More work shit
With regards to the Hertz saga, I finally got someone on the phone. Turns out that the cheque is indeed in the mail. The gentleman I dealt with in person actually asked the management to give me the certificate, so I will get all my money back plus $30 in Hertz money. Of course, I will have to see it to believe it.
In other news, I went to meet the guys from work at a Vietmanese place in Côte-des-Neiges for lunch and to pick up my stereo. As I guessed, there was gossip.
The CEO was brought on board last year to sell the company as soon as possible. That summer he brought in his old buddy Ralph to run the Client Services group. They were supposed to implement the stuff that Sales sold. (Yeah, 10 years and they never had such a group before.) Arlene was promoted to Customer Support manager and reported directly to Ralph. The old rumour was that Ralph was hitting on Arlene relentlessly (not just flirting, not innocent compliments, but sexual pressure) and it got serious enough for her to contront him directly about it. Others may have been notified, including the CEO. Arlene was laid off the same time as me (although she was vacationing in Spain at the time). My boss told me that her layoff was a major bone of contention amongst the executive team. It was solely the CEO that decided that she was gone. But I don't think it happened that way. I think that Ralph convinced the CEO to can Arlene because she would not put out, although he didn't tell the CEO the real reason.
I think that the CEO did find out, because Ralph was FUCKING FIRED Thursday. He was not on good terms with the CEO. Officially the story is that it was about money, which I might believe because I accidentally got information last February that could corroborate this. But perhaps the CEO wanted to distance himself from his old friend and canned him. Now there is a vacancy on the executive team that will not be filled any time soon. Crazy shit, that. I never liked that crazy nutjob anyway. I'm glad he's gone.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: Tommy the president had planned to use my stereo in the showing of This is Spinal Tap, and didn't want anyone taking it away. Can you believe that shit? He just expected me to not care. He didn't even ask me. Ned said to him that he should tell me that he expects me to lend him the thing. Tommy backed off pretty fucking quick.
Apparently, when they announced the winners, the first place winner got lots of cheers, but when they announced my name? Dead. Silence. You could have heard a pin drop. It was as though someone were speaking ill of the dead. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall. Or better yet, be there, but unnoticed, wait for the silence, and then hoot and holler as I claim my prize. Awkward fuckers.