Wow. What a nutcase. Maureen, I think you handled it really well. Good for you for sticking up for Elliott.
Good things she’s not your boss. My boss at my last job had the same bad habit of thinking she could do no wrong–no matter what happened, it was always someone else’s fault. It was truly frightening sometimes how different her perception of reality was from what actually happened.
She never quite put together that there was a common thread in all of the people who she fired (including someone she’d worked with for 17 years), and it was her. I was kind of relieved when I was laid off.
Maureen, if I were a rich woman, I would send everyone in your office a really expensive entertainment center except for that hateful woman. She would get only a version of the same boom box she tried to rip off, but I would make her give me that gift certificate first.
You, Maureen, would also get wild applause. Nicely done.
Following your advice certainly wouldn’t hurt and I’m not an attorney. But since she’s been working there ten years, it doesn’t sound like she has been disabled by her mental health problems or would qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act. (I could be mistaken though.) If her behavior has changed significantly over time, that’s another matter.
[quote] a35362: Does she pull the “Oh, forgive me, I’m on meds and I’m Not Well” - type drama? (Meaning, of course, I’m Not Responsible for Anything I Say or Do and You Can’t Touch Me.)
What an ignorant comment in an otherwise stellar thread. The woman was an asshole. Aside from that, she was taking medications for a medical problem, not for a “drama.” Stereotype much?
I don’t see how a35362 is being ignorant. With all the other shit TC has pulled, you think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that she would use being on meds as an excuse for abberant behavior? It doesn’t matter if the meds are psychotropic or not; anyone who wants to company to recompense her for her own reckless driving is exactly the kind of person who’d claim a disability that doesn’t exist.
(Bearing in mind, of course, the fact that Maureen aready said that TC does not use that excuse. Still, a353 is not the one claiming that people on meds are all drama queens; s/he’s just aware that drama queens use all kinds of excuses, including being on meds.)
Maureen, it really sounds like you’ve handled the situation professionally and with respect - even respect for Joan. And I admire that in you. And in a co-worker, and a higher-up Wanted to say that.
Just a question - even in an “at will” contract ot state, if someone is known to management as having mental issues or is on medication for issues, it’s much much harder to “get rid and make them go away.” Don’t ask why I know this, let’s just say I have a family member who had some serious problems for a while and was seriously being harassed by her workplace. As far as I know, as long as you use the terminology “I am having some difficulties with my mental health and I need some accomodation”, I think they’re covered.
At least, that’s what we were advised. And we lived in an “at will” state at the time.
Just $.02
And, bitch she may be, but if this is because of her mental health, I really feel badly for her, cause her meds aren’t doing it, she has a persecution complex, and likely thinks you really are out to get her. Have any idea how frightening that can be to someone who isn’t in a logical mindset?
You know, sometimes it’s fun to sit back at watch people try to interact with others who exist in a completely different reality, but I can’t imagine it’s much fun to work with them.
This woman is the tool of her own destruction. I don’t think it will be long before she self-destructs.
Maureen, great story. Hope Joan takes her 3 days and reflects upon the error of her ways.
Of course, there’s no chance in hell of that.
At the risk of sounding paranoid, if you are visiting this place at work, I would seriously think about removing all semblance of this site from your computer. Esp if your name is truly “Maureen.”
If Joan decides to go through with this suit, and if she feels sufficiently threatened she might, she might try to turn the tables on you. Surely you have a policy against cruising the internet and/or performing personal business at work. And calling an employee, even a nutty one, a “thieving cunt” ain’t going to help your cause.
I know. I’m paranoid. Once again, great story. Keep us posted. From home.
Not to start a pile-on or anything, but Huh? That statement was not to suggest that all people on meds are thieving cunts, or whatever it is you seem to be asserting. It’s that assholes will sometimes glom onto any excuse, real or imagined, to justify their bad behavior.
Years ago I lived with a guy who was dating a woman who got hit by a drunk driver. She sustained a major head injury, and thus some brain damage. That was her excuse for being a selfish, spoiled, rude brat. Thing is, though, she was a selfish, spoiled, rude brat before her injury – but back then she had no excuse for it.
Oh, and Maureen – great story, and not disapointing at all. And you are my new hero. I promise you, from the bottom of my heart, if you ever need anyone to blow, I’d be more than happy to provide for your needs.
Maureen, you were a hit in the Elza household last night - I spent half an hour reading bits and pieces of your thread to mr. e., who couldn’t stop laughing.
If anything could convince him to join the board, I think your thread might have done the trick.
[hijack]
It was very unfortunate that this girl was in the accident, because she did have physical and mental injuries. She needed to use a cane, had trouble speaking, and other things. On the other hand, though, she was a total bitch. I never knew her before her accident, but I did know several (reliable) people who did, and she was just as big a bitch before. ."
She did use her disabilities to gain sympathy with some. For instance, her BF had a car, and she went to a different college in the same town, but too far to walk for anyone , let alone her. So, naturally, he would pick her up. But, if it was for a weekend type thing, where drinking would be involved, her BF would happily get trashed, and thus not be able to drive her home. She couldn’t drive either, because of her injuries, so the two of them would “sucker” someone else into driving for them. They would do it on random fridays and saturdays when a bunch of us were doing whatever, then stumble in drunk, demanding a ride for his GF because he’s too drunk to drive and she can’t walk (nevermind the fact that odds are at least a couple of us were in no condition to drive.). Well, gee, you know she can’t walk, so how about for one weekend you don’t drink? But if we said no, then he would ger her to walk over and plead, and you’d better believe she’d say something along the lines of,
“I can’t walk good, I need a ride. I have to go to church tomorrow at 8 AM.” Nevermind the fact that she could easily have slept over and gotten a ride in the morning, when her BF was sober, no, God forbid she make him do something nice for her, far easier to play to other people’s sympathies. She did it the most to another friend’s GF, who went to the same college and had her own car. More often than not, the girl with the car was forced to either not drink, and then waste a good fifteen minutes at least getting her there and back, or drink and get up early to drive her back, either way not fun if you just want to hang out and have a fun night with your BF.
[/hijack]
Anyways, people like TC make me glad I don’t work in an office setting. Yes, I know there are perfectly god offices out there, but all it takes is one person like TC to make it an unpleasant expereince for everyone.
The woman I knew had an interesting way of getting what she wanted. If she didn’t get her way, she’d threaten to leave. The natural response was “go ahead, get out.” So she’d leave the apartment, then go downstairs to the common area of the building and start wailing and crying about the big meany upstairs. At the top of her lungs. Naturally, this would attract the attention of the neighbors, who would come out and console her, then guilt the big meany into being nice to the “poor girl.”
It was worse than manipulative. It was downright psychotic.
Maureen, I salute you. You live up to auntie em’s legacy.
The first thread I read here was her *missing cow-worker thread. I too, have often wondered if said ^missing cow-worker was ever heard from again.
