I've heard keeping a journal can be good for the psyche... so while browing through .Mac, I realized that I had the tools for a great venting forum right before my eyes. So it begins...
It's been a crappy last few weeks -- on May 6th, 2003 I was fired from my job at the studio, after eight years of being a truly loyal employee. I don't even think they realize just how loyal I really was. I mean, I went through eleven months of chemotherapy while I was there and in that time I only missed one day of work. If that's not a team player, I don't know what is.
I am positive it's a personal vendetta from the IT department head. He hated the fact that I didn't genuflect when he blessed my department with his presence, and he really hated the fact that I actually had the audacity to question his decisions and offer an opinion that was different from his own.
I found out (totally by accident) that he may have received a kickback on a piece of software that he advised the company to buy. The software itself is not very stable and has a lot of problems, but since he's on the Executive Committee, he managed to get corporate to force us to stop using the older, but functional, system, and use the new one without any transitional period whatsoever. We users were asked to keep track of any glitches. But every time I sent in another "glitch report" (and there were many) he apparently took it as a personal affront to his authority. I heard later that he had been trying to get me fired for some time, perhaps as long a two years, at least according to my immediate supervisor (but not in front of any witnesses, unfortunately).
He took advantage of the general fear and lack of knowledge of computers that is the norm at the company; he told them that I had installed an unauthorized Zip drive and downloaded some file from the Internet that allowed me to hack other employees passwords and steal their files. Both of these accusations are lies -- the same guy that got me fired for the Zip drive actually suggested that I buy one about two years earlier. They had sent a memo telling all employees to remove any personal files from the main server, and he actually came into my office at that time and TOLD me to get a Zip drive for that very purpose.
The downloaded hack accusation is nothing more than total bunk, and a complete fabrication. From what I've learned since I was fired, it's apparently virtually impossible, unless one has access to a multi-thousand dollar Unix computer and a LOT of time on their hands. Yes, I did have a folder on my computer with other employee's documents inside, but every one of those documents was either emailed to me by the person who owned it, or it was CREATED by me as a favor to the other person. Several people asked me to help them with their resume, one guy asked me to help him write up some legal documents pertaining to his child custody battle, I wrote letters to the DMV and to insurance companies for people... I always saved copies in case the other person lost theirs. But I'm sure that our IT department head omitted that little detail when he put in the demand for my dismissal. Nor were any of the files' owners asked about the documents, either.
My husband and I have been exploring our legal options, but so far the attorneys we have spoken to have agreed that even though I have a valid complaint and that the studio people are obviously in the wrong, they won't take the case on because it won't get a big enough settlement. Had I been sexually harassed or discriminated against, then we'd have a different kettle of fish. I might be able to get a defamation of character ruling, although we think it could still be a discrimination suit because other people have non-company hardware and software on their desktops, but none of them have been reprimanded or fired. So far they have singled me out on having hardware that was not purchased by the company, and if I can get a few people to testify, then that would be a valid discrimination complaint.
At any rate, I am looking for a new position. So far there's been only a few bites and no real offers, but I'm trying to stay optimistic. I had a couple of interviews in the last week that seemed promising. And I'm getting some nice gardening done.
Wish me luck, though... the film biz is a little slow right now since it's the summer hiatus (and reality TV is killing the industry). I may have to take a job in another field, although after doing this for so long, I wouldn't know where to start.
