Workplace Waterboarding?
Yes, just when you think you've seen it all..... The Word On Employment Law Blog points to an article reporting that as part of motivational training session, a company engaged in waterboarding of a participant in order "to demonstrate to the employees that they should work as hard as the employee being waterboarded was working to breathe."
For new on this story - see this Washington Post article on the progress of the legal case so far.
And, what were they thinking???
It's Always Good to Know What Your Employees Are Doing
Comcast learned a hard lesson this week when a video clip of an employee sleeping on a customer's couch ended up on the web. Apparently the clip was viewed by several hundred thousand people in relatively short order. A video like this is incredibly embarassing to a company (although, I must admit, I laughed out loud when I saw it). Think of all of the expense and effort many companies put in to branding and attempting to ensure a professional reputation only to find this clip all over the web! According to this news article, the employee had to wait on hold with customer service at Comcast and while sitting on the customer's couch fell asleep.
Posted By Diane Pfadenhauer In Weird News | Permalink
Lack of Due Process in Military Demotion?
This recent article on CNN about Billy, the goat who was demoted should bring a chuckle. According to the article:
"The military mascot, a 6-year-old male goat called Billy, was downgraded from the rank of lance corporal to fusilier -- the same status as a private -- after army chiefs ruled his poor display had ruined the ceremony June 16 at a British army base in Episkopi, western Cyprus."
He allegedly "darted from side to side, throwing soldiers off their stride and he was trying to headbutt the waist and nether regions of the drummers."
"The goat, which has been the regiment's mascot since 2001, was supposed to be leading the march, but would not stay in line...He was reported for subordination and after consideration, the commanding officer decided he had no option but to demote Billy."
So I want to know where Billy's union representatives were? What about the hearing? Was he able to submit a rebuttal in response for inclusion in his personnel file? Oh well. I guess he is a goat "at will" - he's lucky he didn't get fired.
Posted By Diane Pfadenhauer In Weird News | Permalink
Team Building Activities: What NOT to do
This interesting little article from CNN describes how a 53-year-old plaintiff is seeking $1.2 million for allegedly being spanked at work. Yup, that's right. According to the article,
"Employees were paddled with rival companies' yard signs as part of a contest that pitted sales teams against each other, according to court documents. The winners poked fun at the losers, throwing pies at them, feeding them baby food, making them wear diapers and swatting their buttocks."
Apparently, attorneys for the company said the spankings were part of a voluntary program to build camaraderie and were not discriminatory because they were given to both male and female workers.
So, my only question is.... Who on earth thought of this idiotic team building activity?
Posted By Diane Pfadenhauer In Employment Law , Weird News | Permalink
First Grader in the Hot Seat for Sexual Harassment at School
According to this article, a first grader at a Boston area elementary school has been suspended for sexual harassment. "...after he put two fingers inside a classmate's waistband, school officials told his mother, Berthena Dorinvil. The boy told her he only touched the girl's shirt after the girl touched him." Experts say only in rare, troubling cases can children that young truly sexually harass one another. Why? Because according to the experts, they don't understand what it is.
Posted By Diane Pfadenhauer In Trends , Weird News | Permalink
Leonid Meteor Shower to Peak Tonight
The Leonid Meteor Shower will peak tomorrow morning (Nov. 17) at approximately 3:30 - 4:00 a.m. EST. For those late night owls or those who can't sleep, the meteor shower is an exciting event to watch - think shooting stars throughout the sky in a variety of colors! The viewing is expected to be favorable as the moon will have set hours before the peak viewing time. For more infomation, go here.
Posted By Diane Pfadenhauer In Weird News | Permalink