Going to Work to Quit [Archive] - Front Office Football Central

Blackadar

02-05-2003, 06:21 AM

Should be an interesting day. I'm going into work and I figure by the day's end, I'll either be fired or walk out.

I work for a shithead - there's no other way to put it. He took about the entire months of December and January off - literally missing huge blocks of time each day (or missing the entire day) while recovering from his hangovers. He's abusive and has no ethics or morals. I've had to warn him about sexual harassment, personal harassment and his conduct in general. Working for him the past 6 months has been hell.

When I was asked what was going on in our office, I've had a couple of frank discussions with his bosses, who are 500 miles away. I've told them about the missed time and they've verified it because they haven't been able to get in touch with him. But the last straw was last Monday, when he used a racial slur and some other racial comments when speaking with me. His comments were very offensive. I've changed the racial group and the associated insults, but to give you an idea of what he said, here it goes:

"You can hang out with the other chinks and eat some cat, squint your eyes and speak that gobblty-gook shit."

I reported these to his boss on Wednesday via e-mail, but haven't even received a response.

So today, if I don't see or hear from his boss by early this afternoon, I'm calling the execuitve VP, telling him about the racial comments and then I'm heading home. Until I work for someone else, I'm not going back in. I'm used to a professional office, not one where personal attacks, extreme absenteeism and immoral stuff is commonplace.

There's other problems as well, including promises (promises, not hints or vague suggestions) of promotions that haven't happened. I've had it. I like working for the company, but I'm not going to work in that environment anymore.

Ben E Lou

02-05-2003, 06:27 AM

Wow. Let us know how it turns out.

oykib

02-05-2003, 06:30 AM

You ping Galt or somebody. But if you've been promised promotions and such and your performance has been consistent; if you add that to the racial slurs and whatnot it sounds like a lawsuit.

Why should you be put out-- especially in this job market-- bacause of some dick?

Alf

02-05-2003, 08:06 AM

Weren't you already fired last year ?

JonInMiddleGA

02-05-2003, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by Blackadar but I'm not going to work in that environment anymore.

You mean they aren't all like that?

{sorry, couldn't resist}

Good luck today & beyond, very little in life sucks any harder than work-related stuff.

Draft Dodger

02-05-2003, 08:38 AM

good luck - try to resist the urge to beat the living crap out of your dipshit boss.

Craptacular

02-05-2003, 08:49 AM

Good luck Blackadar!

try to resist the urge to beat the living crap out of your dipshit boss

Hmm, I'm about to leave for a meeting with my old boss, who fired me from my old job. I work for a consulting firm, and we're working on a project for his agency. Thanks for the reminder Draft Dodger.

sachmo71

02-05-2003, 08:57 AM

Be prepared to sue. This is one of the situations that harassment lawsuits were made for.

ACStrider

02-05-2003, 10:07 AM

"Kill my boss?!?! Do I dare live out the American dream?" -- Homer Simpson

:p I had to throw this one in. Also, if you want some reassurance that you're not the only one out there with a jerk for a boss, check out the Friday Boss From Hell section at www.oddtodd.com. Sounds like you have a candidate.

Qwikshot

02-05-2003, 11:20 AM

Good Luck...

bbor

02-05-2003, 11:55 AM

Give -em shit Blackie

Kodos

02-05-2003, 12:07 PM

I hope this guy gets canned. You shouldn't have to put up with that kind of shit.

RainRaven

02-05-2003, 12:23 PM

I say he gets the Boss's Job pronto and alot of apolgies at the very least for putting up with such bullshit.

CamEdwards

02-05-2003, 12:29 PM

I hope it all turns out well.

Senator

02-05-2003, 03:08 PM

Cam Edwards sexually harassed me on air. Twice.

cincyreds

02-05-2003, 03:15 PM

Yeah, I thought you quit or got fired last year?

If not, then that kind of talk isn't necessary to you or anyone else.

Kick his Brick!!

Buzzbee

02-05-2003, 03:30 PM

The fact that we haven't heard from Blacky makes me think either he still has the job, or he's in jail for assault.

Draft Dodger

02-05-2003, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by Buzzbee
The fact that we haven't heard from Blacky makes me think either he still has the job, or he's in jail for assault.

or is getting shitfaced celebrating his new freedom down at the local TGIF

JonInMiddleGA

02-05-2003, 04:04 PM

Originally posted by Senator
Cam Edwards sexually harassed me on air. Twice.

Maybe so, but I think that was in his job description somewhere :D

Blackadar

02-05-2003, 06:21 PM

FYI, I was laid off about a year and a half ago in a corporate downsizing that reached 70% of all employees. I found a position with my current organization less than a week later.

