Might loose job for tickling

[Cosmo_ac]

you know, i'm getting sick of this shit, and i'm not talking about whats happening in this case alone, but in a general sense.

What ever happened to the days when adults handled things like adults? If you have a problem with somebody in the work place, you sit down like an adult with them and talk to them. They do something you don't like, address them with it. Thats what adults do. Adults don't go running to the boss because somebody looks at them the wrong way, or says something "Insensitive".

Now, don't get me wrong. If a person feels that they are in danger or addressing the person in question would result in hositility in the workplace towards them or something like that, then i can see going to the boss first. Certainly their are siuations that you go to the boss first, but too many times are people eager to go running to the boss like a little child running to their teacher in class because timmy told a dirty joke.

It's pathetic. People need to grow up.

 

[Wolf]

On the other hand

you know, i'm getting sick of this shit, and i'm not talking about whats happening in this case alone, but in a general sense.

What ever happened to the days when adults handled things like adults? If you have a problem with somebody in the work place, you sit down like an adult with them and talk to them. They do something you don't like, address them with it. Thats what adults do. Adults don't go running to the boss because somebody looks at them the wrong way, or says something "Insensitive".

Now, don't get me wrong. If a person feels that they are in danger or addressing the person in question would result in hositility in the workplace towards them or something like that, then i can see going to the boss first. Certainly their are siuations that you go to the boss first, but too many times are people eager to go running to the boss like a little child running to their teacher in class because timmy told a dirty joke.

It's pathetic. People need to grow up.

You make a good point about our hypersensitive, overly litigious society....

How about people being adults and not insisting on inserting their sexuality into every aspect of their lives, and keeping their work and co-workers separate from what makes their dicks hard? Or is it her responsibility to be cool, since, you know, he honored her so by telling her what got him off? (Although he didn't admit it, of course. Can't have any possibility of rejection....) So, she should have sat him down, no matter how creeped out she may have been, you know, just starting a new job and all...and told him 'You know, I like you, and you're a really cool guy, and I think your fetish is just totally awesome, but maybe later, ok? I won't come out and say no, because that might hurt your feelings." Then maybe she could have given him a hand job, you know, just so he'd be okay.

Is it even conceivable that he shouldn't have told her anything like that, since they never had that kind of relationship? Does anyone deserve a little respect and personal space, or is everyone (that he wants to) required to hear about what gets him off, since he's just being friendly-like?
How about people growing up and not being such goddamn babies about their fetish; dating or having real relationships, instead of trying to trick people into getting what they want, and running and hiding behind "Hey it's no big deal, clam down, I was just being friendly, what's your problem?" when they offend/alarm/scare someone? All this bullshit about her "overreacting" and nothing about him overstepping a simple boundary. Why is it okay to bring that shit to work? Why does she have to deal with it? Why does she have to be an adult and keep it a secret, and not embarrass him?
Of course, leaving her the hell alone, because she was a co-worker, and not a social friend, never even entered the realm of possibilities. What he did wasn't criminal, it wasn't evil. But it was stupid, wrongheaded, rude, and insensitive. And he deserved to get slapped down for it. He used work to have an excuse to contact this girl in the first place; she gets to use work to tell him to back off.

I guess you don't need to 'grow up' if you have a fetish. It's everyone else's problem. It's their responsibility to be adult and deal with other people's crap. They're the ones who are pathetic. Maybe Timmy needs to keep his dick in his pants in public, and not expect a gold star for whipping it out. The other kids are trying to learn.

You know, maybe I'm just spoiled because I have a loving, willing, indulgent wife who is my play partner. Maybe I don't know what it's like to have to get it wherever, whenever you can. Maybe I'd be more sympathetic to his plight.
But I've known a lot of pretty women in my life, and pretty women have to put up with a lot of shit that people expect them to be flattered by, or at the very least, not offended with. But if they don't react they way they're expected to, there's something wrong with them.

I'm sick of that shit, too.

 

[Cosmo_ac]

How about people being adults and not insisting on inserting their sexuality into every aspect of their lives, and keeping their work and co-workers separate from what makes their dicks hard? Or is it her responsibility to be cool, since, you know, he honored her so by telling her what got him off? (Although he didn't admit it, of course. Can't have any possibility of rejection....) So, she should have sat him down, no matter how creeped out she may have been, you know, just starting a new job and all...and told him 'You know, I like you, and you're a really cool guy, and I think your fetish is just totally awesome, but maybe later, ok? I won't come out and say no, because that might hurt your feelings." Then maybe she could have given him a hand job, you know, just so he'd be okay.

