Today should be the day we know if Suzy is staying with the company she works for, or if she quits. This story is the perfect example of corporate bullshit, and terrible "upper" managers.

When we were going to move up here, Suzy was offered a job. She was told she would be working in the store which is 10 minutes from where we were building our house. Instead, she has been in a store an hour away since starting. If we knew that was the case originally, she never would have accepted the job. Ok.. doesn't sound so bad so far.. so let's go through this.

Soon after she started the regional manager which hired her said she would be in the store here. He seemed like he meant it. Before she was to go, he wanted her to help in another store (where is still is) for a few weeks. No problem. Then, problem. This guy leaves the company! Now, there is nobody to actually TELL her she can go to the other store. No problem, we thought, whomever comes in should hopefully honor what she has been told. BZZZZZT. The Company then brings in 3 other regional (or district?) managers to help cover the others guys stores. I call these three guys Huey, Dewey and Louie. I think Huey is the one Suzy was under. Maybe it was Louie. They all report to the Companies bug guy, which I call Scrooge McDuck.

So, Suzy speaks with Huey about the fact she is supposed to be going to the other store, and when can she go. Huey says he has to talk with Scrooge McDuck. From then on, it was "next week, I'll know" as the matra Suzy would hear from Huey. I think she tried speaking with Dewey, but it didn't help either. Next week. Next week. Basically, Hewey, Dewey and Louie couldn't care less about things in these stores because they weren't really "theirs". Once a new duck was hired, they would go back to whence they came.

Enter Donald Duck. He's the regional who then took over. Donald Duck knew about the situation with Suzy, and that she has been promised to go to the other store and constantly jerked around with "next week, next week." What did Donald Duck immediately say? "We'll know next week." And, every week since then, that carrot is again dangled. It's always one reason or another why it has to be another week. Mainly, he says he has to "crunch the numbers" with Scrooge McDuck. It's not like she is a highly paid executive, and the numbers shouldn't be hard to crunch. She hears that "that store may not be able to afford to have you". The store she is at can, but this one (the one promised to her from the beginning) can't? I guess the Company doesn't put money into one pocket. They also don't seem to realize that Suzy really rocks as an employee. I'm not just saying that. She is organized, learned, enthusiastic, can sell ice to an Eskimo and is more qualified to manage a store as well as sell and do technical things than any of the other folks. After all, she has managed many stores before, and has been an apprentice optician for years (which is another story about NY not accepting her hours from CT, and having to pay almost $1k to re-enroll).

Next week.

Next week.

Crunch numbers.

Next week.

Then, Suzy went to the hospital. While she was out, things went to shambles at her store. Her co-manager really couldn't keep the store running like she does. Charts everywhere, no organization, more complaints, lower numbers. Not hard to see who really kept the ship afloat. How can the Company afford to NOT have her on board? During her time out, the manager at the store she was supposed to go to left, or was fired.. I don't know which. Of course, they immediately offered the position to... right! Someone else who is NOT Suzy. I guess a doctor or two from that same store also left. Ok, here's some budget surpluss! While Suzy was still recouperating, Donald Duck told people he was "crunching the numbers" with Scrooge McDuck again to get Suzy in there. Not really because he wanted to hold true to promises, but the new manager in the store said he wants Suzy there. She is being requested.

While home Suzy heard many rumors. Mainly all about how she was going to the local store. Rumors are rumors, and we've heard them for over a year now. Her and I talked about it. We decided that this is enough bullshit from these people. I'm now working fulltime, so she doesn't *have* to work down there. She has to work, but not there. The surgery was enough stress on her to have to deal with any more of the lies, run arounds and back tracking she has always gotten. Our deadline was Sept 15. If there is no definitive answer by then, she would quit.

All they have to do is say "Sorry, it doesn't look like it will ever happen." That would be an answer!! Not, "next week, next week, crunch numbers" and the bullshit like they are actually doing something. They aren't. While she was out, they even interviewed someone for her position. They pretty much know that one way or another she will leave that store. Her co-manager (I'll call him B) at the store was talking to one of the higher-ups (I still don't know if she really has any pull, seems like a yenta to me) and she said "Well, Suzy has threatened to leave before" and he said "Yes, but now Kevin has a good job and she doesn't need to work here" which she replied "Oh. Something needs to be done then." That exchange revealed a lot. As we suspected, they kept playing the game with Suzy that they would dangle a carrot and call her bluff. They don't realize that eventually, they would see it isn't a bluff. It was just an action awaiting the right timing. And, I've been telling her for months to call Scrooge McDuck herself and get the skinny. She wouldn't do it, although I believe it would be prudent at this point.

Now, she returns to work. Immediately the numbers for the store go up, the place is organized again and the ship is back on course. She calls Donald Duck and says "I heard rumors, what's the deal". Right back to "Next week I have a meeting with Scrooge McDuck to crunch the numbers. I'll have an answer on (some day)." When (some day) would come, she'd call. Same BS. Next week. Finally, Donald Duck straight up told Suzy "Scrooge McDuck has approved it. I'll give you a date next week." WOW!! A date?!?! Approval?!?! Too good to be true!! It was. Next week came, and she called Donald Duck to find out the date. All of a sudden, more back tracking. "Uh, I didn't promise anything. I need to meet with Scrooge McDuck to crunch the numbers. Uhhh... quack quack." Son of a bitch. Wednesday was supposed to be the date of the last number crunching braintrust meeting, Suzy was told.

Wednesday, no meeting. Yesterday, B did the right thing. He went over Donald Ducks head. He called Scrooge McDucks office. He spoke to some woman, let's call her Daisy (Duck). Daisy, from what I gathered, is the one who really gets things done for Scrooge. We know these types.. the real worker when the Big Boss is on the golf course or with their hand down an interns pants. B found out the meeting wasn't supposed to be about Suzy at all. It was about Donald Ducks review! B told her the whole saga, which all seemed to be a surprise to her.

Within an hour of B talking to Daisy, Donald Duck called B. B reamed him an new asshole. How dare he continue lying to Suzy and pussyfooting around everyhing? The girl they interviewed and wanted to hire... he never even called her back! B knows they were going to hire her, but Donald didn't even call her to do it! He's lied about meetings, he's lying to Suzy. B did a good thing. Apparantly, he let it all out to Daisy and Donald. Hello right hand, meet left hand.

So apparantly, Donald is supposed to come in today with an answer. Either she can go to the store, or she can't. One or the other. No more carrot, no more lies, no more bullshit. Just a god damn answer. If there is no answer, Suzy may just quit. No "next week" crap. Enough already. It's been over a year of "next week" or "later this week" and fake meetings with no resolutions.

These type of managers make me sick. If you can't have empathy for your minions, you have no need being in that position. If you treat someone this was, with empty promises and fake help, you don't deserve your job. Just be straight with people. Say yes or no. Be definitive. Be decisive.

You know, I figured out some numbers. Suzy spends almost a weeks pay on gas (especially these days) for work. And, she spends a week (2 hours+/day) commuting. Not to mention the miles and wear/tear being put on a leased truck. So, it's almost like she works 5 weeks a month, and gets paid for 3. She leaves before 8am, gets home after 9pm, works Saturdays, doesn't see Kyla or me very much. That's not really the way it should be. And, since the surgery, I really don't think she needs to do that anymore... or deal with any McDuck lying and baiting her on.

I hope it works out. I, of course, prefer her to have a new job before quitting! I'd most prefer she goes to the store she was originally hired to go to.