Quicken Loans Whistle Blower and my whistle was taken too! Livonia Michigan
I used to have a job at a Company I loved. For almost five years I was employed by Quicken Loans. I had a few titles in different departments. When I started at Quicken, I was returning to the workforce after primarily being a stay at home mother of two. I was married, dedicated Girl Scout Leader, PTA member, volunteer teacher for computer lab, and I had the house all the kids wanted to be at in the neighborhood; the kool aid Mom per se. But I had to get back to work and leave this behind as many mommies are forced to do.
I interviewed and hired for a entry level position as a loan auditor. I was thrilled I had finally found a job with a great company that offered excellent benefits and perks just for being a team member no matter your title. After the first week, I found myself with a work schedule of 5am to 6pm monday through friday, and at least a 1/2 day on saturdays mandatory. Holy Moly from wonder mom to trapped in a 6x6 cubicle scrolling through loans for 12 hours a day. Thrilled to have a job and motivated by "team competition" for an extra 500 bucks a month bonus. As this excitement soon wore off and my kids upset I was hardly home and the days started to drag with resentment, I was "promoted to a senior". How wonderful. But that promised raise and higher yearly bonus never came.
I had then moved onto IT in a supporting role. There I was strung up to a desk with a headset taking calls from angry stressed out bankers that failed to have the time to learn the company software to write "clean loans". I was slammed onto a call center type team, to support the entire company on microsoft, company developed software and the many team moves from one location to another or maybe even one desk over. Training on all of this was minimal, so the frustrated callers needing assistance simply had to deal with team members like myself, wanting to help but did not have the tools readily available to do so. So my job started as -Ticket please, we will get back to you in up to two hours...frustration turns to anger and verbal abuse. Did you restart your computer? thank you for calling Lifeline.Ha ha. After two years of this, I became pretty good at helping the bankers and created quite a database of information of easy fixes to common issues. I LOVED taking calls and helping the team members work through issues. I knew our company software and loved my job until the hours started ruining my life once again. Inability of my team leader to set schedules that were at the very least routine, try running a family with not knowing if you will even be present for even one meal. My marriage failed but I sure was at work everyday. I would be scheduled one day from 7am to 5pm and the next 12pm to 11pm and the next day 10pm to 9pm and so on. There was no routine even when I begged for a set schedule, there was nothing that would change. I did not sign up for this, but changes were the only thing constant Such is life. Some months I would work 22 days straight. Overtime was paid, but it sure was not worth missing so much of my kids lives. But I had to do what I had to do and making money working every minute offered was the game. The only thing I was able to have constant in my life was the Girl Scout meetings twice a month in which I knew I would have time with my daughter, my son on the other hand just had to settle for the time I was able to keep my eyes open while at home and not plugged into my VPN taking support calls. Ahhh life with Quicken at its finest. I had no choice but to look for a new position with solid hours. Because I made this decision my team leader had to allow me to move. I was granted my release with my old boss reporting to my new boss amongst many deceptive comments one that really stung was that I was unreliable. WHAT? New boss lady informs me of my slandering, in a defensive way I tell her to pull my time cards for the past two years and see how unreliable I really am. The point in this was to simply prove these were blatant lies. I know I am an excellent team member to have around. Always giving 100% and reliable. Other team members would have all said the same. But now I was only labled as defensive. HA
So there I was newly divorced, making it only on my pay from Quicken and no child support. I take a title in Compliance as a administrative assistant, working only 40 hours a week and split between two teams. I did not make great money and even qualified as low income as pathetic as that was after 5 years of work. I did everything possible to make my team leaders happy, however with my personal life in shambles I worked even harder to make my job my escape. I worked hard and was proven to be reliable and dedicated to my tasks given to me no matter how overwelming. Things at work were intense for such a title as adminstrative assistant. I really did not do anything remotely like a administrative assistant would be titled for. I worked hard to learn what was expected of me. I assisted my team members with technology constantly so they did not have to call lifeline. Whatever anyone needed I took on and did. Licensing bankers to calling verifications for Quality Control. Never say no and always having the "I can" attitude in order to please them all. I always did the right thing. Then one day I was overwelmed and in an attempt to ask for assistance of priorities of workload, my "life balance" was questioned, so I had a melt down to my lead. Open door policy, yeah right. I shared what was going on in my personal life. This event spiraled into I am an unstable team member and now lets bring back up that time I was defensive no matter what I did daily to prove that false. To be human is to error but not at Quicken. I had a lot on my plate personally. Battling a chronic disease was the least of my problems but I still had to deal with it. Making sure my kids had everything they needed and a little of what they wanted, was pressure enough with little assistance from their father. My personal problems were huge and going to work should not have been another battle to fight day in and out but it was. Since my pay scale failed a descent home for my family, I had to take on a second job. When this was discovered by my team lead, I was definitely sliding myself right out of my status as employed by Quicken. It seemed doing anything outside of work that was not company accepted helped place you on the chopping block no matter how great the work you did was.
