Funny story: publishing company fires employees for sharing rumors of outsourcing

I thought this story that one of our papers posted yesterday is hilarious. Listen to the audio from the meeting. The guy is a tool in so many ways. But to me, the best part is that the meeting (which was called to yell at employees (and randomly fire 25 as collective punishment) for talking about company business outside the company) was secretly taped and then shared with the press. That fact gives me joy. http://journalrecord.com/2012/05/31/trouble-at-tate-publishing-company-fires-25-as-outsourcing-rumors-fly-general-news/ (disclaimer: this is from one of my company's papers)

On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 11:19 PM, Jerry Milo Johnson <jmiloj@gmail.com>wrote: > Listen to the audio from the meeting. The guy is a tool in so many ways. What a jackass. -Cameron ...

I am not seeing the hilarity, beyond someone recorded him being a total jackass and gave it to the press. OK.  To be outed as a petulant, petty, lying, abusive, vindictive, exploitative, avaricious asshole in a community where he is considered an upstanding leader is a bit hilarious. I bet the next church service is going to be .. awkward. I feel bad for the employees, but they were probably going to be let go regardless.  If a company downsizes and starts promoting people sideways, some major changes are on the way.  Letting 15% of one's work force go is disruptive and not usually done just to make some kind of childish point. I wonder how being fired in this way affects unemployment benefit status. On 6/1/2012 11:19 PM, Jerry Milo Johnson wrote: > > I thought this story that one of our papers posted yesterday is hilarious.

Self-righteous.  You forgot self-righteous.  To start a meeting with a prayer calling on God to out the perps, to compare himself with Jesus. What a wanker. But you're right - it's not funny.  Firing the innocent to prove his point or to force them to rat on their co-workers.  Management of the worst kind.  I would hate to have to work for a boss like him. > > OK.  To be outed as a petulant, petty, lying, abusive, vindictive, > exploitative, avaricious asshole in a community where he is considered > an upstanding leader is a bit hilarious

For me it wasnt the firing that was funny. Calling a company meeting to yell at and demean and fire your staff, in retaliation for the leak of rumors about future potential layoffs, which is then recorded, leaked to the press, and which locally in town goes viral, and shows the whole town that not only were the rumors probably true, but that you are a tool, and not a very good person, and ruining your formerly stellar reputation in town. all because you were mad that someone leaked a rumor. once again, the cover up is way worse for him than the original "crime", which would have either made him look like an evil rich business owner, or a smart business owner, depending on your own personal leanings, for outsourcing and firing people. now everyone knows he is a liar and a hypocrite and a bad Christian, and a dumb business owner, from his own mouth. I think _that_ fact is hilarious. ----- Excess quoted text cut - see Original Post for more -----

I was kind of with him at the start.  He did make some good points, but he handled the situation poorly.  He lost me when he blamed the firing of 25 people on the misdeeds of one person and more so when the expansion office was to be staffed with a lot of orphans ... I think he was just pissed that the rumors precluded him from handling the layoffs the exact way he wanted to, so he had a tantrum. So, the company is not laying anyone off, but they just fired 25 people from the department that the orphans are supposedly going to be working in.  Many people in the department were promoted to project manager, a position which they had to reapply for, and I bet that a lot of the new applicants wouldn't have made it. It sounds like he was was trying as much as possible to do the layoffs without it being his fault. I agree with you.  If he had just come out and said times are tough and I can't afford to keep everyone (whether true or not), then people would have generally understood and it would have blown over. I love how self-centered asses always think that people can't see through the crafted lies.  It's like alcoholics thinking they are fooling everyone about their lifestyle because most people are too polite to say anything. On 6/2/2012 5:29 PM, Jerry Milo Johnson wrote: ----- Excess quoted text cut - see Original Post for more -----

On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 11:19 PM, Jerry Milo Johnson <jmiloj@gmail.com>wrote: > But to me, the best part is that the meeting (which was called to yell > at employees (and randomly fire 25 as collective punishment) for > talking about company business outside the company) was secretly taped > and then shared with the press. > I heard they were not random but 17 women who requested birth control reimbursement, 3 gay men and 5 science fiction editors.

Where did you find that? On Jun 2, 2012 3:22 PM, "Casey Dougall - Uber Website Solutions" < casey@uberwebsitesolutions.com> wrote: ----- Excess quoted text cut - see Original Post for more -----

On Sat, Jun 2, 2012 at 4:36 PM, C. Hatton Humphrey <chumphrey@gmail.com>wrote: > Where did you find that? I made it up. Sorry I couldn't resist with a Christian Publisher putting out fiction.

Drat, if it was actual news I might have included it in my podcast, or at least linked to it. Until Later! C. Hatton Humphrey http://www.eastcoastconservative.com On Jun 2, 2012 4:49 PM, "Casey Dougall - Uber Website Solutions" < casey@uberwebsitesolutions.com> wrote: ----- Excess quoted text cut - see Original Post for more -----

Wait which part are you referring to? the numbers Casey quoted or the whole story itself? On Sat, Jun 2, 2012 at 5:22 PM, C. Hatton Humphrey <chumphrey@gmail.com>wrote: > > Drat, if it was actual news I might have included it in my podcast, or at > least linked to it. > >