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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Getting Someone Fired	Kate	Thursday, October 15, 2009
Question: (You don't have to answer this if you're super-busy. But I'd respect any answer from you.) My job satisfaction at work is about 50%, and I feel like it could be at least 90% if I didn't work with this mean old lady. She's darn near close to being a misanthrope. She's always spewing negativities, she downright HATES everyone she has to talk to, she backstabs, she's bitter--she even proudly tells stories about how she's mistreated her kids in the past. In the beginning, I was sweet as pie to her. Then fatigued. And then she tried to get me fired (luckily the boss didn't fall for it,) and I felt hate like I'd never felt before! Needless to say, I've learned a lot from the experience (like hate seriously gets you nowhere,) but I'm still suffering at work. I'm so sick and tired of getting snapped at and having to listen to her throw tantrums and make fun of people and sneer out slander about everybody. For eight hours a day in a very confined, stressful work environment! Well finally, the boss has become acutely aware of it; other coworkers are unable to work with her. The boss has asked me to keep a log of all the negative, nasty things she says. Other coworkers are contributing their observations as well, and my log is pages long. Here's my moral dilemma: If I give my log of observations to the boss, I'm afraid this will be the last straw for my coworker: she'll get fired. 1/2 of me is elated at this! and the other 1/2 of me really doesn't wish unemployment on anyone. The thing about this lady is that she's been fired from other jobs before for her bad attitude and she currently shows no signs of trying to improve herself. I don't know if this is because she won't try or because she can't. I know it's not a specifically grave Catholic concern, but I'm a Catholic and really trying to follow Jesus' "do unto others" teaching. I'm not sure what to do. Any advice? Thank you!
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Kate: If the boss knows about all this I do not know why he just doesn't fire her. I suppose if he has not seen this behavior personally, he would need documentation from witnesses in order to fire her. You do not have to feel sorry for her if she loses her job. It is she, and she alone, that has caused the conditions for her firing. You and your co-workers cannot enable her dysfunction behavior. That does her no good at all. She needs to be held accountable for her behavior. The best thing for her, perhaps, is to be fired, over and over again, until she gets that she has a personality disorder and needs to get professional help. As I said, I don't know why the boss just doesn't fire her outright, but if for some reason he needs documentation, then I suppose preparing a log is necessary. My primary caution is that you should not be the only one to do this. Even if you are the one to collect the observations, others besides yourself should sign the report. But, I think it is better if several co-workers each keep their own logs. The log should include date and time and an "objective" observation of the situation. No emotion, no editorializing, just straight matter-of-fact reporting. As Sergeant Joe Friday on the TV show Dragnet always said, "Just the facts, ma'am." I would also commit this woman to prayer. She needs your prayers. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Getting Someone Fired

Kate

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Question:

(You don't have to answer this if you're super-busy. But I'd respect any answer from you.)

My job satisfaction at work is about 50%, and I feel like it could be at least 90% if I didn't work with this mean old lady. She's darn near close to being a misanthrope. She's always spewing negativities, she downright HATES everyone she has to talk to, she backstabs, she's bitter--she even proudly tells stories about how she's mistreated her kids in the past.

In the beginning, I was sweet as pie to her. Then fatigued. And then she tried to get me fired (luckily the boss didn't fall for it,) and I felt hate like I'd never felt before!

Needless to say, I've learned a lot from the experience (like hate seriously gets you nowhere,) but I'm still suffering at work. I'm so sick and tired of getting snapped at and having to listen to her throw tantrums and make fun of people and sneer out slander about everybody. For eight hours a day in a very confined, stressful work environment!

Well finally, the boss has become acutely aware of it; other coworkers are unable to work with her. The boss has asked me to keep a log of all the negative, nasty things she says. Other coworkers are contributing their observations as well, and my log is pages long.

Here's my moral dilemma:

If I give my log of observations to the boss, I'm afraid this will be the last straw for my coworker: she'll get fired. 1/2 of me is elated at this! and the other 1/2 of me really doesn't wish unemployment on anyone.

The thing about this lady is that she's been fired from other jobs before for her bad attitude and she currently shows no signs of trying to improve herself. I don't know if this is because she won't try or because she can't.

I know it's not a specifically grave Catholic concern, but I'm a Catholic and really trying to follow Jesus' "do unto others" teaching. I'm not sure what to do.

Any advice?

Thank you!

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Kate:

If the boss knows about all this I do not know why he just doesn't fire her. I suppose if he has not seen this behavior personally, he would need documentation from witnesses in order to fire her.

You do not have to feel sorry for her if she loses her job. It is she, and she alone, that has caused the conditions for her firing. You and your co-workers cannot enable her dysfunction behavior. That does her no good at all. She needs to be held accountable for her behavior. The best thing for her, perhaps, is to be fired, over and over again, until she gets that she has a personality disorder and needs to get professional help.

As I said, I don't know why the boss just doesn't fire her outright, but if for some reason he needs documentation, then I suppose preparing a log is necessary.

My primary caution is that you should not be the only one to do this. Even if you are the one to collect the observations, others besides yourself should sign the report. But, I think it is better if several co-workers each keep their own logs.

The log should include date and time and an "objective" observation of the situation. No emotion, no editorializing, just straight matter-of-fact reporting. As Sergeant Joe Friday on the TV show Dragnet always said, "Just the facts, ma'am."

I would also commit this woman to prayer. She needs your prayers.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum