hellstorm

and today, talking to a "regular", he told me how he just got fired a few weeks ago. last year, where he works (general maintainance for an apartment complex), things changed where he no longer worked for a company per se but for the complex itself. the owner of the complex made all the employees sign a contract saying if they talked to their old boss at all, they would be fired. she also stated that if the employees did not sign this contract, they would be fired on the spot.

one of the employees that installed water heaters chatted with this former boss, telling the old boss where this customer (let's call him Joe) lived. so the old boss (we'll call him Mike) drove to where Joe lives (Joe was in an apartment in the complex, and did not tell Mike where he lived), and stopped by. Joe had a brief conversation with Mike, and left (what do you do when your old boss shows up at your house basically anyways?). Joe then notified his boss of what happened (how Mike was on the property, and that he briefly talked with him, basic conversation, nothing about work or anything....all while Joe was off the clock and not on call). that Monday, Joe's boss calls him in and fires him.

so basically Joe got fired because a co-worker (now fired) told Mike where to find Joe, and Mike drove to Joe's house to visit. does that sound right to you?

add to that, well, about a month or so ago, Joe signed a 1 year lease where he pays nothing for rent (since he did the work at the complex, it was part of his employment). now, the lease has no stipulations that the $0 rent is contingent on employment. since he was fired, Joe's boss drew up a new lease, and is telling Joe that he has to pay rent as of August 1st. Joe does not plan on signing this new lease, since his current lease expires next year. however, Joe is also worried about causing problems, since his wife and daughter both work for the apartment complex as well.

now, to me, I wonder if an employer can legally make you sign a contract dictating who you can and can not talk with both on and off the clock. this old boss, the only problem the new boss has with him is, well, she hates him. no reason, she just does not like him. additionally, can she force Joe to pay rent since he is no longer employed by her, despite him signing a lease of no rent and nothing stating that the lease is contingent on employment? I don't think she can, but that's just me.

for me....time to find some websites and information for "Joe", hopefully he can find some legal action to take. after all, being fired because someone shows up at your door step someone that was told where you live by someone else.....that's just f*cked up if you ask me!

so yeah, that's how work is with me...what about you?