Bad Jealous Evil Bosses Trying to Ruin Your Cruise

[LA_CA_GAL]

I am no attorney but I imagine that there are many resources for disabled veterans who are unfairly treated. You put your life on the line for our freedom. That is special. You are entitled and deserve a vacation. Even more you deserve respect. Don't let some bully push you around. Standing up to a bully is always the best course. Contact your attorney, congressman, the VA, the local TV station, the local newspaper, and anyone else you can think of. If you are in a union, contact your rep. Thank you and your husband for your service to our nation. Let us know how this turns out. We care about you and are pulling for you. God Bless.

 

I tend to agree with you, however, I would say nothing, do nothing, except work up until vacation/cruise time then go on the cruise.

 

Have a great time, try not to worry about anything, after the cruise, go back to work as if nothing is different (as it should be).

 

If the OP gets any negative repercussions she should have her attorney make contact with the CEO of the organization and let him know in no uncertain terms that the response will be nothing short of shock and awe. Oh, and by the way, one thing you left out is social media. You know how those things go viral.:eek:

[klfrodo]

You all are correct- only I work in the legal department. I am the reasonble accommodation expert. Thus the dilemma- they will find a way and another way and another way to f$&@ me. Seen it done. A bit afraid to even post this.

 

So- do I give in, keep my job and skip my dream cruise or do I toss the dice and believe my employer will actually follow policy, procedures, rules and laws?

 

No matter what I do I am hosed.

 

With your background and knowledge, I'm sure you have your duckies covered with copies of e-mails and such to prove your allegations.

If so, get everything printed out, go on this trip and be prepared to nail them to the cross for wrongful termination.

Nice golden parachute for early retirement.

[LA_CA_GAL]

....... You know how those things go viral.:eek:

 

OP, BTW, let us know what happens, and if need be, I will be happy to assist in making this go viral. And I am sure many others here know a thing or two about social media.

 

You have fun on that cruise. If they give you any problems, a good lawyer could turn this into a financial bonus for you.

[LA_CA_GAL]

With your background and knowledge, I'm sure you have your duckies covered with copies of e-mails and such to prove your allegations.

If so, get everything printed out, go on this trip and be prepared to nail them to the cross for wrongful termination.

Nice golden parachute for early retirement.

 

Great minds think alike. Spot on.

 

The more I think about this, I kind of envy the OP.

[CJHAN]

I thought there was law to protect worker in the case of earned leave. I know that where i work i can put in leave as late as two week prior to the time i need off and if that leave is denied a valid reason must be given. If i put in leave 6mo out and its approved it can not then be revoked its my leave after all. That said im a union worker worker so depending on where you work you might not be protected by these say exact type of leave rules but leave you earned is yours and they cant tell you when to use it.

Edited August 19, 2016 by CJHAN

[zqvol]

First of all I am just venting. Mostly.

 

I have had a cruise to Alaska on the books and leave planned and approved at work for the last two years. Work has a project that has been on the books for a year and a half. Due date comes out the day I get off the ship and two days before I return to work. And that due date was just issued two days ago. I figured out a way to make the due date and my boss changed everything again today.

 

Part of me wants to use my cruise insurance if work is going to cancel this cruise. But most of me wants to cruise no matter what.

 

I have planned this cruise for years and my work has been on notice. They had no problem until I had to take off a few days and telework for a few weeks because I needed a hip replacement surgery. Since the surgery they have been all over me me because I can't walk fast enough, etc. (I am not a person who needs to move fast- I am an administrative specialist with performance scores of 9 out of 10 until my disability). I am also a seriously physically disabled vet. They did not know that before my surgery. Now all of a sudden I have work that conflicts with this cruise? It is like they realized I was going on leave and assigned me work I could not do while I was gone.

 

I am so frustrated. I want to cruise Alaska on the Legend next week. But it may cost my job.

 

Has anyone else had a crappy boss who opposed their cruise?

 

 

Do NOT quit under any circumstance. If they give you any crap about it you have an ADA complaint, plus probably an age discrimination complaint. If they fire you it will cost them more than they can imagine. Go on your planned vacation and don't worry about it.

Edited August 19, 2016 by zqvol

[navybankerteacher]

Do NOT quit under any circumstance. If they give you any crap about it you have an ADA complaint, plus probably an age discrimination complaint. If they fire you it will cost them more than they can imagine. Go on your planned vacation and don't worry about it.

