I got fired for defending my rights under the contract he gave me
This sucks. I no longer have work. I was hired as a contracted creative. I did everything under the sun to help a particular creator make untold amounts of money. My title was producer, but I basically acted as his personal assistant. I was available all times day and night to jump on projects with no lead time and tight schedules.
The working conditions were terrible. He told me explicitly that I had to answer his messages within 5 minutes. I told him this was unrealistic and his response was “you’re the only one that seems to have a problem with this.” My slack status had to be perfect. He was constantly on me and in my business.
Whatever, I shrug it off. I never miss a deadline and I work weekends, nights, whatever it takes.
This started to wear on me eventually. I couldn’t take it. The last straw was him constantly missing scheduled meetings. The worst of these times was when he messaged for an emergency meeting one night. I had my son’s soccer game, but I thought I could drive separately from my wife and come a little later (like a classic deadbeat dad in a 90s movie). I wait for our scheduled time and hear nothing… 30 minutes later he hits me with “sorry let’s cancel. Something came up.”
This wouldn’t usually bother me. Life happens. But it’s the fact I would literally lose my job if I was as neglectful with communication as he is. He would constantly not show up for calls.
I missed half my son’s game. “That’s it” I tell myself. I’m going to show him my contract.
I wasn’t an employee! No benefits, no safety. My contract HE GAVE ME explicitly details how I make my own schedule. As a contractor he gives me projects, and I determine when, where, in what manner they get done! He’s not employing me so I’m supposed to have certain freedoms. I bring this up and he acts so dumb…
“I’ve never read this.”
“Send me where it says that.”
And again;
“You’re the only one that has a problem with this.”
I send him the contract he signed, as well as specific lines from that contract. It’s incredibly clear. The contract is legal, but the way he treats me is a serious misclassification.
“I’ll take a look and see what we can put together.” He tells me.
And what do you know, that’s the last I really hear from him. Ghosted. I’m not getting paid and have no work so I follow up. He says my “conditions” (the terms in HIS contract) “defeat the purpose of my role.” He says he has nothing for me. Just like that. Three kids, and because I try to defend my sanity with terms in his own contract, I get kicked to the curb.
And that’s it. A year of going out of my way to make this gig work. Trying so hard not to lose it. In the end I can’t help but feel this is just how he works. Takes advantage of people and I’m the sucker that fell for it.
I imagine I have at least a basic legal case here but I have zero interest or money right now for that.
Just need to vent. I’m losing hope there are people I can work for that will respect me or even just allow me to do my work.