The SALVATION for those who are Victim to the ARMY
To begin, this is written off of one person’s experience, one person’s opinion, and is not [I pray] a reoccurring issue within today’s job market and/or hiring process of the Salvation Army. In addition, any reference to “the Army” is made in correlation with the Salvation Army, NOT the United States Army. With that being said…
There is no recognition too great, no action too noble, no opinions too high to ever give me the positive impression that the Salvation Army (SA) attempts to make in today’s world. They have, on every level, scarred the face of the Army through their unethical hiring process, their disregard for the repercussions of their actions, and their failure to and spineless act of denying their actions and simply pawning off responsibility to the bureaucratic red tape which has damaged the corporate world, for there is no “Non-Profit” in this country.
On January 2, 2007 I was contacted by Dr. Doug Loisel, Execute Director of the Salvation Army Social Services Department (Los Angeles County), in regards to a position as an “Executive Director” of business for the SA. I put quotation marks because they were in the process of changing the name of the position, but had not decided on the new name at this time. I, excited to join the world of the “non-profit”, replied back and found myself in front of the board interviewing for the position. After a very comfortable, pleasant experience with the board, it was decided that I did not have adequate experience to be an executive member of the SA. I agreed and still had a desire to be a member of the Army, and told Dr. Loisel to keep me in mind if any future positions were to come available. I was told that he was trying to make some moves and get me in at the Bell Homeless Shelter. The move he was speaking of was to move the current Business Manager of the Bell Shelter (LaRae Neal) to the “Executive Director” position and I would move into her position if she felt comfortable with hiring me.
Come February 1, 2007 I was on my way to the Bell Shelter to meet with LaRae Neal and Alexandra Tostes for an interview and to win their approval. I did. The interview went really well, I expressed my desire to make a salary of $65k per year, and was contacted on February 16, 2007 via email being offered a position.
Specifically:
“In light of this the starting salary for you would be 51,000.00 a year keeping you in your current financial position. You will have a flexible schedule, the only expectation would be for you to work Mon - Fri, with weekends off. You will also earn 12 paid sick days per year and 4 weeks of vacation per year along with health benefits. You can also take that exciting vacation you have planned with no worry's. We would love to have you on board, so take some time, pray about it and let me know your decision. Currently I have two other applicants for the position, but no offers have made as of today.”
Even with a salary adjustment, I was willing to take the new position because I thought this was going to be a great opportunity for me to make a difference in the lives of others and to refine my skills in both business and finance. I am coming from 10 years of banking, finance, audits, and sales. I took the weekend to think it over, talk to my family, my girlfriend, my current manager, and friends. Make sense? I thought so.
Monday, February 19th rolled around too slowly and I decided to call LaRae and speak with her verbally to accept the position. An action I, to this day, regret since I do not have it in writing. I called her, accepted the position, and verified the clearance to buy a $1,000 plane ticket to China (to visit a friend in the Peace Corp). During this phone call I asked her if it would be beneficial to give my notice at Downey Savings now and start as soon as possible, or to start at the SA after I returned from China. She told me to give notice and start the SA on the 12th of March, the day after I returned from the Solvang Century Bike Ride. And I did.
When February 23rd rolled around, I had an appointment at 1pm to meet with LaRae and sign all the paperwork for employment including insurance, 401k and benefit plans, and direct deposit. All in all, I spent 3 hours signing over 24 pages of documents and watching that lovely new employee movie that most companies have. At that time, LaRae Neal told me that she was going to submit all my papers to the DHQ (District Head Quarters) for approval. I asked her if this meant that I was not hired, she said it was strictly procedure and I had nothing to worry about. I did not worry and left my last day at Downey to be Wednesday, March 7, 2007. Here is where it gets interesting.
March 6, 2007 brought about a feeling of sadness to be leaving a job I have been working at for the last 5 + years, however, we all move on. After checking my personal email from work on my cell phone, I get an email from LaRae asking me to “…when [I] get a moment please give [her] a call.” I did and found out that one person on the Board of Directors at DHQ (name not disclosed to me) decided that he wanted a person with a degree specific to accounting/finance and that I was not be hired for the position. After asking LaRae if she understood that she had offered me the position and told me to give Downey notice, she responded with the simple response that she never promised me anything of that nature and my application still required approval. I asked her if she “understood the financial repercussions of her actions on my life?” and she told me “…yeah, I’m sorry about that.” Me too.
Bottom line, my situation exists as this: I had one day left at Downey (they had already filled my position), no job at the Salvation Army, a $1,000.00 plane ticket to China (April 25th to May 11th), $2,000.00 in my savings account, and the excitement of seeing how long I can last financially. I remember Dr. Loisel and I discussed how money makes the world go round, which is why he wanted me specifically (a person who understands the financial importance of micro management), now I get that first hand experience. Thanks doctor.
