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[OL FATTY]

Sadly, management was more concerned with making her an example than in helping her get better, so she was fired on trumped up charges and escorted off the premises by security.
 
Why is management responable for her well being. Family, friends, herself, why not them. Everybody always goes after the wrong people. And the one reason they do is because its easy to run your mouth and blame somebody else for the problem.

[E-L Man]

I have lived here for 48 years and I'm also a hoarder of sorts. We have had garage sales at times and every time I sell an item or get rid of that I haven't used for several years it gets sold and in days I find a use for it.This has happened many times. My barn is a complete disaster. There used to be a path inside to feed the cat. No more cat! No more path! I am starting lately to get rid of a lot of things now that we are remodeling the house. 

[lifefeedsonlife]

Hoarding has more to do with an underlying pathology in regards to objects as opposed to just having an interest in stuff. I 've seen people keep 40 year old receipts "just in case" when on the surface they can say they 'know' they don't need it - but they NEED to KEEP IT. Period.

One woman explained her subjective experience as having an emotional attachment to each thing she decided to keep . . . whether it reminded her of her childhood or the idea that it might come in handy - even if it never came in handy . . .

A person that hoards likely wouldn't have garage sales - but if they did - it'd be pretty small.

[TiFeMb]

Ol Fatty: Management contributed to her demise by allowing the ridicule by supposed 'professionals' to continue for years. Management also 'selectively' enforced their 'no personal items' rule, so all her cat knick knacks were a no-no, but the complete collection of zombie memorabilia in the next bullpen was just fine.
This woman was a fine programmer, better than any 5 @$$holes that made fun of her. But since they were drinking buddies with upper management, they skated while she was put under the microscope.
I didn't want to infer that management was responsible for her well being, but that they negatively affected her behaviour by picking on her because she was 'different' and 'fat'.
 
F#!$ing @$$holes. It took every ounce of restraint not to (*fill in gratifying action here*). I did what I had to for my family and gave them MY 2 weeks notice. I also agreed to be this woman's personal and professional reference. They lose good people all the time because of the 'climate' created by a selective few. I have helped a number of people get out...positive action to counteract a negative situation.

[NightmarePatrol]

No EAP there Tife? Of course the employee has to request assistance too.

[lifefeedsonlife]

Why Would One...or Why Should One...Take Responsibility for One's Self...or One's Action's...

Cuz sometimes - sick don't know it's sick.

When it does - that's another story . . . .

[NightmarePatrol]

Well my post was more to point out that EAP usually has to be employee initiated. Management can't "intervene" unless it is affecting their work. Her work area was affecting her work, but her domicile was not. EAP will usually help out with things like that but they can't make the first move.

[Kimmi]

I have lived here for 48 years and I'm also a hoarder of sorts. We have had garage sales at times and every time I sell an item or get rid of that I haven't used for several years it gets sold and in days I find a use for it.This has happened many times. My barn is a complete disaster. There used to be a path inside to feed the cat. No more cat! No more path! I am starting lately to get rid of a lot of things now that we are remodeling the house. 

We should get that show American Pickers to come to your house!!  I would love to see you on TV!!

[Puffin]

In this very rural area there are a lot of people who live with huge amounts of junk of every variety scattered around their yard, just sitting out in the weather and weeds.
I remarked to a life long native that I didn't understand why there was such lack of pride, that someone could allow themselves to live like that, and display that lack so publicaly.
He response was to those people that junk wasn't junk, but wealth. That while they may not have much, they did have what was on display, and the display was their way of showing off their wealth.
Kinda like buying a new Cadillac every year and on weekends spending a whole day washin and waxin it in the driveway.
 
 
 

[E-L Man]

I am a picker, I've just have never been televised! 

[Kimmi]

I am a picker, I've just have never been televised! 

Nice!!

[TiFeMb]

No EAP there Tife? Of course the employee has to request assistance too.

Yes, they had EAP. To all who don't understand: This woman was SINGLED out by management BECAUSE of her weight. Management did not enforce the rules across the board (not even close) and KNOWINGLY allowed the other employees and UPPER MANAGEMENT to create a hostile work environment for this particular employee. The hoarding DID NOT affect her job performance nor did it affect her co-workers (I actually sat next to her in the cubicle).
It was managements RESPONSIBILITY to create a NON hostile environment and enforce the rules FAIRLY. Granted, the woman should have taken care of herself, but she didn't get fired for hoarding, she got fired because of the sophomoric demonizing she received because she was 'different'.
This is the same company that was going to charge me higher insurance rates in the future solely based on my BMI number.
 
Yes, TIFE is a bleeding heart that will defend the downtrodden to the death. That's why I am helping this woman with her references and other programmers there with their exit. NO ONE is happy. I don't care if it is a bad economy, that doesn't give them the right to treat people like crap.

[NightmarePatrol]

What happens in the office IS managements responsibility. No debate there. As for her personal situation, EAP won't get involved unless she requests it. The only exception is substance abuse AFAIK.

[TiFeMb]

Yea, she played the victim thing pretty well. But she was a good programmer. The people that made fun of her? Hack programmers at best that knew how to play the system. I helped her as much as possible and she WAS trying to get help. I made sure I didn't have any personal relationships with the other jerks in the office, professionally I was above board...employee of the qtr 3 qtrs in a row...
 
I did do something. I DID leave, and have a better job and situation. I am still in contact with my friends there, it is still a terrible situation that is getting worse every day...because they won't address the real problems. Unprofessionalism at the supervisory level.
 
Back to the hoarding: This girl was sweet, she had some issues, but nobody needs to be picked on for personal stuff. Her cubicle didn't create a health or fire hazard. I stated before, other people (skinny white young dudes) had worse offenses and didn't get hammered by management. I guess what I am saying is management knew she had a problem, and instead of trying to help her, used her disease to get her fired. THAT is wrong.

[lifefeedsonlife]

Judges? Bzzzzt! Oh! Sorry . . .
 
Actually - if one states they are an addict or an alcoholic and their job performance suffers - they're covered under the Americans with Disabilites Act. (Kinda - it's a little fuzzy - but it is covered under the ADA.)
 
Right or wrong - - - don't matter - it's the law.
 
What's interesting is - I've found that people in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse (or who have overcome physical issues / mental issues) have the kind of character I LOOK for in an employee. When I ran an agency - I looked for folks that could use a second chance. Sometimes it failed spectacularly! Most times it did not and I ended up with a loyal, grateful, hard working employee.
 
So -
 
In the case of an addict in the throes of an addiction - should they be afforded a chance? Yep - but just one (and a half when you consider relapse a potential lesson in humility)and with some very specific stipulations.
 
Should management be their brother's keeper? Nothing really says they have to be. (Save in he case of the ADA I suppose. But it's easy enough to 'get around' if you wanna.) If I were a manager would I be my brother's keeper? To the degree that I can help them, yet still be responsible to my company / shareholders - absolutely.
 
Any good manager recognizes that their greatest asset is their emplyees and will do what they can to keep folks that merit keeping . . . even if they look a little bleak sometimes.
 
As a person involved with "recovery" I can tell you that personal responsibility is of paramount importance, but compassonate help and encouragement are most welcome.