Is it even conceivable that he shouldn't have told her anything like that, since they never had that kind of relationship? Does anyone deserve a little respect and personal space, or is everyone (that he wants to) required to hear about what gets him off, since he's just being friendly-like?
How about people growing up and not being such goddamn babies about their fetish; dating or having real relationships, instead of trying to trick people into getting what they want, and running and hiding behind "Hey it's no big deal, clam down, I was just being friendly, what's your problem?" when they offend/alarm/scare someone? All this bullshit about her "overreacting" and nothing about him overstepping a simple boundary. Why is it okay to bring that shit to work? Why does she have to deal with it? Why does she have to be an adult and keep it a secret, and not embarrass him?
Of course, leaving her the hell alone, because she was a co-worker, and not a social friend, never even entered the realm of possibilities. What he did wasn't criminal, it wasn't evil. But it was stupid, wrongheaded, rude, and insensitive. And he deserved to get slapped down for it. He used work to have an excuse to contact this girl in the first place; she gets to use work to tell him to back off.

I guess you don't need to 'grow up' if you have a fetish. It's everyone else's problem. It's their responsibility to be adult and deal with other people's crap. They're the ones who are pathetic. Maybe Timmy needs to keep his dick in his pants in public, and not expect a gold star for whipping it out. The other kids are trying to learn.

You know, maybe I'm just spoiled because I have a loving, willing, indulgent wife who is my play partner. Maybe I don't know what it's like to have to get it wherever, whenever you can. Maybe I'd be more sympathetic to his plight.
But I've known a lot of pretty women in my life, and pretty women have to put up with a lot of shit that people expect them to be flattered by, or at the very least, not offended with. But if they don't react they way they're expected to, there's something wrong with them.

I'm sick of that shit, too.

Yup he certainly did maked a mistake. And so did she. Difference is, one went running to management and got the other fired. Like i said, she could have handled it as an adult, but chose not to. Sad really.

 

[Wolf]

uh...how

Yup he certainly did maked a mistake. And so did she. Difference is, one went running to management and got the other fired. Like i said, she could have handled it as an adult, but chose not to. Sad really.

Should she have handled it, then? I'm really quite curious.

 

[Cosmo_ac]

How? Well, she should have,possible the next day, or in e-mail,stated that his request had made her uncomfortable, and that she didn't apreciate it. From thier, he could have applogized and said it wouldn't happen again.

See? simple, easy to do, nobody gets hurt, nobody gets fired.

 

[Wolf]

So...

How? Well, she should have,possible the next day, or in e-mail,stated that his request had made her uncomfortable, and that she didn't apreciate it. From thier, he could have applogized and said it wouldn't happen again.

See? simple, easy to do, nobody gets hurt, nobody gets fired.

Since he was doing this at work, through company email, she didn't have the right to bring it to the employers? If I'm reading you right, (and please tell me if I'm not,) it's her responsibility to deal with feeling uncomfortable around him, since he brought up sexuality in an inappropriate venue, and her responsibility not to publicly embarrass him, and to protect his job?

I can accept that if it was in a public, off-work venue, where she could walk away at any time, and not have contact with him further, but it's work. She has to deal with him, however briefly, as part of her job. Since he used the "safer" atmosphere of work to make his move, I just think it's cowardly to try to expect her to not embarrass him. He chose the venue because it was safer than approaching a woman in a bar or something. There are consequences for choices, is all I'm saying.

 

[Cosmo_ac]

Since he was doing this at work, through company email, she didn't have the right to bring it to the employers? If I'm reading you right, (and please tell me if I'm not,) it's her responsibility to deal with feeling uncomfortable around him, since he brought up sexuality in an inappropriate venue, and her responsibility not to publicly embarrass him, and to protect his job?

I can accept that if it was in a public, off-work venue, where she could walk away at any time, and not have contact with him further, but it's work. She has to deal with him, however briefly, as part of her job. Since he used the "safer" atmosphere of work to make his move, I just think it's cowardly to try to expect her to not embarrass him. He chose the venue because it was safer than approaching a woman in a bar or something. There are consequences for choices, is all I'm saying.

