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Workplace with Cult-Like Tendencies (lemmy.ml)

submitted 4 months ago by buttholechris@lemmy.ml to c/advice@lemmy.ml

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I'm an intern at a workplace where they are heavily into this LGAT thing called 'PSI Seminars.' LGATs are cult like I suppose.

I tried to complete the PSI Seminars basic but ended up feeling very unwell and going home the second day.

I ended up catching a cold. Didn't go to work for a week.

Since I have come back, things have fallen apart. I was being considered for temporary work for November and part of December. They had been telling me this since October 6th.

Well, not anymore. They just replied with, 'Oh, we found someone else.'

A couple of people who were incredibly nice before treat me like a pariah. Like they're annoyed to even see me.

People avoid me now. Most people in the office went through and finished PSI Basic.

I'm sad because things were looking up, and they came crashing down. I only get 80 hours for this internship, and I might just spend the rest of them just sitting at a desk doing and learning nothing. I'm like an afterthought now.

I know I have no future there. And when this internship ends, I will not have an income stream from an additional source.

I suffer from depression and I feel myself going to a deep dark place.

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[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm sorry you're having these life difficulties.

I ended up catching a cold. Didn’t go to work for a week.

Assuming your work schedule puts you in the workplace 5 days a week, I think you calling out is having the negative impact you're seeing, not because you haven't completed the PSI Seminars. Unless you have other health conditions complicating a cold, being out for 5 days for a cold feels excessive. A day? Sure, no problem. Two days? Probably okay. Three days? Borderline at best. Four days? Employer would be asking "what kind of cold is this?". Five days (which likely bled into 2 more days for the weekend). "I'm not sure we can rely on this person going forward".

Again, if you've got other health issues where a cold is a much bigger deal (such as being Immunocompromised, as just one example) then 5 days out for a cold could be entirely reasonable. However, those challenges (and requests for accommodation) need to happen when you're hired, and not after-the-fact when you've had a 5 day absence.

I know I have no future there. And when this internship ends, I will not have an income stream from an additional source.

Since you posted in "Advice", I assume that's what you're looking for. My advice would be to reach out to your manager and take responsibility. Let them know that you're still learning and that even if it means you don't have a future with that employer, its important for you to learn and any actions or advice your manager would have for you would be welcome even if it is critical of you. If they say things you don't like to hear, be courteous, be professional. Thank them for being honest with you and let them know you're committed to learning from this and that you're receiving their criticism constructively.

Good luck!

[–] buttholechris@lemmy.ml -1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It's not uncommon for the cold or flu to keep someone out of work for a week. It's happened before.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It’s not uncommon for the cold

It IS uncommon for the cold to keep someone out of work for a week.

or flu to keep someone out of work for a week.

Influenza is a much more extreme disease. That could certainly take someone out of work for a week. You didn't say you had the flu. You didn't tell your employer you had the flu. You said you had a cold.

[–] buttholechris@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yes, a severe cold can keep someone out of work for a week, as symptoms can last up to two weeks for some individuals, and the most contagious period is in the first few days. While many colds resolve within a week, those with more severe symptoms or who are taking longer to recover may need to stay home longer. Staying home protects colleagues, especially those with weakened immune systems. When to stay home When symptoms are at their worst: It's best to stay home when symptoms like fever, fatigue, and aches are most severe. If you have a fever: The CDC recommends staying home until you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. To prevent spreading the virus: You are contagious for the entire duration of your symptoms, which can last one to two weeks. To protect others, especially those at higher risk, stay home until symptoms are improving overall. What to do when you return to work Go back when you are no longer feverish: You can return to work when your symptoms are improving and you've been fever-free for at least 24 hours. Wear a mask: If you must go back before all symptoms are completely gone, wearing a mask can help prevent spreading the virus to others. Be hygienic: Wash your hands frequently, cough or sneeze into your elbow, and avoid close contact with colleagues.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

How convinced was your boss when you gave them this ChatGPT response to justify you 1 week absence?

When to stay home When symptoms are at their worst: It’s best to stay home when symptoms like fever, fatigue, and aches are most severe.

Your fever, fatigue, and aches were most severe for an entire work week!? If true, you should have been hospitalized. If you're using an LLM to do your work for you, you need to proof read it to make sure it actually support your position.

I can tell you that if you continue to hold this position, you will continue to have difficulty keeping employment.

[–] buttholechris@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

What kind of cave do you live in?

People get the cold and flu for a week. For people, like myself, it happens yearly.

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

People get the cold and flu for a week. For people, like myself, it happens yearly.

I know its been a month since this conversation and it looks like you've forgotten, so I'll just point up the thread. A cold and the flu are different things. You said "a cold". A cold should not take you out of work for a week. The flu certainly could, but thats not what you said you had.

What kind of cave do you live in?

The same cave your former boss lives in that knows a cold doesn't take you out of work for a week apparently.

[–] buttholechris@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 months ago

Go Google "Can a cold take someone out of work for a week?"

[–] zamithal@programming.dev 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I looked up PSI seminars because of this post. I'd say that this is probably not an employer you want to work for.

I don't know your industry or background; my industry is software but my advice should be the same for other industries as well.

Finding a job sucks even if you have 100 years industry experience right now. Apply to as many jobs as you can starting with jobs you want most and slowly circle outward toward less and less appealing jobs.

Load the top of your resume with industry specific keywords. Most hiring firms are overloaded with the number of applicants for every position and turn to a system called ATS (applicant tracking system). ATS is a robot that looks at your resume and throws it out if it doesn't have the keywords they are looking for. This reduces the pile of applications from thousands to hundreds.

After that it's on to HR. A recruiter will then look at your resume and see if it's a good match for the listing. The problem here is that the recruiter doesn't have the knowledge required to verify the claims. This is how we get job listings requiring 20 years experience with something that's only been around for 4. Plausibly tie the keywords in your resume to some experience from your past. Don't have any? That's okay! Work on it right now and when asked about it explain how this was self directed learning and growth.

After the recruiter, your resume is passed on to an employee who actually knows the position (hopefully!). I won't lie, at this stage you actually need to know what you are talking about. Assuming your resume isn't completely fictitious, you should have the background needed to CRAM for the interview at this point. Do that. The hardest part is getting your foot in the door. If it doesn't work out just keep trying, it does eventually.

Again, the market sucks right now. Both employee and employer are drowning during the hiring process due to AI. The only real way to get your resume through is to "spray and pray". Apply to lots, put in enough work to have a matching resume but don't break your back trying to craft the perfect resume or cover letter.

Wishing you luck, and I 100% think you got labeled as the "out group" during the PSI basic seminar, not related to taking sick time.

A technical interviewer

[–] buttholechris@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 months ago

I'm definitely out. People who were friendly are now a bit hostile. I even let one of the managers know I would be willing to try again. I'm an intern here and I kind of need the money, so I am going to show up and go through the motions until it's over. Thank you for your post.