As for today, I've had frank discussions with both the VP and Executive VP (who knows me better). I'm expecting a transfer and promotion very soon - like within a week or two. I'll hear from the VP on Friday.

astralhaze

02-05-2003, 06:32 PM

Outstanding.

astralhaze

02-05-2003, 06:33 PM

I don't like going to work. I don't think I'm gonna do that anymore.

bigdawg2003

02-05-2003, 06:37 PM

I never liked paying bills either. I don't think I'm gonna do that either.

Draft Dodger

02-05-2003, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by astralhaze
I don't like going to work. I don't think I'm gonna do that anymore.

see what you'd missed all your life?

Blackadar

02-05-2003, 06:57 PM

I'm still upset. But I have a child and a mortgage.

I turned down one opportunity while on the phone, because it was a loser. We'll see - I'll keep you guys updated.

And if they fire me, I'll be Rich, Rich, RICH!

Maple Leafs

02-05-2003, 07:48 PM

Originally posted by Blackadar
And if they fire me, I'll be Rich, Rich, RICH!
You can just picture it...

Them: We're sorry, but you're letting me go.
Blacky: I'll sue you bastards for wrongful dismissal!
Them: So you've always been a good employee?
Blacky: Good? Try great. I've worked my butt off for you guys!
Them: So you didn't spend company time surfing the web?
Blacky: Um...
Them: What's "FOFC"?
Blacky: Hey, look over there... (runs)

(Just kidding Blackadar... hope it works out. Give them hell.)

Qwikshot

02-05-2003, 07:50 PM

Good Luck to you Blackie!!!

Rich1033

02-05-2003, 10:08 PM

I have a good idea how you feel so I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully there will be some justice and your boss will get shit canned.

Blackadar

02-06-2003, 05:54 AM

Originally posted by Rich1033
I have a good idea how you feel so I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully there will be some justice and your boss will get shit canned.

I think that's a given. He's too dumb not to continue to do something stupid that will get him fired. It's a matter of when, not if. In the meantime, I'll have my own office elsewhere.

Alf

02-06-2003, 05:56 AM

So you got fired ?

cthomer5000

02-06-2003, 06:04 AM

don't keep me hanging? arghhh! what happened?

Buzzbee

02-06-2003, 06:51 AM

Originally posted by cthomer5000
don't keep me hanging? arghhh! what happened?

Read above. Or below.

As for today, I've had frank discussions with both the VP and Executive VP (who knows me better). I'm expecting a transfer and promotion very soon - like within a week or two. I'll hear from the VP on Friday.

Blackadar

02-07-2003, 08:18 PM

Shit. The VP is in Baltimore and they got like a foot of snow. I won't find out anything until early next week.

bbor

02-07-2003, 10:40 PM

If i lay myself off...who will pay me ?

Blackadar

02-21-2003, 06:13 PM

Little update.

Well, my Sr VPs told me to hang in there and be patient. And I was for a while, but it all blew up this afternoon. I've been stewing for a while over all the incidents and comments.

When he came in this afternoon, he started doing his impression of a woman masturbating and saying that after he got done with her, she'd need sawdust on the floor to clean up all the mess.

Well, that one sent me over the edge. I collected my shit and left, called the VP and got in touch with a VP at HR. After telling my story and providing backup regarding the stories and timeframes (I blind cc:'d myself on some e-mails), he's going to be gone on Monday. We'll see what happens after that, but at least I won't have to work with this moron.

McSweeny

02-21-2003, 06:15 PM

hehehe i'll have to write that one down ;)

sterlingice

02-21-2003, 06:33 PM

That sucks. So much for it being solved quickly. Keep us updated.

SI

CHEMICAL SOLDIER

02-21-2003, 07:46 PM

It s very good that you stood up for what is right . Shows that you really care for the well being of everybody .

bbor

02-21-2003, 11:21 PM

We want a dynasty!

Blackadar

02-21-2003, 11:27 PM

Originally posted by CHEMICAL SOLDIER
It s very good that you stood up for what is right . Shows that you really care for the well being of everybody .

Well, I actually caught a lot of flack for doing that from some people. But I believe that what's right is right.

daedalus

02-22-2003, 12:54 AM

Originally posted by Blackadar
Well, I actually caught a lot of flack for doing that from some people.

No doubt . . . "He might be an asshole but he's OUR asshole!"

But I believe that what's right is right.

Definitely agree with that. And definitely agree with what you did.

Blackadar

02-22-2003, 08:46 AM

The past few months have been hell. Let's see if it gets better or worse...

