Alan

I quit my media relations internship/job with the Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA) last night. I felt really good about doing it - and how I did it. I was wondering if anyone has any good stories about quitting their job?

Here how it played out…

When the interns arrived at the arena for last night's playoff game against L.A., we noticed there were these purple and silver wigs sitting on our main desk. We asked what they were for and my boss said we have to wear them during the game.

*flashback to May* Our bosses told us we have to wear dress shirts and ties at games because we need to look professional – and act professional – at all times.

All the interns looked at each other with the “this is bullshit” face. We were talking amongst ourselves about how STUPID and unprofessional we would look. We were in agreement not to wear them.

*flashback 10 years ago* I learned that media members, and people working with the media, should act professional and not show any bias during events (i.e. clapping for one team, wearing dumb wigs.)

So the game begins and I am sitting at press row. Two, maybe three people on press row have the wigs on. My boss, who was sporting her purple afro, comes up to me and tells me to put the wig on. I told her I left mine upstairs in our offices and in a really bitchy voice she tells me “well you can go get it.”

I gave her my trademarked “whatever” look and she began to walk away. She turned around, saw me still sitting, and comes up to me and says “you don’t have a choice.”

So I quickly went through the scenarios in my head of how I could quit. I proceeded to leave the court and I ran into another intern at media check-in. I told him I was going upstairs to get a wig (don’t worry, I had no intentions of wearing it) and I was about to quit.

I go back onto the court and walk past my boss. Again, with a bitchy I’m-superior-to-you voice, says “thank you…” I go over to my other boss, the one I like, shake his hand and tell him it’s been a pleasure working with him. Then I go over to miss bitchy, who was also on press row, throw the wig down on the table in front of her and throw down my ARCO Arena badge – and walk off the court.

You’d be surprised how good that felt.

So moral of the story, never tell me “I don’t have a choice” and DON’T TRY TO MAKE ME WEAR A STUPID WIG! I’m not a frickin cheerleader.

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"T.J. was born during a Monday night football game," - Joumana Kidd on why she should have replaced Melissa Stark as the sideline reporter on Monday Night Football.

thirty-two

If you work for the Monarchs, then what's wrong with wearing the Monarchs's wig (besides it being a wig)?

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I.D. badges are long overdue. Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged? - Dwight K. Schrute

green machine

Because as members of the media yo u have to try and do your best not to be biased. Even if you work for them in some capacity, media is different. Besides, it's the WNBA, and not worth any trouble at all...

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adamgreenjournalism.blogspot.com

Chandler Mike

Good for you Alan

Mike

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SirChaz

I don't have a personal story quite like that but I am reminded of one time.

Years ago my wife quit her job to stay home with our two young children.

It was a hard decision because of the income we surrendered even though much of it was saved by not paying childcare costs. One we did it we felt so good about it. I still remember that day as one of the most exciting and liberating of our lives together.
I still think it was the right decision and worth everything we sacrificed since.


The point here is listen to yourself and go with what feels right to you.

I applaud you for listening to your concience and for your commitment to professionalism.

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“votes are collared under democracy, not by talking sense but by talking nonsense.” ~H. L. Mencken

thirty-two

I see your point except the last comment



Alan, you stuck with yer guns, can't fault ya for that!

__________________
I.D. badges are long overdue. Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged? - Dwight K. Schrute

LoyaltyisaCurse

I have to disagree with you on this one. He worked in Media Relations for the team, therefore he is not your "typical" member of the media, he is an employee of the team and represents the team.

Media Relations people are not required to be without bias, they are supposed to make the team look good to the community as well as communicate effectively with members of the media etc.

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Goin' "Double Maverick!"

thirty-two

See that's what I was thinking when I first read Alan's post.

Oh well.

__________________
I.D. badges are long overdue. Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged? - Dwight K. Schrute

LoyaltyisaCurse

__________________
Goin' "Double Maverick!"

SouthNZoneFan

Alan,

Hopefully you have another job lined up or don't need the money.

Not working over a wig is pretty petty but if you feel it had to be done.

I am glad you feel good about it but wouldn't it have been better to think about it longer than you did (perhaps a night or week)? And talk with the boss about it before hand?

Just wondering if you have any second thoughts?

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You wouldn't have won if we'd beaten you.
- Yogi Berra

Alan

I only have second thoughts because it was a lot of fun being at the games. However, after being shown up by this one person the whole year, I feel good about turning the tables on her. I can't accept being treated like crap - or a servent - when I know it's unjust. Another one of the interns actually quit the day before because of something similar.

I do have a job lined up. I was offered two jobs last week, one as a copy editor/page designer for a Vallejo newspaper and the other as an associate producer for UPN in Sacramento. I accepted the newspaper position and I begin full-time on Tuesday.

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"T.J. was born during a Monday night football game," - Joumana Kidd on why she should have replaced Melissa Stark as the sideline reporter on Monday Night Football.

SouthNZoneFan

So this was probably happening anyway!

Glad that you are happy about it still...

UPN Sacramento. Do they still show every other show that cannot make it on a regular station?????

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You wouldn't have won if we'd beaten you.
- Yogi Berra

justAndy

props to you for standing up to the inane learned-it-in-management-school BS and that twit of a boss.
I once worked for a now defunct company.
In a year and a half there I never got a raise - that was only possible isf I agreed to work 60 hrs a week EVERY week.
Plus the production mgr was a roided out aggro bully that berated one of my coworkers for want a day off to visit the grave of her mom who had died the year before among his other charming "management" methods.
I took a Thursday day off, went out and scored another job - told the new people I would be in the Next Monday.
went to the bad job Friday and at lunch went to the front office and announced to the company owner that I was quitting effective immediately and they could mail my check within 3 days.
Owner asked why - I told him the reasons outlined above. He seemed surprised.
I guess the atmosphere of intimidation kept people from making any complaints...

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Yuma

This isn't quitting a job, but it's how I got over on a job.

I was working in a fast food restaraunt as a teen. We had free lunches, but we had to eat in the dining room with the customers. I was a cook. I was usually hot, tired, sweaty, stinky, and wanted some piece and quiet on my break. I would hide in the back and was told I had to take my break out front, with or without my meal or I'd be fired.

The next day I showed up with my own lunch. Barbequed steak and baked potatos. People would come in, smell what I was eating, look at it, and then turn and leave to go eat at a steak place I presumed. Next day I brought in Chinese food. It was pungeant and delicious. Same thing, people would walk in and seemingly realize they wanted Chinese food and leave without ordering.

After two days of this, I got called into the manager's office. I was told I was "significantly" affecting sales at lunch time. So I asked if I was being told I couldn't eat my own food on MY break. The manager thought about it and said she couldn't tell me that. So she said, very reluctantly, that I could take my breaks in the back away from customers.

I always try and find solutions that back them into giving me what I want.

I've done a few of those recently and in the past where I work. Yeah, I'm management's worst nightmare.

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Yuma's Dad RIP 03/22/07

I still have a gut feeling Shaq will be better next season (2008/2009) after our docs have a full off season to work their magic on the Big Saguaro!

green machine

I was thining more along the lines for future jobs as a journalist, however, which it seems like he had in mind.

Either way, glad to see things have worked out already!

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adamgreenjournalism.blogspot.com