 

Good basic advice - but depending upon how much time you have invested with the outfit you may want to explore other options. I would hate to have EEO responsibilities in a firm which played that way. If it is their SOP, you may find yourself being pressed to compromise principals. Ideally, your skills are portable - otherwise you just have to stick it out, documenting everything in self defense.

[SuiteTraveler]

First of all I am just venting. Mostly.

 

I have had a cruise to Alaska on the books and leave planned and approved at work for the last two years. Work has a project that has been on the books for a year and a half. Due date comes out the day I get off the ship and two days before I return to work. And that due date was just issued two days ago. I figured out a way to make the due date and my boss changed everything again today.

 

Part of me wants to use my cruise insurance if work is going to cancel this cruise. But most of me wants to cruise no matter what.

 

I have planned this cruise for years and my work has been on notice. They had no problem until I had to take off a few days and telework for a few weeks because I needed a hip replacement surgery. Since the surgery they have been all over me me because I can't walk fast enough, etc. (I am not a person who needs to move fast- I am an administrative specialist with performance scores of 9 out of 10 until my disability). I am also a seriously physically disabled vet. They did not know that before my surgery. Now all of a sudden I have work that conflicts with this cruise? It is like they realized I was going on leave and assigned me work I could not do while I was gone.

 

I am so frustrated. I want to cruise Alaska on the Legend next week. But it may cost my job.

 

Has anyone else had a crappy boss who opposed their cruise?

 

First off, have you reminded your boss that he/she approved for you to take this vacation 2 years ago? I would start by reminding your boss of this fact. Next I would explain the cost of this trip and whether or not you can cancel without losing any money. If you do lose money, then your company should pay to reimburse you for staying at work instead of going on the trip they agreed you could take 2 years ago.

 

I had to do this with my boss - we had a computer project that was delayed for 3 months while IT considered other computer systems and then suddenly the IT department decided it should be implemented the week of my BIL's wedding in Australia. I told my boss that he knew full well for 1.5 years (since BEFORE he hired me) of my plan to attend this wedding and had approved it and that we had non-refundable airline tickets and prepaid hotel reservations to the tune of $10,000 and that if he wanted me to stay to implement the computer project that was so unimportant to IT that it had been delayed for 3 months while they messed around considering other systems, then it would only be right for the company to:

 

1. Pay $10,000 for my lost expenses for the trip.

2. Keep me out of a sticky situation with my inlaws by writing a letter of apology to my BIL and inlaws explaining why I could not attend my BIL's wedding.

 

I told him otherwise, I would be glad to do the project when I returned from Australia. Once it was explained in this way, my boss backed off on the implementation date and he said, I could do it when I got back and that's exactly what happened.

[cb at sea]

Isn't there ANY WAY to complete the project BEFORE you leave? You're looking at most, 2 weeks prior.....sounds like the solution!

Edited August 19, 2016 by cb at sea

[BeagleOne]

Then I got a new boss who "prefers" able bodied people and functional spouses. She also has enough income to prefer river cruises and cannot understand why it would possibly be any problem to cancel a "common" Carnival cruise. I am sick right now.

 

Talk to an attorney. She's discriminating against you because of your disability and creating a hostile work environment.

[Dayenu]

This is such a difficult decision to make! Work or cruise, what to choose? And if you choose the cruise, and get fired - the new work will want references from the old job...

 

Just want to tell you that I sympathize, been in your shoes more than once. I was able to work it all out, and I hope you can also. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[klfrodo]

Great minds think alike. Spot on.

 

The more I think about this, I kind of envy the OP.

 

sounds like a hostile work environment to me :eek:

[Guest maddycat]

Talk to an attorney. She's discriminating against you because of your disability and creating a hostile work environment.

 

Exactly.

[nobog]

Remember, most HR Depts work for the company, not you.

 

JK

[Tinkerbellcgy]

Remember, most HR Depts work for the company, not you.

 

JK

No truer words have ever been spoken. HR Departments are merely puppets of their masters which are the management of the corporation. HR Departments basically have absolutely no power except what is doled out at the discretion of management to do their bidding.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Ditto the suggestion of finding an attorney/support for the (at best borderline) discrimination in your workplace. I worked in constituent services for a U.S. Congressman for a few years and their offices provide great (free!) support for vets (and others) on partial/full disability.

 

Thank you both for your service and I'm sorry you have to put up with nonsense at work instead of looking forward to your trip!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Do NOT quit under any circumstance. If they give you any crap about it you have an ADA complaint, plus probably an age discrimination complaint. If they fire you it will cost them more than they can imagine. Go on your planned vacation and don't worry about it.