The right? Oh, i'm pretty sure she had the right. But yes, how she handles things is her responsibility. She could have simply took it up with him and settled the matter like an adult. She chose another avenue which is considerably less adult. IMO, it was she who took the cowardly approach if we're going to bring cowardess into this conversation

The fact is, their are going to be plenty of times in a job where you might not feel comfortable. I worked with an associate who made me feel uncomfortable, and yes, i could have gone to my boss, but i had the stones to address the person in question. And, things worked out. If they hadn;t of worked out, then i could see where going to the boss would be nescasary.

As far as consequences for choices, yes, i agree with you their. Difference is, i believe the consequences should be in line with the action. His firing was not.

 

[Wolf]

You know what?

The right? Oh, i'm pretty sure she had the right. But yes, how she handles things is her responsibility. She could have simply took it up with him and settled the matter like an adult. She chose another avenue which is considerably less adult. IMO, it was she who took the cowardly approach if we're going to bring cowardess into this conversation

The fact is, their are going to be plenty of times in a job where you might not feel comfortable. I worked with an associate who made me feel uncomfortable, and yes, i could have gone to my boss, but i had the stones to address the person in question. And, things worked out. If they hadn;t of worked out, then i could see where going to the boss would be nescasary.

As far as consequences for choices, yes, i agree with you their. Difference is, i believe the consequences should be in line with the action. His firing was not.

I am totally with you, there. I believe his firing was not warranted. But that's more to do with his company taking advantage of his actions in the situation. He gave them the excuse to fire him when he ran out; the creepy email alone wouldn't have sufficed. They pounced on it. And I still believe the most responsibility lies with him, getting the whole wackadoo business going in the first place.

 

[Cosmo_ac]

I am totally with you, there. I believe his firing was not warranted. But that's more to do with his company taking advantage of his actions in the situation. He gave them the excuse to fire him when he ran out; the creepy email alone wouldn't have sufficed. They pounced on it. And I still believe the most responsibility lies with him, getting the whole wackadoo business going in the first place.

Well, it seems we've found something we agree on at least 😛 And i do agree that he was responsible for getting the ball rolling.

I just wish society would slow down a little and realize whats going on. True sexual harrassment in the office place, say somebody grabbing another or the like shouldn't be tolerated. But it seems in this lawyer happy age we're living in, everybody is looking for anything, no matter how minute. It depresses the hell out of me, frankly, and makes me worry about how long it will be until we can't even look at another member of the opposite sex without running the risk of getting fired.

 

[MK3829]

I've been a long time lurker and this whole thread prompted me to opine for a moment. I can see both sides to the story but, and I'm going to sound like a broken record considering what's been said before, the fact of the matter is that the e-mails never should've been sent...ever.

But alas, that doesn't help anyone because they were sent and it's one of those moments that we all have when once something is done, you wish you could just turn back time and reverse the whole event. But we unfortunately can't do that. Was it sexual harassment? I couldn't tell you but engaging in a lawsuit is just going to cause more problems. The fact of the matter is that you never should've went on your lunch break after you left the meeting, it looks bad. Even if it was the time of your regularly scheduled lunch, you should've remained at your station because your supervisor was probably looking for you when you left and when they said you were gone, well, lunch or no lunch, it looks suspect.

The company was then able to use that against you as the reason for firing you. As was stated before, it's easier fighting a termination lawsuit than a sexual harassment lawsuit but either way, it looks like your goose has been cooked.

As it's been said before, under no circumstances should your fetish be intertwined in the work place. You unfortunately learned this the hard way.

 

[zacutiebrat]

you know something bottom line is the workplace is exactly that a workplace and shit like that should not happen period you should not have to put up with crap like that being female or male. I was recently sexually assaulted by a family member excuse me if i'm a little harsh but i get pretty sick and tired of losers and whiners who bitch when they don't get their way with women boohooooo poor little baby, get a life. You do not bring shit liket that to work end of story. Rejection is part of life get use to it and if you lost your job you knew the risk you were taking.

 

[mrmiguu]

And thank you, Zacutiebrat...

i get pretty sick and tired of losers and whiners who bitch when they don't get their way with women boohooooo poor little baby, get a life. You do not bring shit liket that to work end of story. Rejection is part of life get use to it and if you lost your job you knew the risk you were taking.

