completely failed. So, I think he's going to fire me.

I need to deal with this anxiety somehow. I have a DH with a stable job and we have an emergency fund. Still, it feels awful. But, on the other hand, maybe I do need to move on and this is a good push.

Any pointers on the emotional impact of a firing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got into an unexpected argument out of nowhere with my boss today on a conference call with our team. I said something fairly innocuous, or at least I thought so, and he went off the handle, started screaming, and took me off the project. I didn't argue back but I admit that I removed myself from the call. I did so because I was concerned that I would start arguing with him for real. It was one of those moments where I got very angry very fast and knew that I needed to exit the situation.

He has a tendency to blow up irrationally over nothing and be very emotional. I am usually good at avoiding the minefield but today I completely failed. So, I think he's going to fire me.

I need to deal with this anxiety somehow. I have a DH with a stable job and we have an emergency fund. Still, it feels awful. But, on the other hand, maybe I do need to move on and this is a good push.

Any pointers on the emotional impact of a firing?

You got very angry very fast but your BOSS is the one tends to blow up?

As to anxiety, it’s out of your control now and you will do what you need to do. But you don’t yet know what will happen so try not to dwell on what you did, just how you’ll handle similar situations in the future.

[Anonymous]

I got fired last year. Just made a post about my imposter syndrome a year later so...there's the emotional impact.

As far as the immediate emotional impact. It was a shitty job and wasn't a good fit. I was a little stressed/depressed but within a week I just got into a groove of applying for jobs. I am now at a more organized company and see what good leadership looks like.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I think my boss and I need to go our separate ways. I am actually a fairly chill person. After years of his blow-ups, I would think I would become more immune and less triggered. I think I am immune 99% of the time. But today, I had enough. I'm glad, though, that I left the conference call before I said anything.

Still, it doesn't feel good. Obviously, I could have done a better job reading the tea leaves and side stepping the entire thing.

I've never been fired before and still officially haven't been fired yet but I feel the clock ticking.

I feel like a total failure for not being able to manage him but I also am tired of managing him. I have two teens in my house and I feel like that's enough.

[Anonymous]

Do you have your work laptop? Back up all your personal stuff tonight, download your HR documentation, address book, bookmarked links, passwords, tax forms, etc.

Do not send yourself any proprietary work info or documents; that will just give them cause to fire you without dispute for misconduct.

[Anonymous]

You won't get fired. If you get fired, talk to HR about your boss's insanely unprofessional behavior and how he's tearing the company apart.

[Anonymous]

Go exercise and enjoy a small alcoholic beverage.

[Anonymous]

Also make sure your address and phone are updated in HR systems, payroll, health insurance, etc.

If there’s files you need on the network drive, save them to your work laptop’s hard drive so you can reference them.

If needed, take photos of the screen with your personal phone.

Once they lock you out of the systems, you won’t have access to anything. If you sign onto the VPN post termination discussion, they will remotely brick your laptop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You won't get fired. If you get fired, talk to HR about your boss's insanely unprofessional behavior and how he's tearing the company apart.

HR works for the boss. Unless it’s a felony, they will stick by the boss. They are management’s little obedient piggies.

[Anonymous]

Always remember you are not your job.

[Anonymous]

Start looking for a new job regardless of what happens. Do you really want to continue walking on eggshells?