So far I have applied for over 45 jobs through a variety of websites, personal visits, and personal connections. No bites yet, with the exception of a retail position that pays $9.25/hour, but I don’t hear back from them until next week. Keep in mind that when I left Downey I was making $19.36/hour. I have money I guess, but this money was set aside for my trip to China (at least things are cheaper there), and I have my retirement waiting for me.
What I am supposed to do now? Let the SA get away with their irresponsible actions? Perhaps. Should I fight it? I could, but what happens to me? Will I be branded as the person who fought (legally or not) the Salvation Army? With any luck. I looked over my contract. The last note on the contract states that the contract is not valid until the Director signs it. I had my signature, LaRae’s signature, and LaRae’s word (not written of course). Does Detrimental Reliance cover this? Probably not. I will know before my trip to China though. I promise you that.
I know that the SA has done some really good things in this world. I am not disregarding their actions as an organization for helping others. I am questioning the ethics of a Christian, Charitable Organization and their willingness to lie about their actions, refusing to speak with me (Diane Bell, Major Steven Bradley, Dr. Douglas Loisel, LaRae Neal, and that gentleman who answered the phone at the Bell Shelter when I called to ask who LaRae Neal’s supervisor was), and denying situations ever existed. I am not looking for a fight, I am looking for justice. Just because an entity has the power to do this to another human being does not mean they should. This is bigger than my situation, it is the idea that Corporations are doing this to people everyday. Leaving them with no medical insurance, no job, and fighting to find money (and the job that goes with it). In a world where the battle depends on “Survival of the Fittest”, the underdog is being sent to fight with no weapon. Honestly, I will survive. Sure I am paying out of pocket for medicine, but I saved money. What about those who have no money? The people with kids, a mortgage, and no savings?
In a society of rising gas prices, 60 mile a day commutes, and 80 hour work weeks, there will have to be a change for my generation. When will it start and who will start it?
There is no recognition too great, no action too noble, no opinions too high to ever give me the positive impression that the Salvation Army (SA) attempts to make in today’s world. They have, on every level, scarred the face of the Army through their unethical hiring process, their disregard for the repercussions of their actions, and their failure to and spineless act of denying their actions and simply pawning off responsibility to the bureaucratic red tape which has damaged the corporate world, for there is no “Non-Profit” in this country.
On January 2, 2007 I was contacted by Dr. Doug Loisel, Execute Director of the Salvation Army Social Services Department (Los Angeles County), in regards to a position as an “Executive Director” of business for the SA. I put quotation marks because they were in the process of changing the name of the position, but had not decided on the new name at this time. I, excited to join the world of the “non-profit”, replied back and found myself in front of the board interviewing for the position. After a very comfortable, pleasant experience with the board, it was decided that I did not have adequate experience to be an executive member of the SA. I agreed and still had a desire to be a member of the Army, and told Dr. Loisel to keep me in mind if any future positions were to come available. I was told that he was trying to make some moves and get me in at the Bell Homeless Shelter. The move he was speaking of was to move the current Business Manager of the Bell Shelter (LaRae Neal) to the “Executive Director” position and I would move into her position if she felt comfortable with hiring me.
Come February 1, 2007 I was on my way to the Bell Shelter to meet with LaRae Neal and Alexandra Tostes for an interview and to win their approval. I did. The interview went really well, I expressed my desire to make a salary of $65k per year, and was contacted on February 16, 2007 via email being offered a position.
Specifically:
“In light of this the starting salary for you would be 51,000.00 a year keeping you in your current financial position. You will have a flexible schedule, the only expectation would be for you to work Mon - Fri, with weekends off. You will also earn 12 paid sick days per year and 4 weeks of vacation per year along with health benefits. You can also take that exciting vacation you have planned with no worry's. We would love to have you on board, so take some time, pray about it and let me know your decision. Currently I have two other applicants for the position, but no offers have made as of today.”
Even with a salary adjustment, I was willing to take the new position because I thought this was going to be a great opportunity for me to make a difference in the lives of others and to refine my skills in both business and finance. I am coming from 10 years of banking, finance, audits, and sales. I took the weekend to think it over, talk to my family, my girlfriend, my current manager, and friends. Make sense? I thought so.
Monday, February 19th rolled around too slowly and I decided to call LaRae and speak with her verbally to accept the position. An action I, to this day, regret since I do not have it in writing. I called her, accepted the position, and verified the clearance to buy a $1,000 plane ticket to China (to visit a friend in the Peace Corp). During this phone call I asked her if it would be beneficial to give my notice at Downey Savings now and start as soon as possible, or to start at the SA after I returned from China. She told me to give notice and start the SA on the 12th of March, the day after I returned from the Solvang Century Bike Ride. And I did.