I'm way too tired of this alpha-masculine, walk-it-off, stop-your-bitching crap that guys pull when we get called on not being aware of other people's needs and concerns. HR departments are there for people's protection and professional/human needs. Thank GOODNESS for them when they work right! (they don't always)...I'd rather we err on the side of sensitivity, then on the side of the dominant-male poopah that dominates women and men throughout this society. We should be tired of and resistant to injustice and wrong-doing, not protective of the people who cross lines of social safety and protocol, whether they meant to or not....mistake or crime done...pay for it. That's when men should "man up"....let's root out the injustice where it lies, in our actions and inside of US!

And YES!...what of the woman's feelings and needs and safety and humanity!

Much love to you, za!

 

[zacutiebrat]

Thank you Mr Miguu, i think what this comes down too is that work is work and you should respect your co workers be it at work or off work obviously this girl felt uncomfortable and felt she needed to tell someone for all this guy knows she may have had previous experiences in other workplaces or has been assaulted in her life, raped, molested. It's too bad it has gone this far and that you may loser your job but relationships and stuff like that with co workers is always risky that's the bottom line.


hugs mr miguu thank you
kisses
i did not mean to be so harsh but when you have been molested, raped and sexually assaulted these things just make you very defensive. Like Mr. Miguu said we women are put through alot in society not that i am not saying men do not go through that either some do many boys and men also get abused but and forced to have sex outside of work or with co workers or bosses in order to get jobs or keep them which is wrong and some get away with it which is sickening.

 

[cinnabar]

If she sued the company for sexual harassment and it went to trial with a jury - most likely the jury of peers would not be tickling enthusiasts. The company and the HR department did what it felt was necessary to avoid a sexual harassment lawsuit and to protect the person who felt harassed.

Even if they didn't agree with it, it'd be easier to defend or lose a case of wrongful firing than sexual harassment.

If the sexual harassment case got media attention, they'd be an evil company for not protecting their employee.

If the wrongful firing case got media attention, they'd be a good company for taking extra measures to protect their employees in this modern post 9/11 world of big scary everything out to get you.

 

[doseone]

update #2

Okay I see a lot of you didn't read my previous update correctly. The initial or original contact with the co-worker where I brought up tickling was not through work e-mail, but through myspace which was done out side of the work. Secondly, I'm 26, single, and excuse me for opening up so much here but am still a virgin as well as never having any sort of sexual contact with the opposite sex other than kissing. My problem, was/is the fact that I was immediately pigeon-hold about being in the wrong here or guilty until proven innocent. Not once did they allow me to explain what happened or even apologize for my behavior that upset this female co-worker. I've actually been to several lawyers since my first initial post and all of them say I have a pretty good case for not only wrongful termination, but discrimination based on gender(I'm the only male employee in my department). Plus from my company's policy book, it states that you cannot be fired/terminated with out receiving some sort of verbal or written warning. Also it goes on to explain that every employee is entitled to a fair and unbiased meeting with supervisors/administrators in the event of a complaint against said employee either due to work performance or improper personal conduct. I've also got calls from some of my former employees who have given me written statements about how they feel that the situation was handled unfairly. We are currently preparing documents to send to the organization stating our demands we would like met, otherwise we will have no other choice to take this to the courts. Also we are looking into alerting the media about this as well, since this is a pretty big organization and we believe that the HR department treated this like a personal witch hunt never once giving me a fair shake in all of this. Based on everything that has happened to me over this, I have come to terms with the fact that I have no other choice but to be open/honest about my fetish. Thanks again everyone for your input.

 

[method11236]

Sue them and become a pioneer and first man to win a tickle-fetishist discrimination lawsuit! I shall represent you for 30% of any settlement and a $20,000 retainer up front.

 

[method11236]

Okay I see a lot of you didn't read my previous update correctly. The initial or original contact with the co-worker where I brought up tickling was not through work e-mail, but through myspace which was done out side of the work. Secondly, I'm 26, single, and excuse me for opening up so much here but am still a virgin as well as never having any sort of sexual contact with the opposite sex other than kissing. My problem, was/is the fact that I was immediately pigeon-hold about being in the wrong here or guilty until proven innocent. Not once did they allow me to explain what happened or even apologize for my behavior that upset this female co-worker. I've actually been to several lawyers since my first initial post and all of them say I have a pretty good case for not only wrongful termination, but discrimination based on gender(I'm the only male employee in my department). Plus from my company's policy book, it states that you cannot be fired/terminated with out receiving some sort of verbal or written warning. Also it goes on to explain that every employee is entitled to a fair and unbiased meeting with supervisors/administrators in the event of a complaint against said employee either due to work performance or improper personal conduct. I've also got calls from some of my former employees who have given me written statements about how they feel that the situation was handled unfairly. We are currently preparing documents to send to the organization stating our demands we would like met, otherwise we will have no other choice to take this to the courts. Also we are looking into alerting the media about this as well, since this is a pretty big organization and we believe that the HR department treated this like a personal witch hunt never once giving me a fair shake in all of this. Based on everything that has happened to me over this, I have come to terms with the fact that I have no other choice but to be open/honest about my fetish. Thanks again everyone for your input.