Anthony

02-22-2003, 01:24 PM

uhhhh...what are you a girl? or are you 10 years old that you blush when other talk about adult-themed topics? what is so controversial about a guy mock-masturbating that would "send you over the edge"?

sure, there's a time and place for everything, but i think you're being ultra-ovary sensitive here. if he did it in front of your wife that's a different story, but if it's at work and no one else minds why should you be the champion of the female cause? what's your point?

maybe it's just me, i just thought you had hair on the backs of your hands and i thought i've seen you around here making R rated comments every once in a while.

i guess being in NYC is just a world of its own.

Blackadar

02-22-2003, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by Hell Atlantic
uhhhh...what are you a girl? or are you 10 years old that you blush when other talk about adult-themed topics? what is so controversial about a guy mock-masturbating that would "send you over the edge"?

sure, there's a time and place for everything, but i think you're being ultra-ovary sensitive here. if he did it in front of your wife that's a different story, but if it's at work and no one else minds why should you be the champion of the female cause? what's your point?

maybe it's just me, i just thought you had hair on the backs of your hands and i thought i've seen you around here making R rated comments every once in a while.

i guess being in NYC is just a world of its own.

You obviously don't get it. That kind of shit doesn't belong in an office environment. Period. Also, I can't deny that his past remarks also do have some bearing on "my sensitivity".

Also, this kind of crap has been said around the women of the office, who have also complained.

sterlingice

02-22-2003, 03:24 PM

i guess being in NYC is just a world of its own.
I knew the NYC water caused stupidity and now I have definitive proof! Hell, I'm from Texas and if you know anyone from there, you know we don't hesitate to bring it up whenever we can. We're proud of our state and even can jokingly talk about how armed we are and how tough we are but, in the end, it's all in fun. Seriously, tho, that post is in jest, right?

Also, there's a huge difference between a person of power doing those things and friends doing that. You're allowed to hold whatever prejudices or tell whatever jokes you want among friends. Hell, I'm sure all of us have told jokes at least slightly off-color. But, this is a person who is in charge of what people in the company do and clearly he has it in for women. Would you want your sister/daughter/wife working for him?

SI

Tekneek

02-22-2003, 03:46 PM

Making masturbation motions is supposed to be acceptable in a business environment? Hell Atlantic is the one that sounds like the child. An office is not the appropriate venue for teenage trash talking and gesturing. How could you ever imagine that it was? We're not even talking about stuff that a reasonable person could be expected to get over here, this stuff is clearly over the line of appropriate behavior.

Anthony

02-22-2003, 10:21 PM

just cuz you're from "Bethlehem" doesn't mean you have to act holier than thou, tekneek. it's 2003 fellas, we have women playing on the PGA tour. pretty soon we're gonna have to allow them in men's restrooms because to not do so would infringe on their rights.

Blackie, if the women who have found offense have taken action - is that not enough? i just don't understand the need for a crusade to oust this guy. it seems there's an underlying motive here, i'm not saying you're being sinister (i like you, not trying to ruffle your feathers) with an evil plot, but i don't get the oversensitivity and the need to ask for pats on the back from others.

this guy is your boss, you're not supposed to like him. what is this, the OOTP board?

oykib

02-22-2003, 11:45 PM

Well, the guy also blew off work. We can assume that he was an all-around jerk. This is an isolated incident. But considering what had gone on recently and Blackadder's stated attitude, we've got a much more serious situation than the joke itself would indicate.

Tekneek

02-23-2003, 07:49 AM

Originally posted by Hell Atlantic
just cuz you're from "Bethlehem" doesn't mean you have to act holier than thou, tekneek.

It has nothing to do with anything holy, or your poor sense of humor. It's just where I live. You have the right to be wrong, and in this case you are. With your kind of attitude, you are well on your way to future job problems. All you have to do is lose one job over sexual harrassment to cause a lot of future employment problems for yourself. If this company doesn't take these complaints seriously, and Blackadar goes to the EEOC, they are going to be in a world of hurt. More than one person will lose their jobs, and any benefit gained from employing this jerk will be lost tenfold.

Draft Dodger

02-23-2003, 08:47 AM

Originally posted by Hell Atlantic
just cuz you're from "Bethlehem" doesn't mean you have to act holier than thou, tekneek. it's 2003 fellas, we have women playing on the PGA tour. pretty soon we're gonna have to allow them in men's restrooms because to not do so would infringe on their rights.

Blackie, if the women who have found offense have taken action - is that not enough? i just don't understand the need for a crusade to oust this guy. it seems there's an underlying motive here, i'm not saying you're being sinister (i like you, not trying to ruffle your feathers) with an evil plot, but i don't get the oversensitivity and the need to ask for pats on the back from others.

this guy is your boss, you're not supposed to like him. what is this, the OOTP board?

