# I Swear I'm Cursed (Work Melodrama NEVER ends) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 5, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672 "2005-08-05T03:34:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/101 "2005-08-08T19:45:59Z")
Fer the love of little green apples. **Your** shading isn’t all fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![Jillyvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Jillyvn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jillyvn)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/102 "2005-08-08T20:10:40Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I think once the decision has been made to fire someone, then you fire them. Unless your boss had previously scheduled appointments that couldn’t be broken (and I gather that that is the case here) he should have been met at the door with a box of his stuff, not allowed to take up space. > > Now, where do you stand on the headhunters? I don’t get to stand anywhere, unfortunately, or I would have handed them their ass. I know I’ve convinced my boss not to use them for the next hire and he is getting his money back. I doubt we will ever bother with them again. Totally unprofessional, and I find myself wondering if they will take him back as a client, or fire him too. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/103 "2005-08-08T21:30:11Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Should have asked him to come in and work and Saturday. For about five minutes. 😛 At least in CA you would have had to pay him for 2 hours. Unless hes salaried 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meaty_Beaty_Big_and_Bouncy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/104 "2005-08-08T22:35:15Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Pours cup of nasty breakroom coffee, idly glances over the notices posted on the bulletin board, keeping an eye out for Rebekah, the boss, and **Soon to be Fired Man…** Sitcom idea: in my mind I am imagining a superhero, _Soon to be Fired Man_, maybe with Jason Alexander… oh wait, they did that already. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/105 "2005-08-08T22:52:28Z")
Well, what happened? ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/106 "2005-08-09T02:20:16Z")
Yeah, what gives? I been checkin’ in all day. I wanna see some ass-firin’. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/107 "2005-08-09T12:00:44Z")
Maybe **Rebekah** was so happy last night she went out partying last night. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/108 "2005-08-09T12:29:19Z")
…Or the boss chickened out and Rebekah went and drowned her sorrow in a pitcherful of margaritas. Any wagers? I’ll bet three Putz and one EEK! smilies that Newbie is still an employee. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/109 "2005-08-09T12:50:43Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > …Or the boss chickened out and Rebekah went and drowned her sorrow in a pitcherful of margaritas. > > Any wagers? > > I’ll bet three Putz and one EEK! smilies that Newbie is still an employee. You’re on. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/110 "2005-08-09T12:57:18Z")
PunditLisa may very well be right. Even if the local law permits summary dismissal of a recently hired employee during the probationary time, the company itself might have an employee discipline and termination policy that requires certain intermediate steps be taken before dismissal. ---
**Author:** ![Jillyvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Jillyvn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jillyvn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/111 "2005-08-09T14:07:50Z")
Sorry for not checking in yesterday, I was swamped. He was fired, the boss took him for coffee and did it nicely. He told him he wasn’t a fit for the office, and when the Newbie asked for some reasons why, the boss ran through some of the examples I posted on the board. Newbie said his work was good, boss pointed out it was not. It ended with the boss coming upstairs to grab his stuff to save him the embarrasement. Now I’m vetting resumes, and I’ll be involved in the hiring process this time 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/112 "2005-08-09T14:12:44Z")
Oh **Punditlisa, Monty** , over heeeere. :wally :wally :eek: :wally 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/113 "2005-08-09T14:14:06Z")
I wasn’t part of the bet and I was only making an observation about possibilities. (o^~) ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/114 "2005-08-09T14:17:09Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I wasn’t part of the bet and I was only making an observation about possibilities. > > (o^~) Sorry. I was flush with the thrill of victory. Won’t happen again. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/115 "2005-08-09T14:18:07Z")
> [@Rebekkah](#): > > Sorry for not checking in yesterday, I was swamped. > > He was fired, the boss took him for coffee and did it nicely. He told him he wasn’t a fit for the office, and when the Newbie asked for some reasons why, the boss ran through some of the examples I posted on the board. Newbie said his work was good, boss pointed out it was not. It ended with the boss coming upstairs to grab his stuff to save him the embarrasement. Now I’m vetting resumes, and I’ll be involved in the hiring process this time 😛 I almost feel sorry for him. He’s completely deluded about his abilities and expertise. Unless this is a wake-up call for him, I fear he will go through life complaining about all the times he got screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/116 "2005-08-09T14:25:09Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > PunditLisa may very well be right. Even if the local law permits summary dismissal of a recently hired employee during the probationary time, the company itself might have an employee discipline and termination policy that requires certain intermediate steps be taken before dismissal. During a probationary period in Alberta, you can be released at any whim (not that this was a whim.) After the three month period is up, it gets a little trickier to get rid of a bad apple - usually a verbal, then a written warning, then you’re bounced. Good show, **Rebekkah**. Glad to see it dealt with so quickly. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/117 "2005-08-10T01:56:14Z")
I’ve never been so glad to lose a bet. Here you go, Contra: :wally :wally :wally :eek: And in honor of the Newbie: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/118 "2005-08-10T05:40:41Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > During a probationary period in Alberta, you can be released at any whim (not that this was a whim.) After the three month period is up, it gets a little trickier to get rid of a bad apple - usually a verbal, then a written warning, then you’re bounced. That would be the law. Check my posting above and you’ll see that I clearly mentioned that, **in addition to the law** , the company may have _its own policies regarding employee dismissal_, even during a probationary period. Failing to follow the established policies can be grounds, no doubt, for a successful wrongful termination suit. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/119 "2005-08-10T14:00:42Z")
Why would a company make termination policies harder than the law requires? In my experience, most companies are intimately knowledgeable about labour laws so that they can do the bare minimum required and not a stitch more. I don’t think they would have grounds for a successful wrongful termination suit, if the Alberta labour law requires no reasons at all for firing during the probationary period. Isn’t the default in a court of law the actual law, not what companies choose to do over and above that? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672/120 "2005-08-10T19:13:03Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Why would a company make termination policies harder than the law requires? Because they might consider the law a bit unfair to the employee, perhaps. > [@](#): > > In my experience, most companies are intimately knowledgeable about labour laws so that they can do the bare minimum required and not a stitch more. a) Your experience is not universal b) You probably have not experienced most companies. > [@](#): > > I don’t think they would have grounds for a successful wrongful termination suit, if the Alberta labour law requires no reasons at all for firing during the probationary period. Isn’t the default in a court of law the actual law, not what companies choose to do over and above that? If a company has an established, especially a written established, policy, which they disregard, the employee certainly does have a strong case. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-swear-im-cursed-work-melodrama-never-ends/315672.md?page=7)