My Co-Worker Didn't Win...I Still Have A Job!!

[harveywhispers]

I thought it only appropriate to provide my Scaper family with an update on my employment status, after the events (http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18477) of last week. All of your good thoughts, and a little help from some work friends, have ensured that I will remain in my post! There is a possibility that this could legitamately happen some time in the future, but I feel secure in the knowledge that I am valued & would be fought for.

*The untrained/underskilled person will be installed in a position for which they are equally unsuited. That fact is the one unfortunate aspect to come out of my good news.

Regarding the plotting co-worker, the proper authorities have been alerted to her recent behavior. Due to the manner in which she terrorized me with the very real possibility of losing my job, her little triumverate of power is in the process of being "dealt" with on an internal level. It feels good to see that the system can work from time to time.

Thanks friends!:D

[BrowderChick]

Whoo Hoo! Cool. I am glad you got to keep your job. What is happening to her?

[Lord Loser]

Awww, that's a damn shame... :aok:

[who45]

Glad that it turned out ok.:)

[harveywhispers]

The boss is keeping the details of the punishment hush-hush until it is done, as they don't want me to face any retribution. I do know that everyone involved in the debacle is really facing some serious trouble. Things in the scheme apparantly ran pretty deep, and will result in formal meetings and such.

*Beyond dealing with a few friends, I intend to hide in my cave (office) for the next six months.....safer that way....

[Shipscat]

Congrats. :) I'm glad it all worked out.

[Jul]

Holy Crap!! :eek: I'm so sorry that happened to you, and I'm happy that it's being resolved without you losing your job..

[LadyCrais]

Woohoo!!! Man how office politics suck! Glad reason won for a change. :D

[UTChick]

Hell Yeah!!! The good guys win one for a change!!!:woohoo:

That's great news - harveywhispers!! You obviously know what you're doing - the suggestions you've posted on this board have been right on target - they'd have been foolish to have let politics influence your position!! Merry Christmas!

[VBKatLou]

Great news harveywhispers :aok:

Glad things worked out in your favor. :)

[buggabboo]

YAY! i'm so excited for you.

[grinner]

:woohoo:

[fermicat]

Great news!! I'm happy for you.

[Clarsax]

Great news! I'm glad things worked out for you!

[JrMissToughChick]

I glad you didn't lose your Job. I think I missed the last thread sorry I couldn't have given you some support then though.

Much Love,
~JrMTC~

[Kurt_eh]

I'll bet that's the last time she takes on a Scaper! :D

:bounce:

[harveywhispers]

Thanks again guys!

[Selena]

:hugz: that's great news. Have been praying for you. :aok:

[Darth Buddha]

Don't Celebrate Yet and BE CAREFUL

Just be CAREFUL for a good long while... there is blood in the water, and even if it isn't yours, it will still stir up the sharks...

Remember, guys usually DON"T win in situations like this, women do... because they can credibly file harassment even when it is made up of whole cloth, while men, EVEN when harassed, can't do a damn thing. You never know who might be gunning for you when this breaks.

So, in honor of the blood in the water of your workplace, I'm posting an article that was literally written by a biologists studying sharks. Nevertheless, I think you'll get the generalized point!

HOW TO SWIM WITH SHARKS

It is common knowledge that sharks attack at every sign of weakness and go for blood at every opportunity. Therefore, do not swim with sharks!

Nobody wants to swim with sharks. It's not enjoyable. But sometimes people are caught in situations where they must swim in shark-infested waters. If this happens to you, the following guidelines may help you survive.

Rule 1: Assume that any unidentified fish is a shark.

You can't tell a shark just by looking. Not all sharks look like sharks. Unless you have seen a particular fish remain docile in the presence of bloodshed on more than one occasion, assume it is a shark.

Rule 2: Do not bleed

If you are injured, cover up the injury, and do not bleed. Experience shows that bleeding prompts an even more aggressive attack by a bloodthirsty shark. If you cannot control your bleeding, do not attempt to swim with sharks. The peril is too great. Get out of the water fast!

Rule 3: Counter any aggression immediately.

Sharks rarely attack a swimmer without warning. Usually they start with a tentative, exploratory aggressive action. Recognize this initial behavior as a prelude to an attack and strike back immediately with force.

Some swimmers believe that an ingratiating attitude will keep the shark docile and dispel the attack. This is an erroneous belief. Those who try this method can usually be identified by their missing limbs.

Rule 4: If someone else is bleeding, get out of the water.