I have a hard time figuring out if you're trying to be funny or actually are being serious.

Jets80

02-23-2003, 08:54 AM

Blackadar

02-23-2003, 09:32 AM

Actually, he's just be HA.

Anthony

02-23-2003, 10:34 AM

nevermind, Draft Dodger, it's very apparent what this place has become.

i'll save my views for elsewhere.

where the men pee standing up.

Draft Dodger

02-23-2003, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by Hell Atlantic
nevermind, Draft Dodger, it's very apparent what this place has become.

i'll save my views for elsewhere.

where the men pee standing up.

you're taking your views to the men's room?

http://www.plumbingworld.com/images/urinal-delft.jpg

Blackadar

02-23-2003, 02:12 PM

Well, his mind always has been in the crapper... :)

Poli

02-23-2003, 06:46 PM

Just a couple of more years and I get to "quit".

Blackadar

02-23-2003, 08:22 PM

Well, tomorrow should be an interesting day.

oykib

02-23-2003, 09:02 PM

Good Luck.

Blackadar

02-24-2003, 07:59 PM

VP couldn't get a flight this morning. He's supposed to come in tonight and be there first thing in the AM. I'm looking forward to it.

Got a bit of new info as well. There have been no less than 5 other complaints. Two came from totally outside the company, one sales rep complained on Friday, one support lady and one ex-sales rep (the last two a while ago).

I think the only reason he's not been gone thus far is that his best buddy happened to be VP of HR. I think a lot of this crap never found its way into his personnel file. The VP was gone by the end of January, so now I think they can actually get this into the file and then get rid of him.

Jets80

02-24-2003, 08:17 PM

If he gets fired do you get a promotion ?

Blackadar

02-24-2003, 08:29 PM

Interesting question, Jets. The Sr. VP guaranteed (in those words) that if my boss were to leave for any reason, I'd get his job. However, given the circumstances, asking for it would be bad form. Plus, he's really screwed up the office and I'm not sure I really want it. I've already told the VP that I'd strongly prefer another office. Thjs really isn't my home and it's a bad market. Too much competition and not enough customers. I'd prefer to move either to the Rockies or towards Florida, which would be closer to my aging parents.

However, I guess we're going to have that discussion this week as well. He admits that I've been "run over" a few times in the past year by this company - there's a much longer story than I'm going to tell here, but suffice it to say that I've been unfairly passed over for promotion twice. They'll even admit to as much. In fact, once I was promoted and 3 weeks later returned to my old position because a VPs friend needed a job. The cool thing about that situation is the friend became my friend and mentor. But I've been dealt some bad hands and the Sr. VP said that he would be my sponsor.

So while I don't want this office, hopefully we can have a meaningful discussion regarding another office. If I have to use the "guarantee" as leverage, I will - but it's a last resort. I'd prefer to not have to use that, but they are not going to hire someone else before giving me my own office. I'll make sure of that.

Blackadar

02-26-2003, 05:47 AM

Unbelievable day.

I'll fill in the details later, but needless to say my old boss is now fired and I've been promoted.

The old boss ("Dave") pitched a fit when the VP canned him. He came out of the meeting screaming at me ("you better stay the fuck out of my way, you fucking asshole") and ran around the room to the sales reps yelling at them to "tell the truth". Then he yelled at the VP that all the Sales Reps would quit. Needless to say, I left the office and came back after he was gone. The reps did tell the truth and now he looks like a bigger idiot. I also found out there were no less than 5 separate people who complained and the one that did the most damage was an ex-employee who happens to be friends with the Head Honcho. She somehow got a hold of an e-mail train in which he said some very ugly things and forwarded it on.

So I'm not getting my wish to move elsewhere, but at least he's gone and I'm getting my promotion and a raise. Not the way I wanted it, mind you, but it'll do. My new boss ("Vince") is a good guy and has already agreed to adjust the impossible office quota to something more managable. And none of the reps have quit thus far. :)

What a friggin' day. I guess I'll just have to look over my shoulder for a while. I'm carrying a baseball bat in my car today. :(

stkelly52

02-26-2003, 08:30 AM

Glad to hear that you are rid of that problem. And congratulations on the promotion. Hope you are able to turn things around there.

Anrhydeddu

02-26-2003, 09:41 AM

That's great news, Jim. Good luck in your position.

I can't believe that HA would tolerate something like this, regardless if he works in NYC or not. No employee should endure a hostile work environment. The environment should be about getting the job done without the distractions and stress of actions that do not promote a productive and successful work environment. With too many other stresses going on around us, including tough economic times for some of us, the last thing we need is less productivity.