They got me. What happened today was not on my 2024 bingo card. My response? Definitely not on my bingo card.

I came to work today thinking our general manager, who doesn’t do bank deposits, barely remembers to do inventory, and has been accused by 4 people of sexual harassment, was getting fired for under performing, and that I would be taking his role.

Instead, despite busting my ass, boosting sales, making regulars, and saving the company loads of money, I got fired.

When I got fired, one would expect a heated reaction, or… any reaction really. The guy who was supposed to get fired, fired me. He sat me down and said this isn’t working anymore, I said ok, he said you can’t threaten to resign because you wanna be the general manager, I said ok, he said it doesn’t mean there isn’t opportunity in the future, but for now we’re done, gave me a check, I grabbed my things shook his hand and left.

I truly wasn’t mad, a bit confused, but not mad. Also a bit disappointed. Kristin and I had a conversation last week where I said I’d be happy to move on for the time being but working with this guy was becoming too difficult for my mental health. She said she didn’t want me to leave and would make me company beverage director so I didn’t have to answer to him anymore I said ok. Her fiancé comes in and says no let’s make Jordan gm and get rid of the other guy because he’s causing us legal problems anyways.

I’m not disappointed that I was let go, honestly I don’t care, I’m good at what I do and by this time next week I’ll have a new job. I’m disappointed that Kristin didn’t do it herself. After all the talks, after opening up about my battles with anxiety and etc, she makes the decision but isn’t the one who does it. I think I did enough for 1928 that I deserved the respect of her being the one to let me go.

I’m not sure I’ve decided fully what I think yet, my brain doesn’t feel like it’s fully done processing.. Like I’m stuck on a loading screen.

I think at the end of the day when I go to sleep tonight(or attempt) I got fired for standing up for what’s right, both in fairness, and in a moral sense. Maybe that’s why I’m not mad. I know I did the right thing, and the whole thing of the nice guy finishing last, well maybe, but also I’m not going to sit with my mouth shut and be complicit while staff is verbally abused, sexually harassed, and uncomfortable in their work environment. I was taught better, and if I stood by, not only would I be letting myself down, I’d be letting down Tom Mastricola, my mentor, the guy that led me to the man I am today. The guy that taught me how to treat a staff, how to have integrity and be fair. How easy it is to be a scumbag in this industry, and the need to be better, to help the industry become a better place.

I don’t know what’s next for me, or my career, but I know I did what’s right and right now that feels good enough.

To quote the great hank moody(a fictional character from a great tv show):

“I may not go down in history, but I will go down on your sister.

Where the skies are a little gray-er than usual,

J.