hmm... I see what the problem here is. I think you're placing too much worry on this whole "oh no, might lose my job thing" and not enough concern on the real issue: that you're a 26 year old virgin.

 

[MK3829]

The media isn't going to touch the case with a ten-foot pole or if they do, it'll be biased against you. The lawyers you seek won't mind the case because either way, they get money in the end. You're heading down a very perilous path that has no good ending. If they're forced to reinstate you, the entire incident will be public knowledge.

Incidents like this happen all the time. There was a case in my neck of the woods where two students were arrested for assaulting another student off school grounds and were suspended. These two individuals had scholarships to college and while they ended up being found not guilty of the charges, the school still withdrew their scholarship for misconduct. Is it fair? No of course not, but neither is life sometimes.

 

[WorkInProgress]

I'm no lawyer, but the gender discrimination thing for being male sounds ludicrous. Everything else makes sense.

Just make sure you count the costs of going public, because in public opinion you've got a few different decks stacked against you. To get the hang of that, read over the variety of responses you got here in this thread, and remind yourself that this is the tickling fetish community, and that should tell you something about the opinions you'll be dealing with out there. I personally say, the less detail you disclose about your fetish, the better--this is not an instance where the more you explain the more they'll understand.

Good luck, amigo.

 

[tickledgirl]

hmm... I see what the problem here is. I think you're placing too much worry on this whole "oh no, might lose my job thing" and not enough concern on the real issue: that you're a 26 year old virgin.

Hey, be nice. I disagree with his decisions, but this has to be a pretty tough time for him No need to be mean. (And he's saying "oh no, might lose my job." He's saying "Oh no, lost my job!")

That said...doseone, I hope you're really comfortable with being questioned in detail about your fetish. Because opposing lawyers will do their best to portray you as a twisted pervert. It won't be fun, if it gets to that point. And "from my company's policy book, it states that you cannot be fired/terminated with out receiving some sort of verbal or written warning." I betcha there's something there about termination for egregious violations. Or would they have to give you a written warning before firing you if you pocketed the petty cash fund, or started bumping off co-workers? 🙂

 

[Iggy pop]

That said...doseone, I hope you're really comfortable with being questioned in detail about your fetish. Because opposing lawyers will do their best to portray you as a twisted pervert. It won't be fun, if it gets to that point.

True. If it gets to that point, which it most likely will not. The case will most likely be settled before it gets to court.

And "from my company's policy book, it states that you cannot be fired/terminated with out receiving some sort of verbal or written warning." I betcha there's something there about termination for egregious violations. Or would they have to give you a written warning before firing you if you pocketed the petty cash fund, or started bumping off co-workers? 🙂

From what I understand he was fired for walking out of a meeting. It is certainly not criminal like the two examples you have mentioned, so I don't know if it would fall under egergious violations. It all depends on the handbook. Furthermore, they did give him a promise of a follow up meeting, which he reasonably relied upon. This could be considered a contract between the two parties.

 

[KrazieDog]

My problem, was/is the fact that I was immediately pigeon-hold about being in the wrong here or guilty until proven innocent. Not once did they allow me to explain what happened or even apologize for my behavior that upset this female co-worker.

I don't know you and I truly hope things work out good for you in the long run in whatever you do. If it sounds mean or like I'm being a asshole, so be it. Okay here it goes.

