scott wrote:
> Well if people are doing things like shouting at you for 20 minutes or 
> sending threatening letters, then complain about them.

Maybe it's just me, but if someone at work actually raised their voice to me 
out of something other than momentary anger, I'd just laugh in their face 
and tell them to grow up.

Not to minimize your mom's feelings, but I just can't relate.

Feeling bad over someone being upset I reserve for people I care about. If 
your job is to make me miserable, it doesn't really bother me if you fail at 
it. A disappointing look from someone I respect is far worse than 20 minutes 
of "being called into the boss' office" by someone who's a hack. Especially 
if I'm a skilled worker and I know I haven't done poorly.

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   I ordered stamps from Zazzle that read "Place Stamp Here".

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Invisible wrote:
> Last time I checked, BT ownes the entire telephone network. Nobody else 
> is allowed to touch it.

What sort of engineering does she do? Even in the days of the monopoly in 
the USA, the phone company still bought equipment from other companies and 
so on.

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   I ordered stamps from Zazzle that read "Place Stamp Here".

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Darren New wrote:

> Not to minimize your mom's feelings, but I just can't relate.
> 
> Feeling bad over someone being upset I reserve for people I care about. 
> If your job is to make me miserable, it doesn't really bother me if you 
> fail at it. A disappointing look from someone I respect is far worse 
> than 20 minutes of "being called into the boss' office" by someone who's 
> a hack. Especially if I'm a skilled worker and I know I haven't done 
> poorly.

How about "you will meet these impossible targets I've set you or I'll 
fire you and you'll have to go live on the street"? How does that strike 
you?

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>> Last time I checked, BT ownes the entire telephone network. Nobody 
>> else is allowed to touch it.
> 
> What sort of engineering does she do? Even in the days of the monopoly 
> in the USA, the phone company still bought equipment from other 
> companies and so on.

She spent about 10 years installing people's telephones, running 
telephone cables, diagnosing network faults, etc.

Now she just works in a call center where people ring her up to whine 
about their phone not working and demand that somebody come and fix it 
yesterday.

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Invisible wrote:
> How about "you will meet these impossible targets I've set you or I'll 
> fire you and you'll have to go live on the street"? How does that strike 
> you?

I'd start looking for a new job. I've been fired often enough before it's 
not a big deal to me, I fear. That comes from working for start-ups for a 
long time. But I've always been financially conservative, so I've never been 
so broke I'd be out on the street by getting fired.

As I said, it isn't a cut on you mom.  I just can't relate.  I'll shut up 
now. :-)

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   I ordered stamps from Zazzle that read "Place Stamp Here".

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Invisible wrote:
> She spent about 10 years installing people's telephones, running 
> telephone cables, diagnosing network faults, etc.

OK. That would be the monopoly part, yes. :-)

Maybe look at a construction company who wants someone experienced when 
wiring up new buildings?

> Now she just works in a call center where people ring her up to whine 
> about their phone not working and demand that somebody come and fix it 
> yesterday.

Huh. It's hard to believe there are performance targets that can't get 
scammed there, given the number of places you read about (for example) AOL 
customer service reps just hanging up on customers to keep their call volume 
high. :-)

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
     Is God willing to prevent phrogams, but not able?
       Then he is not omnipotent.
     Is he able, but not willing, to prevent phrogams?
       Then he is malevolent.

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news:4b02ae34$1@news.povray.org...

> I don't really know what the right course of action here is. But certainly 
> this kind of behaviour is unacceptable, and should not be legal.

This is exactly what has been happening in France with France Telecom (aka 
Orange). It took around 25 suicides (a guy even stabbed himself in the 
stomach during a meeting) for things to become public. It's been a matter a 
national debate in the past months and some corporate heads were cut. It's 
difficult to say if things are really going to change but at least the 
victims are no longer alone wondering what they did wrong.
In any case, it's really a matter of employees banding together, going 
public with this and making as much noise as possible. The harassement 
methods you describe are 100% identical to those used by FT (down to the 
people targeted by the bullying, i.e. senior engineers), so there's a 
precedent for it.

G.

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Invisible wrote:
> [If you want to enjoy the rest of today, don't bother reading this post...]
> ...

No advice, but my condolences on your/her situation and I hope she 
quickly finds a place to work which actually treats her well.

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Invisible wrote:

> So, does anybody have any *constructive* suggestions for how to remedy 
> this unholy situation?
> 

She could always take a sickie for a while and play the system.

I know this is no proper answer but maybe a few weeks away from the 
workplace would calm her nerves.

far. She needs a break before her health suffers any more. {This is from 
personal (not mine) experience}


-- 

Best Regards,
	Stephen

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First my sympathies for what has happened to your Madam Mother, I'd feel 
the same, and I'd have gone there and made some "aggressive 
negotiations" asking explanation and threatened to sue them to the full 
extent of the law, but that would be me, and maybe I wouldn't do it, 
taking law in your hands is when things start get out of control and you 
make more damage than good, IMO that should be done only when everything 
else fails.

(Dude, no offense, but I really hope this is not a "heavy" joke, that 
would be something extremely stupid to do).

I won't make a long and/or complicated post since is the last thing you 
need. What I would do:

Can the public prosecutor do something for you? Also, If you have a 
lawyer friend consult about suing them, mental and emotional anguish is 
a win card for law suits I think, at least for what I have seen on U.S.A 
trial movies, there you'd have a very solid case and a millionaire 
amount of money after it, for what I had seen and know about U.S.A. 
legal system. Anyway, try to get legal advice, any reasonable person 
would be on your side.

Go to the media, I think some lawyers reinforce these kind of cases this 
way, and is only fair the UK Government and people know what some 
companies are doing with their Countrymen/women. Check with your lawyer 
about it, just in case, but this would be my best bet; imagine it gets 
aired internationally? even if it doesn't, I don't think authorities 
will take any chances and start doing some work on their own to get this 
solved.

Starting is always harder so, it'll get uglier before it gets prettier, 
hold on buddy, this merits a good fight, so the truth can prevail.

All I can say, get all the legal advice you can get, all lawyers you 
know, get them to help you, if possible, notify your friends and 
relatives, I think they should know and probably will help, I'm sure 
such offensive behavior is Illegal. You and your mother, once he can 
recover a little, have to fight this injustice.

BTW, That kind of horrendous amount of stress, suffering and anguish can 
physically damage a person, let alone emotional. IMO your Mother needs 
all the support from your family and friends, psychology and medical 
too, if she can't go to the doctor you go see one, or bring one to your 
house. Get some money man, you'll need it.

Sorry to be harsh on my evaluation of your situation but are solid 
facts, at least I think they are, where you can stand with confidence 
and start building a solution on it.

I wish I could do more for you both.

I'll pray for your Mother and you. Best of lucks.

Saul.

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