I’m homeless and living in a shelter. I had recently attained a remote WFH tech support job which was perfect because I wouldn’t have to pay for transportation and they were providing me with the equipment I needed. I was sent a PC and monitor and I had tried setting it up in a semi obscured place in the shelter but the supervisor there informed me that I couldn’t continue to work this way because “they don’t know what I’m doing on it” which is a load of shit imo because they don’t know what anyone is doing on the internet.

I had to be connected to the internet via an Ethernet cable. I tried:

  • going to the library (inaccessible router)
  • going to a cafe
  • going to a local college (company blocked captive portal)
  • using a travel router (company literally blocked the connection once I set it up, called coworkers and they said the same thing)

I was finally able to find someone who was offering a private room just for work but by the time I was set up I had already received a notice of termination in my email.

I’m beyond furious at the shelter staff and I don’t know what I could have done to prevent myself from getting fired. I was to move into a place next week contingent on me keeping the job and getting my first paycheck but I had to contact my would be landlord yesterday to let him know that I can’t move in. I keep replaying this scenario and I don’t know what I could have done to not get fired. I guess I’ll go fuck myself.

location canada if relevant

  • absGeekNZ@lemmy.nzEnglish
    34·
    3 days ago

    I don’t want to sound judgmental. I’ve never been in your position.

    One potential way to approach this would be to “bring the shelter staff on the juorney”.

    • Tell them as soon as you confirm the job.
    • Thank them for their support.
    • Explain that you will be getting some equipment, and that you will need to connect it to Ethernet.
    • Give them the great news, that you have organised housing for yourself, once that first paycheck comes in.
    • Let them feel yes excitement, at the prospect of getting some momentum in your life.
    • If they express concern, invite them to sit with you while you work, show them you are trustworthy.

    This is a people problem, not a technical one. People that run shelters, especially volunteers, a good people. But they likely have been burned in the past; they will not blindly trust.

    • underwire212@lemm.ee
      8·
      3 days ago

      Right. I feel like there was a lack of communication here (just from what I gather - I have not been in this situation myself).

      I think that communicating with the shelter staff about what is happening would have helped here. They have probably had folks take advantage of them, and so they’ve got to be on guard constantly.

      But communicating about what’s going on and allowing trust to develop and grow is what could have potentially prevented something like this from happening.

    • DeceasedPassenger@lemmy.world
      5·
      3 days ago

      I have been in a similar position and will vouch this is solid advice. Best to build some kind of rapport over time when computers/working in IT is involved. Some people know extremely little about it, and some people are quite afraid of what they don’t know. The best way to overcome that fear is understanding, simply having a decent trust for you as a person probably won’t suffice.

      Edit just to say I nearly teared up reading your post, I really feel for your experience. Remembering tomorrow is a new day always helped me when things were worst. I bid you success in all you try.