Sitting on a team as divided as this last team I was on was like being trapped in a civil war of black versus white. Working with all women is a chore in and of itself. Keeping up with the constant protocol of remaining compliant with all state guidelines was short of exhausting. The team never seemed to have enough help or time to meet deadlines. The stress of no over time to complete tasks and that of catty women constantly in the realm of stabbing eachother in the back was constant. Ignore the noise? I think not when the fear of being accused of untruth and losing your job is knocking at your door everyday. There I was in the midst of this as a person that is sympathic and willing to get work done and meet deadlines while dodging the knives that were thrown was impossible. Even punching out and working to secretly logging on from home to get the deadlines met went unnoticed. A few girls on the team were known for either coming in late, leaving early or in middle of the day and not punching out, or punching in- they were punching the clock for eachother to cover the time cards. Another one constantly reading books instead of being a team player, taking personal calls all day, surfing the net and having to be re-trained continuously to complete simple tasks was a member of the this supposed team as it were called. Bottom line with Quicken, if you are black this is the place for you. All you have to do is get a job there and then sit back and play the almighty race card to legal and your job is solid. Funny how many times I seen this happen sitting in the legal department. Regardless of the terms of a termination, claiming race as a reason you believe you are being picked on or let go, you will get what you want. One person IT used this race card and got the job back, a raise and perfect hours. Even though the knowledge and skilled lacked so terribly they were a thorn in the teams side and did nothing to benefit the company aside from side stepping a possible race law suit. Funny how it is a joke to them telling people how they have their job now and are sitting nice and securely at Quicken. Its not about what you know there, its about what you are and how you use it. I have been through so many cut backs with the company and never thought it would hit me. But sure enough a matter of two weeks after asking a 'friend" in a prominent position how to handle such issues on my team of falsely punching clocks and failure to do the job requirements, my confidentiallity was warped and I soon found myself in hot water and without a job. Shortly after the conversation, the girls that were named were informed they are being accused of such things and to be careful. No investigiatin on the lack of team work and time worked. Just watch your back and the people that do their jobs are expected to work harder to cover their deadlines, their lack of hours, and lack of skills. I lost my job out of these team members when I did my work. Stretched so thin, but still got the job done. How did the selection of cutting the fat trickle down? Well it seems it went to the people that have too many years in, telling the truth about lying skeeves, and show up and do the work.
