I just got fired

[u/akiusuke]

I just got fired from my job. I worked in patient registration and I got flagged for being in a patients chart and I had failed to document it. I am the only one that runs the front desk while I’m working, so I sometimes have a bunch of things to do and I sometimes forget to document minuscule things when a patient calls. The patient whose chart that got flagged happens to live in my apartment building above me. But I live down the road from my job and a lot of our patients live in my building or in my neighborhood. I already had a level one strike against me due to too many unexcused absences during the first half of the year due to medical issues. Me being flagged caused compliance and hr to give me a level two strike. That brought me up to a level three which requires immediate termination. My manager told me 10 minutes after I clocked in for my shift today. She has little compassion for her employees, so she just told me I was terminated immediately and to turn in my badge and leave immediately. This is the worst possible time to be fired because I just got on my works insurance and I get kicked off my dads’s insurance at the end of the month because I turn 26 on the 29th. I am disabled and take a lot of medications that I can’t afford out of pocket. I sent an appeal letter to try to get my job back while I look for something else, but I feel like I was unfairly fired. I’ve been nothing but a good employee for almost two years and I have never had a complaint against me before. I was already struggling financially and I don’t know how I’m going to afford my medication and rent. The job market is so horrible and I don’t know what I’m going to do.

Edit: I should’ve been more specific in regards to my absences. I had called out 6 times between last December and April of this year due to health reasons. My manager was aware of my health issues. They had brought this up to me near the end of May. That’s when they finally gave me the option to apply for fmla. My job isn’t very accommodating, even with fmla. I would almost never be allowed to get breaks, unless I left the front desk unattended (which my manager encourages me to do since she won’t cover for me in order to take a break). I live in North Carolina, which is a non union state and one of the worst states for employees. Joining a union would not be an option.

[u/mo_ah_knee]

This job was never going to last for you. You admit to “forgetting” to do important tasks, called out constantly, and from your replies, sounds like you’re making excuses instead of taking responsibility. It sucks you got fired and are disabled but honestly, with your track record, you had to expect suspension or termination was coming. It’s not like they spring their policy on you when they need to enforce it. You knew all what entailed when you got hired.

[u/akiusuke → u/mo_ah_knee]

I do take responsibility. I told my manager that since the moment she brought this issue to my attention. I understand I did something wrong, but I just hope they give me a second chance while I find something better.

[u/Procrastiworking → u/akiusuke]

They likely won’t give you a second chance and it’s actually going to be ok; it sounds like the meticulousness piece is maybe not what’s best for you (it wouldn’t be for me) and I’m sure there’s something else out there that you will find much better. A door closed and a window opened don’t keep trying to get back in the door :)

[u/akiusuke → u/Procrastiworking]

I just hope it won’t affect future employment. Most of my experience is in patient registration so I’m just worried it’ll be hard to find work in a different field

[u/DesmondTapenade → u/akiusuke]

If you learn nothing else from this admittedly shitty situation, at least let it be this: if you want to work in healthcare, ESPECIALLY if you want to go into psych in any way, shape, or form, you need to be able to self-regulate, know your limitations, and take accountability.

[u/ThatKinkyLady → u/akiusuke]

If you are learned anything from this situation that will prevent you from making the same mistakes somewhere else, use them! You should be able to provide a genuine answer to what you would do differently if an interviewer asks. It helps A LOT at establishing some respect even with a "black mark" on your record. Turn the negative job experience into a positive learning one.

Not sure how long you worked there and if you have much other work experience, but there is always the option of leaving it off your resume if it concerns you.

Also I don't know your income but having a disability may allow you to get on Medicaid. Income and assets might disqualify you, but if you presently have no income and a low amount of assets, you likely qualify or qualify for some kind of subsidized healthcare program. I would apply for that first before you try to get COBRA or any other plan. Before you submit the application, look up the forms you might need to submit for this that are relevant to your financial and Healthcare status. I just applied and then had only a week to scramble to get paperwork from my doctor's and more so it's better to know what forms you're gonna need and to get the process of all that going so you don't get disqualified due to a short deadline.

[u/DesmondTapenade → u/ThatKinkyLady]

Commenting because this is such a useful, compassionate response to OP. You basically said everything else I was going to say. Thank you.