Phlegm Alley Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Let me start out by saying that I am not a horrible whistle-blowing individual who would do something like this with malice and forethought. I work in the news business as a videographer for a small, non-unionized, individually owned political station. This past Tuesday, Election Day, was the biggest day of the year for us and we reported live at the Sheraton in NYC for the large Democratic soire with Spitzer, Hillary, and Cuomo with all media, local, national, and international. Needless to say, the place is a mob scene with media outlets set up on a 50 foot long multi-level riser on a 3' x 6' rectangle for all your equipment necessary to broadcast live remotely. We (myself and an engineer more adept at this than myself) began setting up at 11am. After we finished setting up, the other engineer (who is my superior) had to leave to go set up other crews reporting live up in Westchester County, not before informing other members of our NYC crew (5 people including myself) to help me break down everything when the night was over because it is a lot of f'ing work for one person. After all was said and done, it was 1am and time to break down. Everybody bolted saying that it wasn't their job because they aren't in production, but more in the editorial department. I told them they were ignoring orders from superiors, but still, they steadfastly refuse to assist in the breakdown of the live set. One of them, even had the audacity to start drinking at the festivities while I was left to break down everything by myself and loading my car in the pouring rain. I ended up leaving at 4 am and got home at 4:30am. Needless to say, I was pissed. I was beyond pissed. I was enfuriated. The next day I had to return a bunch of equipment back up to White Plains. The first question my head engineer asked was "how was the breakdown and did everyone help you?". I told him what happened and he went right up to the Human Resources director and told her what happened. She immediately called the person who was drinking at the party the night before (I didn't tell her he was drinking) and she told him to clean out his desk because he no longer had a job. Sorry for the long post, but would you guys feel somewhat upset if you were kinda responsible for the termination of an employee who you considered a friend? I covered for this guy on numerous occasions and I told him that I was never covering for him again as a result of his lack of assistance when I needed it the most.
The Avenger Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Let me start out by saying that I am not a horrible whistle-blowing individual who would do something like this with malice and forethought. I work in the news business as a videographer for a small, non-unionized, individually owned political station. This past Tuesday, Election Day, was the biggest day of the year for us and we reported live at the Sheraton in NYC for the large Democratic soire with Spitzer, Hillary, and Cuomo with all media, local, national, and international. Needless to say, the place is a mob scene with media outlets set up on a 50 foot long multi-level riser on a 3' x 6' rectangle for all your equipment necessary to broadcast live remotely. We (myself and an engineer more adept at this than myself) began setting up at 11am. After we finished setting up, the other engineer (who is my superior) had to leave to go set up other crews reporting live up in Westchester County, not before informing other members of our NYC crew (5 people including myself) to help me break down everything when the night was over because it is a lot of f'ing work for one person. After all was said and done, it was 1am and time to break down. Everybody bolted saying that it wasn't their job because they aren't in production, but more in the editorial department. I told them they were ignoring orders from superiors, but still, they steadfastly refuse to assist in the breakdown of the live set. One of them, even had the audacity to start drinking at the festivities while I was left to break down everything by myself and loading my car in the pouring rain. I ended up leaving at 4 am and got home at 4:30am. Needless to say, I was pissed. I was beyond pissed. I was enfuriated. The next day I had to return a bunch of equipment back up to White Plains. The first question my head engineer asked was "how was the breakdown and did everyone help you?". I told him what happened and he went right up to the Human Resources director and told her what happened. She immediately called the person who was drinking at the party the night before (I didn't tell her he was drinking) and she told him to clean out his desk because he no longer had a job. Sorry for the long post, but would you guys feel somewhat upset if you were kinda responsible for the termination of an employee who you considered a friend? I covered for this guy on numerous occasions and I told him that I was never covering for him again as a result of his lack of assistance when I needed it the most. 830855[/snapback] The guy made his own mess by not helping out - he's got to deal with the consequences. I tend to believe that if he was fired for something like this he probably already had other strikes against him. What's tough for you is that it appears to the outsiders that you came in, immediately cried to your boss and/or HR and got the guy canned. If it happened like you say (and I have no reason to doubt you) and you were asked how things went and you never personally went to HR or suggested that this guy be fired then things were beyond your control, but don't expect others to believe that's how it unfolded. Tough situation, but what could you do?
Beerball Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 The guy made his own mess by not helping out - he's got to deal with the consequences. I tend to believe that if he was fired for something like this he probably already had other strikes against him. What's tough for you is that it appears to the outsiders that you came in, immediately cried to your boss and/or HR and got the guy canned. If it happened like you say (and I have no reason to doubt you) and you were asked how things went and you never personally went to HR or suggested that this guy be fired then things were beyond your control, but don't expect others to believe that's how it unfolded. Tough situation, but what could you do? 830866[/snapback] I gotta agree with The Avenger. If someone was fired that quickly and no mention of boozing on the job was made...then he was already 1/2 way out the door. I don't know specifically about NYS, but terminations in any state I've worked in are not easily done, especially someone who's been around a while.
Bungee Jumper Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Personally, I wouldn't feel bad. But personally, I'm not a very decent person. Either way, though...personally, I'd be polishing my resume, with the idea that no one in the organization is going to want to work with me anymore and my job was about to become far less enjoyable. What actually happened has absolutely nothing to do with how your coworkers are going to perceive it, sorry to say. That's just me, though. I gotta be me. You gotta be you.