 

I agree with these and other comments above. Find an attorney who specializes in EEOC/maybe veterans issues. Perhaps threats or feelings of retaliation will be added.

 

some attorneys may even suggest that you may have a case for "constructive termination."

 

Not similar, but my hubby had to go out for workers comp for stress due to a hostile work environment for a major city. It may have taken about five years and an EEOC case filed, but the city had to accept the wc claim in the long run.

 

About five months before this, we went on a cruise (and his boss did sign off on the request a year before). Hubby was in a rotation to be on call for a public safety area but the idiot who was in charge of making the on call list had put hubby on call for the second week of our cruise. Hubby sent an email to this guy and his boss saying he would be away (like in the middle of the Pacific Ocean) but he was ignored. I said you let both know in writing so if they can't fix that....Anyway, it was never fixed and fortunately there wasn't any problems that week, but he wasn't going to change his vacation because the guy couldn't change a name on the list.

 

He finally returned about 13 months ago, and was happy to be away from that disfunctional place.

[crusinpsychRN]

I quit a job because of approved time off getting cancelled. Got a new job with $10K raise.

[crusinpsychRN]

Oh my gosh thank you for your support! I really expected people to hate my whining and tell me to suck it up. I don't know if I could get another job and (oh my goodness here goes my sob story) my husband in an unemployable 100 percent disabled combat vet. I am a severely disabled vet myself. We have done ok. Then I got a new boss who "prefers" able bodied people and functional spouses. She also has enough income to prefer river cruises and cannot understand why it would possibly be any problem to cancel a "common" Carnival cruise. I am sick right now.

 

Thank you both for your service.

[pms4104]

While this whole situation seems regrettable ... I suspect there may be more going on beyond a mean/jealous/demeaning boss ... just my 2 cents worth.

[xxoocruiser]

Have been following this thread for a couple of days now and there's much missing from the OP's post in addition to the fact that there's always two sides to every story. Therefore I find it perplexing how some posters have suggested tshe quit and some have advised her to Lawyer up.

 

One glaring obvious thing that hasn't been mentioned is that all 50 states have some form of At-Will Legal Doctrine in place with regards to the hiring of and termination of an individual. Though some states have exceptions and limitations pertaining to basic At-Will Doctrine most 50 states can terminate an employee At-Will meaning without cause.

 

So how does that apply to an individual with a disability ? At-Will does not mean that a company can't terminate a person with a disability it just means that the company has to build a case against non-performance with regards to the requirements of the job thus making it hard to prove discrimination due to a being disabled. ADA Law does not protect a person with a disability from being terminated for lack of job performance. This in no way is to be interpreted that I think the OP's performance is flawed but rather to bring awareness as to how company's get around ADA Law by using At-Will Doctrine.

 

Being disabled myself, never disclosed to an employer that I have MS . Once my symptoms were starting to impact my mobility I put a plan in place to leave on my own accord. Reason being that I saw how the management treated its up and coming star marketing manager after he disclosed being DX'd with MS despite it being in the early stages . It should also be note that he did not ask for or required any reasonable accommodations The company began writing him up for every project turned in late ,arriving late to work or meeting, left early, wasn't available for a late night overseas conference call and it went on and on. This was all legal under the At-Will Doctrine in Illinois. I was closer to retirement than this young man so it was easier for me to not disclose my disability and retire early.

 

The OP stated in a previous post that she works in the legal department and handles "reasonable accommodations". Though the OP may not be a Lawyer or a Paralegal she may possibly be aware of the At-Will Doctrine that applies to her state. Therefore she needs to carefully evaluate her circumstances before proceeding with any action whether it be to quit or pursue a discrimination lawsuit.

 

TO : OP I wish you well in what ever decision you make. If you're able to go on the cruise I hope it's enjoyable. FYI I had a 2 week cruise to Europe that had been approved which had to be canceled a few days before I was to leave. It sometimes goes with the job and can't always be avoided. Was I disappointed ? Certainly. Was the need to cancel justified ? Yes. Did I think the President of the Company that I reported to that insisted it be canceled was mean crappy boss or jealous ? No

Edited August 20, 2016 by xxoocruiser

[cruiseonthebrain]

Have been following this thread for a couple of days now and there's much missing from the OP's post in addition to the fact that there's always two sides to every story. Therefore I find it perplexing how some posters have suggested tshe quit and some have advised her to Lawyer up.