I have been contacted by so many great employees that were laid off for no reason other than bad buisness practices. Reporting the theives that are stealing time and pay just cost me my job. The many team member that were let go for simply having the wrong color skin, or being high risk because of pregnancy, having too many years in with the company and they can simply have someone for less pay do the jobs are reasons that really made up their minds. The pregnant girls that I know that were let go to find themselves in a position of bringing home a new baby just short of the insurance extension cut off. How will they pay for the births or even their home bills now? I guess we will all have to figure out how to make it work on 1200 a month with unenjoyment pay. Thanks Quicken for 5 years of my life I dedicated and believed in a company for. In this time of complete financial crisis, you turned your backs on employees that stood by a company they slaved for and worked years of their lives away to be left with a phone call not thanking for the time and dedication given to a company for years of service, but a message saying your position has been eliminated, return your badge and cross your fingers in hopes of gaining your personal possessions back from your desk and your severence pay that will be taxed at 30%. Good luck finding a job in this economy and enjoy your new home in the closest shelter on state aid that claims that 1200 a month is more than enough to take care of you and your family. The past five years of my life brought me a realization that working your balls off for someone and giving them your all, just is not worth fighting for. I walked proud when I thought I worked for the greatest company and even when things werent that great I still believed in the philosophy and drive. I was sucked in to thinking I was part of a family type place and dedicated myself to this. Now as I read about and hear about all of the great people that did the same, it just saddens me this turned out this way. And the reality of Quicken is that the isms are for the team members brain washing that a cold corportation has heart and cares about what its employees need and want in a place of business. The isms stop there, team leads just up on their level of cold heartless ways of keeping them at the top and their claim of whats right for the business no matter who is stepped on to get there. The moves made by these individuals are just that, and will be returned the favor in threefold as karma always rolls that way. I know I will be just fine. This is a temporary thing to be jobless and my kids know they can always count on me to make it work. I know I did the right things while I was a "team member" and I have no regrets. Can you say the same with your life Team Leader's, I guess karma will let you know ;0)
Newchange
Taylor, Michigan
U.S.A.
9 Updates & Rebuttals
Fired For 95.9% Accuracy
Rochester Hills,Michigan,
U.S.A.
it is in their Business Plan
#10UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, July 15, 2008
In the near future those still working at Quicken will be called to a meeting and they will all be told they are being let go and that they need their badges and they will send them their personal items. No severance just close the doors.
I too was at Quicken,for 3 years, and was let go in March for having a 95.9% audit rating, but that was too low - I should have had a 96% - funny thing was they changed the points on the audit findings the month I was let go, and they 9 audits before I left that all were 100%. And it was funny because I wasn't really upset to be let go, it meant no more 60 hour work weeks or working every Saturday.
Since on the outside and interviewing I have found out that it is actually in their business plan to have the average stay of the employee be 3 years or less.
Today I had a call from another let go employee, who stayed another 4 months before being escorted out of the building like a criminal, for excessive use of Vacation and sick time. (they earned it, but I guess you aren't allowed to use it)
Dan made a bold statement when he met with Kwame a year or so ago, about Quicken moving downtown, "Quicken has never had a layoff", and they haven't. They just make your life miserable or they fire you for being late, making a personal call, or having to take family leave because your mother is dying. But the joke is on Kwame, because Quicken has as of yet, made no commitments on property. They have been cut off from numerous lenders, and are being sued for fraud by all of the big lenders. If they last to the end of year, it will be a surprise.
All the profit for the last few years has gone to pay for the Cavaliers. Dan's dream was alway to own a sports franchise, he tried to buy the Tigers, so he had to go to Cleveland and buy a 2nd rate team with one player. Last year in a phone call from Dan - he state that we would not receive an annual bonus because "the Cavaliers made the playoffs and have to pay $35 million in bonus's due the players."
I did take advantage of Quickens generous tuition reimbursement and did receive my Masters in Business Leadership.But Quicken is not a place where they possess or teach good business practices.
The company has never said why David Hall left, and there have been no lawsuits that have made the news, so he may have been let go because he refused to play their game anymore.
All I know is that their method of selling is to teach the bankers how to intimidate the borrower and make them think they are giving them a great deal. In the end it is all abou the banker, nothing is ever said about "doing the right thing" for the Borrower. So beware, you will never get the sweet deal that they hooked you with on the phone. You will end up $500 poorer, and ruined credit while they tell you at the last minute that you loan is dead, and that you won't be getting a loan with them.
Newchange
Allen Park,Michigan,
U.S.A.
You have some good points...