You have got to start taking some responsibility. Man up! You were never pigeon-holed into anything. A female co-worker, because of your action (regardless of where), feels uncomfortable around you/in the work environment. She approached HR. HR WILL investigate these kinds of complaints, PERIOD. You were told by your boss to report to them. You asked why and he/she said they couldn't discuss it. Now as far as you know, it may be company policy that dictates that your boss couldn't say. In any case you said "NO". Doesn't matter if you felt comfortable or not. It's a fucking uncomfortable situation! To you, and to the female that felt uncomfortable around you. The "report to HR" was not a request for you to decide on, it was a command, so to speak, issued from your boss. It wasn't optional. If you had picked your ass up and went see HR, you would have accomplished 2 things:

1) Found out what the meeting was about. YOU yourself, in your live journal said in your phone discussion with HR (yes he talked to them since) that they were just going to give you A FUCKING WRITTEN WARNING. This whole whiney ass debacle would have never transpired if you had did what you were told in the beginning and went see them.
2) You would have been allowed to explain and apologize (as you said you were not allowed to) and still get a written warning and still be working.

That's all. End of story. You were not unjustly thrown to the wolves. You created the situation by making a bonehead move, which was recoverable, and then fired for job abandonment. And believe me, whether you really believe you were "going to lunch on a whim" or not, you walked out. I personally don't think you talked to any lawyers. You said yourself on your livejournal just 23 hours ago that none returned your calls. You were too embarrassed to face HR, so I highly doubt you would ever put yourself in front of a courtroom, much less the media/wholefreakingworld. And in a real life suit, all this information and your posting history and your live journal account can easily be pulled up from a simple Google search.

I'm guessing that you are looking for sympathetic ears and soothing words to help you feel better. Instead, take a boot to the ass and pick yourself up. If you think you really have any shot (not even pretending to talk about lawyers) of them reinstating you, call the head of HR and ask to meet with them. If you know you are done or are too embarrassed to go back, then move on and get another job.

I know you think they are going to follow you like a hawk trying to keep you from getting a job anywhere, but as one of the previous posters mentioned, more than likely you will not ever see anything about this again. It seems from their point it was going to be a written warning and not as big as a deal as you might think. You were fired for job abandonment. I would not hesitate to still show that job on your resume and the 4 years of experience you have in the field and just not put them in the references sheet. If asked in an interview why you left that job, say it was personal. If they probe further, you can figure what you'd like to say, and it doesn't even have to involve the act leading up to the walking out.

I know a lot of this is harsh, but I can't really say I'm sorry. Just pick yourself up and get out of that funk you're in and move forward being wiser. Good luck to you in the workplace and your life ahead. 🙂

 

[WorkInProgress]

It just would have been really nice if, when the HR people barged in, the boss had stood up firmly and said, "No, you are not joining this meeting, we're having a private conversation and you're not invited," and then after they were gone, turned to Doseone and said "Now listen, you are going to have to meet with them after we're done, so you'd better prepare yourself." That's the difference between what people do when they're hoping for an amicable conclusion, versus what they do when they want to fire someone and take the easy way out to do it.

 

[tickledgirl]

From what I understand he was fired for walking out of a meeting. It is certainly not criminal like the two examples you have mentioned, so I don't know if it would fall under egergious violations.

That's true, I was being tongue in cheek. Along similar (though non-criminal) lines, I'll bet you'd be fired pretty quickly for walking into the CEO's office and telling him how stupid you really think he is. 🙂

It all depends on the handbook.

Minor but important detail: It all depends on their interpretation of the handbook. And if their handbook doesn't have the "at-will employment" boiler, plus an escape hatch that allows them to quickly fire someone who steps over the line, then they should fire their HR director next.

It just would have been really nice if, when the HR people barged in, the boss had stood up firmly and said, "No, you are not joining this meeting, we're having a private conversation and you're not invited," and then after they were gone, turned to Doseone and said "Now listen, you are going to have to meet with them after we're done, so you'd better prepare yourself." That's the difference between what people do when they're hoping for an amicable conclusion, versus what they do when they want to fire someone and take the easy way out to do it.

Sure, it'd have been nice if the boss was willing to put his own job on the line to cover for an employee who'd evidently messed up seriously and now was digging in and appearing intransigent. It'd have been nice if Santa had brought me a pony too. But I'm not going to sue him for failing to do so.

 

[WorkInProgress]

I'm not asking the boss to cover for him, I'm asking the boss to be sensitive to the fact that it's emotionally difficult for him. We're not talking about the difference between meeting with HR and not meeting with HR. We're talking about the difference between being caught off guard and accosted by HR like a criminal, versus being given some time and space to prepare himself emotionally to meet with HR and talk it over with the boss first.

And I do hope Santa brings you that pony. It's the least he can do if he is what he says he is, just like my scenario above is the least those clowns can do if they are what they represent themselves as being, that is, human beings with feelings.