 

One glaring obvious thing that hasn't been mentioned is that all 50 states have some form of At-Will Legal Doctrine in place with regards to the hiring of and termination of an individual. Though some states have exceptions and limitations pertaining to basic At-Will Doctrine most 50 states can terminate an employee At-Will meaning without cause.

 

So how does that apply to an individual with a disability ? At-Will does not mean that a company can't terminate a person with a disability it just means that the company has to build a case against non-performance with regards to the requirements of the job thus making it hard to prove discrimination due to a being disabled. ADA Law does not protect a person with a disability from being terminated for lack of job performance. This in no way is to be interpreted that I think the OP's performance is flawed but rather to bring awareness as to how company's get around ADA Law by using At-Will Doctrine.

 

Being disabled myself, never disclosed to an employer that I have MS . Once my symptoms were starting to impact my mobility I put a plan in place to leave on my own accord. Reason being that I saw how the management treated its up and coming star marketing manager after he disclosed being DX'd with MS despite it being in the early stages . It should also be note that he did not ask for or required any reasonable accommodations The company began writing him up for every project turned in late ,arriving late to work or meeting, left early, wasn't available for a late night overseas conference call and it went on and on. This was all legal under the At-Will Doctrine in Illinois. I was closer to retirement than this young man so it was easier for me to not disclose my disability and retire early.

 

The OP stated in a previous post that she works in the legal department and handles "reasonable accommodations". Though the OP may not be a Lawyer or a Paralegal she may possibly be aware of the At-Will Doctrine that applies to her state. Therefore she needs to carefully evaluate her circumstances before proceeding with any action whether it be to quit or pursue a discrimination lawsuit.

 

TO : OP I wish you well in what ever decision you make. If you're able to go on the cruise I hope it's enjoyable. FYI I had a 2 week cruise to Europe that had been approved which had to be canceled a few days before I was to leave. It sometimes goes with the job and can't always be avoided. Was I disappointed ? Certainly. Was the need to cancel justified ? Yes. Did I think the President of the Company that I reported to that insisted it be canceled was mean crappy boss or jealous ? No

 

All valid points. Except that Federal Agencies are not subject to state employment laws.

 

Went on the cruise and it was the best vacation I have ever had! I will figure out the rest when I get home.

[Harry and Lucille]

Had cruise a year ahead of time and was working on a job in a management position.

 

Came time to fill out my vacation card and turn it into the boss, came back marked VOID.

 

Well. Copied all of my documents. Flights, times, etc. Cruise docs and phone numbers, ship and cell with e-mail address in case he needed to contact me.

 

Placed it all in order in a file folder. Next to last page was a note to sign one of the forms on the next page and return ASAP.

 

One form was a new vacation card and the second one was a termination slip.

 

Next day the vacation card was returned to me with a post it note saying good job and a signed vacation card.

 

He knew I had stood my ground and knew that when I got back, that is the way that I would always do my job. Everyone puts their underwear on one leg at a time. I was not going to be expected to jump into mine both legs at the same time.

[14thmed]

Go to HR now. They should be able to intervene on your behalf. You would not want to go on vacation with all of this hanging over your head. Something seriously wrong with the way you are being treated.

 

I don't about other people,but HR works for the company not the employee.So may not get much help there.

[Guest maddycat]

All valid points. Except that Federal Agencies are not subject to state employment laws.

 

Went on the cruise and it was the best vacation I have ever had! I will figure out the rest when I get home.

 

I glad that you went on the cruise and had a wonderful time.

[AZ Ocean Lover]

I do work in HR and I have some suggestions. It doesn't sound like they have asked you to cancel your cruise. I would have a sit down conversation with your boss and level with him/her. Let them know that you realize that there is a big project due while you on on vacation. Remind them that you had asked for the time off two years ago. Of course, they didn't know what the work load would be two years ago either when they approved it.

 

Ask what you can do before you leave to ensure that your part of the project is complete. This is a tricky one but if you feel comfortable ask them if they would like you to cancel the trip. (I say it's tricky but they might say yes.) Explain the out of pocket expenses that would not be refunded and ask if the company would reimburse you for these.

 

At that point you will know if you need to cancel in order to save your job but if they tell you no, you don't have to cancel then they can't very well come back at a later time and terminate you for missing work since they gave you permission, a second time, to go.

 

The previous leave and disability really doesn't come into play here. If they do terminate you in the future and you feel the only reason is illegal then you have a different avenue to pursue.