#10Author of original report
Thu, July 10, 2008
Ok so I read your responses to my venting. And I really have to say is a lot of what you say is absolutely correct. The company does offer great benefits and getting any form of severance was nice even though it really was not much especially after the taxes. Bottom line I am forced in a position of utter fright of how to find a new position to take care of my children.
Bottom line with Quicken, there was and still is a lot of BS and I am sure it is typical of any company. I do not regret reporting the employees for being deceitful and stealing from the company. It is wrong and I firmly believe still Quicken had every right to know. As far as being a coward- whatever. I did what I know was best for the company, and reporting them rather than calling them out to their faces definitely was the best thing to do given their tactics in dealing with anything life throws them. Since they believed it was someone else ont he team, they are doing everything possible to make her life pure hell. So you may think it cowardly and I believe it was bravery to make the company aware that theives are among them. I would do it all again if opportunity came because when us "whities" as you so thoughtfully put it, had to cover their lack of work because they werent there for the hours they were paid for to make deadlines and we had to work harder to retrain and cover for the lack of skill of the other. That is a plain and simple fact. Regardless how Quicken will deal with them is on them and side stepping any legal issues they would throw is just what them attorney's need to do. Bottom line when a company lets go of committed good workers and keep these lazy scamming losers employed is bad business. It doesnt help a company by keeping them on, and you bet that team is suffering now. I have heard about it and I know my old leaders are realizing much too late what they let go of.
The only thing left to say is it probably was a good time for me to go as the situations were eatting away at me and I can better benefit another company with my commitment and drive. It is just sad to have lost that for Quicken and to have come to the reality that my life had to go through this hardship to get to the place I need will be eventually. In the end I will be better for it as anything in life worth anything takes hard times to appreciate the good.
Thank you for pointing out your take on things.
Bobbysworld
Livonia,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Typical Quicken ways...so true
#10UPDATE Employee
Thu, July 10, 2008
I am a current employee and have seen many people lose their jobs recently. I hear you were offered a severence pay and extended benefits- that seems like a fair deal. The summer off with pay and insurance, nice. Quicken offers a lot of excellent perks even when in this market, the company does do more for the employee than most. Most of what you are saying in your tale of your experience is basic business practices for the most part and as you stated well the company side steps any opportunity possible to be sued. Can you blame them? Its a game really.
I know exactly who you are referring to in IT and that situation seemed completely normal for this type of person. Seems like you have worked with a few of these types of people that use the system to their benefit. But they will be let go, its just a matter of having all the documentation in order. I really dont think you were let go because of anything other than being split between teams. Your position was apparantly unnecessary for the "best interest for the business" if you will. Face the fact that most minority terminations have to be well documented before implimenting their status change with the company. Basic business practices of using the system to positively affect our business. Quicken handles these situations well- so what will happen now is these "skeeves" as you say will have their files fattened with adequate reasonings for them to be fired, then they will be cut from the fat of the company. Not on another black friday (or Thursday depending on Media contact- LOL) when people need to be cut and offered anything for their beig let go due to the economy and market. Bottom line when they try to nail the company for unemployment, they will have to fight because causing their unemployment status will ultimately crusify them in gaining the free pay checks for 26 weeks. I am sure it will be beneifical to the company to NOT pay them unemployment because they failed to do the right thing.
Another thing I have to point out is that being a snitch doesn't cause your being let go. You are on a team of people that you probably became buddies with and then instead of saying something to them about their actions, you hide behind some confidentiality and report them. Coward. Seems like you were intimidated by BS. If you cross one, you crossed them all and that is somewhat understandable. However what did reporting them do to benefit you? Sounds to me like you just became a disgruntled employee and needed to be sent on your way. People like you are a cancer and your actions and talk with other whities will just force garbage like this to spread and eat away at a caompany. Did you not learn anything from your leaders or were you too busy gossiping to really listen?
Good luck- I am sure a person like you needs it.
