What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[Sarge]

My mother has apparently just been fired from her job.

Oh, no, sorry to hear that Ack. Will be praying she gets back on her feet quickly!

[Ack]

Thanks, but the head of her library has been after her ever since he got the job. He is young and unqualified, and from day one he has been after her. He finally got enough ammo apparently.

[Sarge]

Oh, one of those types of individuals. That's a terrible way to go. My Dad's worked with some horrible individuals, too, including this guy.

[Luke]

Thanks, but the head of her library has been after her ever since he got the job. He is young and unqualified, and from day one he has been after her. He finally got enough ammo apparently.

Vague much?

Wha happen'?

[Ziggy]

Thanks, but the head of her library has been after her ever since he got the job. He is young and unqualified, and from day one he has been after her. He finally got enough ammo apparently.

That sucks, Ack. But maybe it's for the better. No one wants to work somewhere when a supervisor is out to get them.

My father will be losing his job soon. He's worked for a company for 30-something years. He was ::this close:: to retiring. He wanted to wait until he was 62 for Social Security, plus his pension. He just turned 60 in April. His company filed bankruptcy and is selling off all the stores, and closing which ever ones aren't bought. So best case scenario is another company buys the store he's in and employs him. Worst case is he becomes unemployed on November 1st. He can still get his pension, which is fully matured, but without Social Security it's not enough to live on Long Island.

I feel really bad, I'm pretty sure he's not letting on to how stressed out he is over this right now. He doesn't want my mother to worry.

So, best of luck to both our parents.

[Ack]

Thanks, but the head of her library has been after her ever since he got the job. He is young and unqualified, and from day one he has been after her. He finally got enough ammo apparently.

Vague much?

Wha happen'?

The guy is 32 with no prior management experience, but he was the only straight male who applied for the job. He has been steadily eroding my mother's responsibilities, changed her department's reporting structure so that her subordinates go to him instead, refused to fund her programs, refused to allow her to participate in professional organizations, criticized and refused to consider her ideas, and repeatedly scheduled her with the worst shifts, including often giving her an hour shift on midday Saturday when the usual Saturday employee takes lunch. At this point, Mom planned to ride out the next three years and retire.

On Friday a coworker who I know personally remarked to my mother that she had to work an hour that Saturday. My mother dismissed the comment and said she had the day off. The coworker informed the library head, to went to the city's HR department.

[Luke]

1) only straight male who applied for the job.

2) He has been steadily eroding my mother's responsibilities, changed her department's reporting structure so that her subordinates go to him instead, refused to fund her programs, refused to allow her to participate in professional organizations, criticized and refused to consider her ideas, and repeatedly scheduled her with the worst shifts, including often giving her an hour shift on midday Saturday when the usual Saturday employee takes lunch.

1) Why does this matter? Not being sarcastic, I'm wondering why does sexual orientation matter? I get how things work, but that's a weird thing to include.

2) Sounds like most new bosses making a statement.

Was your Mother fired or just in fear of being fired?

Sucks either way.

[Ack]

She was fired.

And it is relevant. One of the other applicants was a gay white male with a decade more experience who was also excluded. It is to provide background for the type of town Mom works in.

[Luke]

It is to provide background for the type of town Mom works in.

Gotcha. Was pretty sure what you were implying, but wanted confirmation.

Ack, don't know what to tell ya. You can go through the "unlawful firing lawsuit" thingy, but it usually costs more than it is worth (unless she made some serious bank). I have a friend who was fired because of "possible embezzlement". That's not legal talk, but when he sat down at the boss's office they accused him of embezzlement. He was 100% innocent (of that accusation), but legal fees to sue were not in his financial favor.

[Ack]

Yeah, I don't think it would be worth it to fight for that. But I am concerned about unemployment benefits and whether the city will try to block her. She's choosing to give up on the city though and is moving across state to my grandmother's as soon as possible. She is meeting with HR right now to discuss her benefits and retirement, and she has a meeting with the bank later this week to talk about turning over the house to them, as it is now the only thing left tying her to the city. My little brother still lives with her but is talking with friends about moving, and while my middle brother leaves for China in a few weeks, he was planning to stay with Mom in the meantime. He's not sure where he is going now. I need to take off Friday and go down there to help move furniture.

Well, literally every immediate family member I have is now moving within a month of each other. I know you hate that word usage, Luke, but in this case it's true. My father and stepmother moved to Arizona last week, my mother is now moving across Alabama, my middle brother is moving to China, my little brother is planning to move to Georgia, one stepbrother is in the process of moving to England, while the other is moving across Georgia for college. I'm the only person not moving...but I moved in January, so everybody got a turn this year.