the more things change...

Talked to an old co-worker today.
On the phone.
Mabel.

Which is weird for me, most of the time I don't like talking to people on the phone these days. It's not that I don't like the people themselves, I just hate sitting in one spot and not moving while I talk because my house seems to have issues with cell phone reception.

Probably an ancient Yuppie burial ground.

So yeah, back to the co-worker.
I think I've told you before that a hyphen appears in that word so that people don't misread it as cow orker.
If not, consider this official notice.

Up until October of last year Mabel was still working for the assholes I used to work for.

A little background. Fluffy took Mabel's original site away from her without an explanation or any notice. Seems there wasn't a site open for her good friend Twatwaffle at the time, so she just gave her Mabel's site.

Mabel protested. Big Fish was called in and after some really crazy bullshit story about 'parent complaints' which Fluffy would not share, citing confidentiality, the decision stood.

Bogus reviews, which Mabel had never seen or signed were brought out. Big Fish didn't even question that. What a doorknob.

But Fluffy went through so many employees! Word gets out when an employer is a shitbag, too. A good indicator is a constant presence in the want ads. If someone is constantly looking for people to fill positions, that's one sign that you may not want to work there.

So suddenly Mabel was qualified again and given a new site to work in.

Mabel was setting up her site when a rug she was moving unrolled and she tripped and fell. Broke her femur. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Had to have surgery. Then a few days later there were some complications and she was operated on again.

The company has denied all of her comp claims. Which isn't a surprise, they routinely deny everyone's. They denied one of mine, too. Not that it did them any good, they eventually had to pay.

There is pending legal action. She'll win, of course.

Here's the really lovely part, though. She was vocal about the denial, although she hasn't been able to return to work. People were talking about it.

Fluffy caught some of the stuff being said.

So she went to several people at several sites and told them in person that they were NOT TO SPEAK to Mabel. At all. And hinted that the penalty for being caught talking to her would be serious. A firing offense.

Three different people told Mabel about the threats. Of course Fluffy didn't get to her current position without learning how to cover her ass, so there isn't anything in writing. Apparently at least one of the people concerned is willing to testify in court, though.

I want to make some popcorn and go watch the show.

Then, I got the monthly newsletter from my current employer. Fluffy's husband works for a different division of the company, meaning I don't see him or interact with him in any way, thank goodness... but one of the little stories mentioned Fluffy being a teacher (she was, about eight years ago... and was about to be FIRED when she quit, went to her school in the middle of the night and cleared her things out just before midnight) and how wonderful that this young man she had in her class was now working for Mr. Fluffy in his division of the company.

Fluffy isn't a teacher now, although she calls herself an educator.

I suppose that's partially true, I sure did learn a lot from her.
Narcissism 101.
I know a lot of signals to watch for now.

I still want to run into her sometime, but not with my little car.
I want it to be when I'm driving around in the big truck.