Thanks again, everybody, for your input. I'm going to paste sections below and respond. I apologize if you said something, and I didn't include it. It is not personal, it just means I didn't really have anything to add.
Glenn9999:
"Those actually do happen. I have a whole plate of horror stories from a local company regarding their IT staff and stories like this. To make two of the stories very short, one woman got fired for eating a piece of candy on job and another GROUP of people got fired for conferring on a problem. I think this was what you were going for? But the company is in an at-will state, so this stuff is perfectly legal."
These are both great examples of what I mean. For one thing, I am not familiar with this company's policies. Maybe they have a policy against eating on the job. Still, that would not really be a fair policy (unless there is some extreme case as to why eating at this particular job is not good). After all, if you get hungry, you should be able to eat. They don't gain much from hungry employees who can't focus on work because they need sustinance. Also A PIECE OF CANDY?!?!?! Talk about making an example of somebody. The second case is probably even worse. So, this company doesn't encourage team work amongst its employees? Oh, you know, why would they? We should all be after each other's throats. Yeah, that will build a great company. (Sarcasm, in case you didn't catch that. ;-) ).
chiph:
"Yup. Word gets around. Eventually they end up with only the truly desparate, and those they relocate from out of town."
Yeah, and can you imagine the type of losers they'd get if they can only rely on those who are that desperate for a job? Not exactly a good company policy, when it leads to that kind of staff.
smedvid:
"My company just fired (2) employees for downloading music files. Always beware that big-brother is watching..."
Wow. Another good example of what I was talking about. I can at least understand that this probably IS against company policy, but it sure as Hell is not something I'd consider worthy of termination unless they do it again and again despite constant requests to stop.
"Good Topic... "
Thank you!
Glenn9999:
"Exactly, the company does work out great for those that are into the military style regimentalism, and can deal with the "one false move you're gone" atmosphere. Okay, considering I started this thread, this may sound weird, but I actually do quite well in that kind of atmosphere myself. I certainly do not mean to brag. I just never really give a company a reason to even keep their eye on me. If I were to ever get fired, it would most likely mean the company is REALLY firing people for absolutely no reason (Unless, of course, it was a lay off. That's somewhat different).
pmonett:
"When the company in question does everything it can to remove resources from a department, including not responding in time to tenders and refusing to sign contracts, then cites "economic reasons" for laying people off, I call that firing. Technically of course, it makes a world of difference.
I did not make a stink out of it because I got unemployement rights (which I actually didn't need anyway), and besides, it would have been quite difficult to prove anything in court.
But still, they torpedoed the department until they could declare it sunk. That stinks."
Ah. Good point. Though, to still speak in your defense, it sounds like it was a vendetta against your department and not you. Okay, okay, I guess it does not make much of a difference. In either case, it still means you are out of a job.