Bobbysworld
Livonia,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Typical Quicken ways...so true
#10UPDATE Employee
Thu, July 10, 2008
I am a current employee and have seen many people lose their jobs recently. I hear you were offered a severence pay and extended benefits- that seems like a fair deal. The summer off with pay and insurance, nice. Quicken offers a lot of excellent perks even when in this market, the company does do more for the employee than most. Most of what you are saying in your tale of your experience is basic business practices for the most part and as you stated well the company side steps any opportunity possible to be sued. Can you blame them? Its a game really.
I know exactly who you are referring to in IT and that situation seemed completely normal for this type of person. Seems like you have worked with a few of these types of people that use the system to their benefit. But they will be let go, its just a matter of having all the documentation in order. I really dont think you were let go because of anything other than being split between teams. Your position was apparantly unnecessary for the "best interest for the business" if you will. Face the fact that most minority terminations have to be well documented before implimenting their status change with the company. Basic business practices of using the system to positively affect our business. Quicken handles these situations well- so what will happen now is these "skeeves" as you say will have their files fattened with adequate reasonings for them to be fired, then they will be cut from the fat of the company. Not on another black friday (or Thursday depending on Media contact- LOL) when people need to be cut and offered anything for their beig let go due to the economy and market. Bottom line when they try to nail the company for unemployment, they will have to fight because causing their unemployment status will ultimately crusify them in gaining the free pay checks for 26 weeks. I am sure it will be beneifical to the company to NOT pay them unemployment because they failed to do the right thing.
Another thing I have to point out is that being a snitch doesn't cause your being let go. You are on a team of people that you probably became buddies with and then instead of saying something to them about their actions, you hide behind some confidentiality and report them. Coward. Seems like you were intimidated by BS. If you cross one, you crossed them all and that is somewhat understandable. However what did reporting them do to benefit you? Sounds to me like you just became a disgruntled employee and needed to be sent on your way. People like you are a cancer and your actions and talk with other whities will just force garbage like this to spread and eat away at a caompany. Did you not learn anything from your leaders or were you too busy gossiping to really listen?
Good luck- I am sure a person like you needs it.
Bobbysworld
Livonia,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Typical Quicken ways...so true
#10UPDATE Employee
Thu, July 10, 2008
I am a current employee and have seen many people lose their jobs recently. I hear you were offered a severence pay and extended benefits- that seems like a fair deal. The summer off with pay and insurance, nice. Quicken offers a lot of excellent perks even when in this market, the company does do more for the employee than most. Most of what you are saying in your tale of your experience is basic business practices for the most part and as you stated well the company side steps any opportunity possible to be sued. Can you blame them? Its a game really.
I know exactly who you are referring to in IT and that situation seemed completely normal for this type of person. Seems like you have worked with a few of these types of people that use the system to their benefit. But they will be let go, its just a matter of having all the documentation in order. I really dont think you were let go because of anything other than being split between teams. Your position was apparantly unnecessary for the "best interest for the business" if you will. Face the fact that most minority terminations have to be well documented before implimenting their status change with the company. Basic business practices of using the system to positively affect our business. Quicken handles these situations well- so what will happen now is these "skeeves" as you say will have their files fattened with adequate reasonings for them to be fired, then they will be cut from the fat of the company. Not on another black friday (or Thursday depending on Media contact- LOL) when people need to be cut and offered anything for their beig let go due to the economy and market. Bottom line when they try to nail the company for unemployment, they will have to fight because causing their unemployment status will ultimately crusify them in gaining the free pay checks for 26 weeks. I am sure it will be beneifical to the company to NOT pay them unemployment because they failed to do the right thing.
Another thing I have to point out is that being a snitch doesn't cause your being let go. You are on a team of people that you probably became buddies with and then instead of saying something to them about their actions, you hide behind some confidentiality and report them. Coward. Seems like you were intimidated by BS. If you cross one, you crossed them all and that is somewhat understandable. However what did reporting them do to benefit you? Sounds to me like you just became a disgruntled employee and needed to be sent on your way. People like you are a cancer and your actions and talk with other whities will just force garbage like this to spread and eat away at a caompany. Did you not learn anything from your leaders or were you too busy gossiping to really listen?