If a swimmer has been injured and is bleeding, get out of the water promptly. Do not let your curiosity tempt you to hang around and watch. Once blood is shed, sharks will attack anyone in the vicinity … including you!

Rule 5: Use anticipatory retaliation.

In the presence of sharks that have not yet shown any sign of aggressive actions, the skilled swimmer will mount a pre-emptive attack, striking the shark sharply on the nose without warning. This makes it clear to the shark that you, too, are dangerous.

Of course, when swimmers act this aggressively, it's hard to tell the difference between them and the sharks!!

If you must swim with sharks, these rules should help you survive. If you lose a limb or two, consider getting out of the water-sharks are dangerous only in their own protected environment!

Adopted from Richard J, Johns, Johns Hopkins University, that appeared in Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 16, p 525-528.
I don't want to be a downer, it is just that I've seen WAY too much of this dren. You survive one attack, but that makes another attack from another source more likely.

I've had Managers get Directors AND themselves fired (that was a real fun day). I've seen folks file legitimate sexual harassment (i.e. if I had known what he was doing, I think I'd have at least hospitalized him) only to be targetted by HR thereafter The workplace can be a very ugly place.

So be aware and take care!

[Mrelia]

I keep a little tape recorder handy in my purse just in case I have to have contact with people who've harrassed me in the past. That way I'm secure in the knowledge that I have proof of their actions. Just remember to check local laws before trying to use any of your surveilance.

[harveywhispers]

originally posted by Darth Buddha
Remember, guys usually DON"T win in situations like this, women do... because they can credibly file harassment even when it is made up of whole cloth, while men, EVEN when harassed, can't do a damn thing. You never know who might be gunning for you when this breaks.

<==== Don't let the name fool you, I am the female of my species.

This harassment stems from an incident in which our new supervisor had brought us together to discuss a SEVERE morale problem which has existed for the last five years. You see, at said meeting, I tactfully indicated that it was the blatant disregard of two employees which left the other six of us in some harrowing situations. The responsible parties did not like this at all, as it put them on the spot to explain;

1. How they justify 1 1/2 hour lunches, when 1/2 hour is the norm
2. Huge personal telephone bills, which they have work pay
3. 3 hour "meetings"
4. Vanishing for significant portions of the day
5. etc................

I never would have dreamed of broaching the subject just one month ago, as our former supervisor passed away changing the power structure. Prior to his death, these two women lorded over the office & went so far as to tell everyone "nothing will ever happen to us."

As to the possibility of this happening again, I know that it is highly probable. I have no doubt that these two will be targeting me when the hammer comes down, but the possibility of a job loss has been put on hold for the time being. One of the lone consoling factors about a Union is the fact that unless there are job reductions going on, it is VERY HARD for anyone to push you out of your job.

I also have the good fortune of working within a very small environment. We literally have individuals stay within their position from Day 1 through their subsequent retirement/death. Being that my supervisor is making an upward move into a fairly lucrative position (the one where the person died), I have no doubt that he will be around for the next several years.

***

I also have been keeping some thorough records of all the indiscretions which have been taking place. :ewink:

[Jul]

GOOD!! That's the best thing to do. That's something I've had to use in the past in the workplace and it worked! :aok:

[janey_13]

YAY! Congratualations harveywhispers! :D

[SabaceanBabe]

Congratulations, HW, and good luck in the future. I'm still prayin' for ya.

[mgraylorn]

Very wise to document the issue, harveywhispers. Congrats on keeping your job. It's nice when the hard worker wins - maybe there is some justice in the world. And its nice your new boss recognizes your efforts.

[Tiriel]

Yeah, let me add a quick and heartfelt :nana: in direction of your co-worker :D

I think if all else fails I shall invent a 6-foot 8 body-builder with a tendency to psychotic jealousy as my current fiancee...there's very little that keeps people from harrassing you better than the very real treat of having your neck broken by someone who can credibly plead temporary insanity :D

Or keeping files ;)

Love and Peace and Glad To See There Is Some Justice In the World :)

Tiriel :bounce:

[Shipscat]

Good advice, Darth Buddha, but then they put you away for being paranoid!

Harveywhispers, I think that sometimes in places where it's very difficult to fire people, that people are made miserable enough that they want to quit, as a way of getting rid of them. They found that kind of thing going on in the Post Office when disgruntled postal workers started shooting up the place. So you know, just be careful..

I'm really thankful I've never had this kind of problem in the workplace. I hope if it does I handle it as well as you did.