Phlegm Alley Posted November 9, 2006 Author Posted November 9, 2006 Like I said, I covered for him on numerous occasions. He would regularly show up to work late, when bosses called looking for him, I told them he was getting lunch. He regularly called in to work citing ailments as colitis, strep throat, whooping cough, etcc and he has only been with the company for 3 months. The day after election day, he called in sick to work. Management knew about his egregious behavior. I am little upset because he has called me up since his termination calling me a dick.
Spun Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 A friend would have helped you break down. Although, I don't know the other sides of the story, I would guess that you work with some selfish people. A more professional staff, realizing what you were up against could have helped. Is there a bad history between yourself and the other people? What is the precedent in similar situations? Would it have taken the burden off of you if the engineer asked the other individuals how the breakdown went without letting it be known that you had already told your version of the story? What kind of history did the fired "friend" have with the engineer? I guess that the "friend" had it coming. I know how in union tv stations there are very clear divisions between who does what and it is commonly enforced that one only does their job. But in non-union stations a team approach would apply. In the future, make sure that you help as you would like to be helped because most likely you will be watched. You are in a cut throat business. Weather the storm! Good luck!
tennesseeboy Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Wouldn't bother me. Guy drinking before the job was done is an a-hole. I think the previous poster was probably right that the guy was on thin ice before your reported him. Don't worry about it. You saved the next production guy the problem of the a-hole shirking work.
Realist Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Sorry, I would worry another second about it. He screwed himself over. Any friend or coworker that was worth a damn would have been helping out with no questions asked. I would have been royally pissed and wouldn't give it another thought.
erynthered Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Does he have any relatives that work for the Postal Service?
RayFinkle Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 ...he has only been with the company for 3 months. The day after election day, he called in sick to work. Management knew about his egregious behavior. I am little upset because he has called me up since his termination calling me a dick. 830878[/snapback] Only with the company 3 months? He is still a FNG, no worries.
MadBuffaloDisease Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Sounds like you're management material, BFV! Don't sweat it. Your "friend" sounds like a dick who took advantage of you. Be glad he's gone and not screwing up your work life anymore. Just hope he doesn't get confrontational.
Phlegm Alley Posted November 9, 2006 Author Posted November 9, 2006 A friend would have helped you break down. Although, I don't know the other sides of the story, I would guess that you work with some selfish people. A more professional staff, realizing what you were up against could have helped. Is there a bad history between yourself and the other people? What is the precedent in similar situations? Would it have taken the burden off of you if the engineer asked the other individuals how the breakdown went without letting it be known that you had already told your version of the story? What kind of history did the fired "friend" have with the engineer? I guess that the "friend" had it coming. I know how in union tv stations there are very clear divisions between who does what and it is commonly enforced that one only does their job. But in non-union stations a team approach would apply. In the future, make sure that you help as you would like to be helped because most likely you will be watched. You are in a cut throat business. Weather the storm! Good luck! 830880[/snapback] I do all that is asked of me and I strive to put together the best possible broadcast possible. I am very cautious where I step as to not step on any toes. The engineer could have asked the NYC crew what happened, but he doesn't correspond with them on a regular basis like he does with me. He took it upon himself to confront the HR director not only to stick up for me, but to display that his direct orders were ignored. You're right about the unionized aspect of the news business. We emphasize a communitve effort here because were aren't unionized. I often find myself doing jobs that I would rather not be a part of because it doesn't allign with my occupational responsibilities, but I help out wherever I can so I could develop good work karma.
JoeFerguson Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Like I said, I covered for him on numerous occasions. He would regularly show up to work late, when bosses called looking for him, I told them he was getting lunch. He regularly called in to work citing ailments as colitis, strep throat, whooping cough, etcc and he has only been with the company for 3 months. The day after election day, he called in sick to work. Management knew about his egregious behavior. I am little upset because he has called me up since his termination calling me a dick. 830878[/snapback] You should tell him he is the dick for drinking on the job and not helping you.
Dan III Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 I am little upset because he has called me up since his termination calling me a dick. 830878[/snapback] "See, there's three kinds of people: dicks, pu$$ies, and azzholes..."
Just Jack Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 So after all this, there's an opening at your company?
ACor58 Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 I wouldn't worry to much about it. Do you report directly to the engineer? Do the other coworkers that screwed you report to him? As long as you are in his good graces you will be fine. Either way, this guy had it coming and if it wasn't this, he would have screwed himself another time anyway. Besides, now you don't have to wrroy about catching colitis.
VABills Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Oh sure if it wasn't bad enough that the dems won, you get one more purson dumped onto society so we have to pay for him. Unemployment, welfare, medicare, thanks, more taxes.
kegtapr Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Feel bad? Nope. Work is....well, work. You either do it or you don't. I don't care if you're my best friend, you don't do your job I won't feel bad when you get fired.
Spun Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Oh sure if it wasn't bad enough that the dems won, you get one more purson dumped onto society so we have to pay for him. Unemployment, welfare, medicare, thanks, more taxes. 830968[/snapback] And booze, cigarettes, Depends and Viagra...
Bungee Jumper Posted November 9, 2006 Posted November 9, 2006 Like I said, I covered for him on numerous occasions. He would regularly show up to work late, when bosses called looking for him, I told them he was getting lunch. He regularly called in to work citing ailments as colitis, strep throat, whooping cough, etcc and he has only been with the company for 3 months. The day after election day, he called in sick to work. Management knew about his egregious behavior. I am little upset because he has called me up since his termination calling me a dick. 830878[/snapback] In that case...I commend you on a job well done.
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