Good luck- I am sure a person like you needs it.
Bobbysworld
Livonia,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Typical Quicken ways...so true
#10UPDATE Employee
Thu, July 10, 2008
I am a current employee and have seen many people lose their jobs recently. I hear you were offered a severence pay and extended benefits- that seems like a fair deal. The summer off with pay and insurance, nice. Quicken offers a lot of excellent perks even when in this market, the company does do more for the employee than most. Most of what you are saying in your tale of your experience is basic business practices for the most part and as you stated well the company side steps any opportunity possible to be sued. Can you blame them? Its a game really.
I know exactly who you are referring to in IT and that situation seemed completely normal for this type of person. Seems like you have worked with a few of these types of people that use the system to their benefit. But they will be let go, its just a matter of having all the documentation in order. I really dont think you were let go because of anything other than being split between teams. Your position was apparantly unnecessary for the "best interest for the business" if you will. Face the fact that most minority terminations have to be well documented before implimenting their status change with the company. Basic business practices of using the system to positively affect our business. Quicken handles these situations well- so what will happen now is these "skeeves" as you say will have their files fattened with adequate reasonings for them to be fired, then they will be cut from the fat of the company. Not on another black friday (or Thursday depending on Media contact- LOL) when people need to be cut and offered anything for their beig let go due to the economy and market. Bottom line when they try to nail the company for unemployment, they will have to fight because causing their unemployment status will ultimately crusify them in gaining the free pay checks for 26 weeks. I am sure it will be beneifical to the company to NOT pay them unemployment because they failed to do the right thing.
Another thing I have to point out is that being a snitch doesn't cause your being let go. You are on a team of people that you probably became buddies with and then instead of saying something to them about their actions, you hide behind some confidentiality and report them. Coward. Seems like you were intimidated by BS. If you cross one, you crossed them all and that is somewhat understandable. However what did reporting them do to benefit you? Sounds to me like you just became a disgruntled employee and needed to be sent on your way. People like you are a cancer and your actions and talk with other whities will just force garbage like this to spread and eat away at a caompany. Did you not learn anything from your leaders or were you too busy gossiping to really listen?
Good luck- I am sure a person like you needs it.
Gil Danbert
West Bloomfield,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Don't drink the slushies
#10UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, July 09, 2008
In reading your story, I'm not surprised and I sure that many other former employees feel the same way. Just think: all of your blood, sweat and tears went to paying LeBron James!
You story reminds me of when I worked there. I had a friend who applied for a job there and didn't get hired. A team leader who I'll call "Dave" said that my friend didn't get the job, because my friend was a newlywed and that "we want new bankers to put in more time than most spouses are happy with". Hmmmmm...Not getting hired because of wanting to spend a reasonable amount of time with your family. Let's hope that an EEOC doesn't investigate!
Layla
Bethlehem,Georgia,
U.S.A.
I forgot to ad
#10Consumer Comment
Tue, July 08, 2008
Also, don't blame the black people for your bad experience with the company. By the way you explained it, they had no control over your schedule or the way that management operates...instead place the blame on the CEO, afterall they are utlimately responsible for the company culture.
Layla
Bethlehem,Georgia,
U.S.A.
You should have never be this loyal to any company!!
#10Consumer Comment
Tue, July 08, 2008
I refuse to work more than 8 hours for any company. Period! I have a family and I will always put them first, if the employer does not understand this, then I will gladly find myself looking for another job. I realized very early in life, no matter how much dedication, committment, and time you put into a company, when they are in trouble, whether it is ethically or financially they will throw their best employess under the bus in order to save face. So why bother??
I started my own business because of this, because I realized that I no longer desired to work hard for anyone, and if I did, my work would be mediocre at its best. Put it this way, I would never win "employee of the month". You can always change your jobs, put the time you loose with your family is irreplaceable.