When February 23rd rolled around, I had an appointment at 1pm to meet with LaRae and sign all the paperwork for employment including insurance, 401k and benefit plans, and direct deposit. All in all, I spent 3 hours signing over 24 pages of documents and watching that lovely new employee movie that most companies have. At that time, LaRae Neal told me that she was going to submit all my papers to the DHQ (District Head Quarters) for approval. I asked her if this meant that I was not hired, she said it was strictly procedure and I had nothing to worry about. I did not worry and left my last day at Downey to be Wednesday, March 7, 2007. Here is where it gets interesting.
March 6, 2007 brought about a feeling of sadness to be leaving a job I have been working at for the last 5 + years, however, we all move on. After checking my personal email from work on my cell phone, I get an email from LaRae asking me to “…when [I] get a moment please give [her] a call.” I did and found out that one person on the Board of Directors at DHQ (name not disclosed to me) decided that he wanted a person with a degree specific to accounting/finance and that I was not be hired for the position. After asking LaRae if she understood that she had offered me the position and told me to give Downey notice, she responded with the simple response that she never promised me anything of that nature and my application still required approval. I asked her if she “understood the financial repercussions of her actions on my life?” and she told me “…yeah, I’m sorry about that.” Me too.
Bottom line, my situation exists as this: I had one day left at Downey (they had already filled my position), no job at the Salvation Army, a $1,000.00 plane ticket to China (April 25th to May 11th), $2,000.00 in my savings account, and the excitement of seeing how long I can last financially. I remember Dr. Loisel and I discussed how money makes the world go round, which is why he wanted me specifically (a person who understands the financial importance of micro management), now I get that first hand experience. Thanks doctor.
So far I have applied for over 45 jobs through a variety of websites, personal visits, and personal connections. No bites yet, with the exception of a retail position that pays $9.25/hour, but I don’t hear back from them until next week. Keep in mind that when I left Downey I was making $19.36/hour. I have money I guess, but this money was set aside for my trip to China (at least things are cheaper there), and I have my retirement waiting for me.
What I am supposed to do now? Let the SA get away with their irresponsible actions? Perhaps. Should I fight it? I could, but what happens to me? Will I be branded as the person who fought (legally or not) the Salvation Army? With any luck. I looked over my contract. The last note on the contract states that the contract is not valid until the Director signs it. I had my signature, LaRae’s signature, and LaRae’s word (not written of course). Does Detrimental Reliance cover this? Probably not. I will know before my trip to China though. I promise you that.
I know that the SA has done some really good things in this world. I am not disregarding their actions as an organization for helping others. I am questioning the ethics of a Christian, Charitable Organization and their willingness to lie about their actions, refusing to speak with me (Diane Bell, Major Steven Bradley, Dr. Douglas Loisel, LaRae Neal, and that gentleman who answered the phone at the Bell Shelter when I called to ask who LaRae Neal’s supervisor was), and denying situations ever existed. I am not looking for a fight, I am looking for justice. Just because an entity has the power to do this to another human being does not mean they should. This is bigger than my situation, it is the idea that Corporations are doing this to people everyday. Leaving them with no medical insurance, no job, and fighting to find money (and the job that goes with it). In a world where the battle depends on “Survival of the Fittest”, the underdog is being sent to fight with no weapon. Honestly, I will survive. Sure I am paying out of pocket for medicine, but I saved money. What about those who have no money? The people with kids, a mortgage, and no savings?
In a society of rising gas prices, 60 mile a day commutes, and 80 hour work weeks, there will have to be a change for my generation. When will it start and who will start it?
posted by Scott | 3:19 PM
3 Comments:
Scott... Damn. I am so sorry that you had such a sucky experience. Having experienced quite some injustice myself recently and certaintly seeing a HELL of a lot of it with my gay and lesbian friends (note: we are currently in Jackson, Mississippi, a very very scary place for us) I think it is important to stand up for injustice.
I know as Christians we are supposed to turn the other cheek, but what does that mean? Does that mean we are doormats, I dont think so. I recently read a book called Jesus and Non-Violence by Walter Wink that puts this and other comments by Jesus in some serious perspective. Non-violence is the key, but letting injustice occur does not help anyone...
Just my rant. Sorry about blabbing and sorry about everything. Let me know what ends up happening. -Brandy
Wow, it seems like La Rae made a huge mistake and is not willing to compromise her position to help you. Have you spoken with whoever is higher up?
Mary
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