Question for Attorneys

[All-American]

Nobody understands sodomy as well as you, that is for sure.

Oh, boy.

Look, here's the thing about DDD. He's at least as smart as anybody else here. He's certainly as quick-witted as anybody here. And if that wasn't enough, he's willing to post more than just about anybody here. When you get in a spat with DDD, you are outgunned. Life around here becomes so much nicer once you decide not to get in pissing matches with DDD.

[wuapinmon]

Imagine a colleague who, at least twice a week, prints out a Garfield comic strip, in French, and slides it under your office door. For that reason, and the ones mentioned above, he should not be teaching anywhere.

I put in a call to the VP of Business Operations; he's an attorney. We'll see if I hear back from him, and I'll let yall know. For fun, here's an email this guy sent out to the.entire.campus!

As I prepare to depart from this school, I must admit that I was deeply offended by the school’s lack of concern for my vegetarianism. I attended a luncheon for the new faculty. Although I am an old and departing faculty member, I was offended by the departing “lunch.”

I was served a dead animal on a bed of rice with asparagus. It is gravely offensive in terms of my spirituality, my religion, and my essence. To be served this animal goes against every fiber of my being. To have it place [sic] directly in front of me is an insult to my religious and spiritual practices. I do not eat meat. What is more, I will with not eat anything from a plate which has any meat on it! Maybe you do not understand my personal practices. If you wish to discuss my personal practices, I will make myself available to you.

I remain deeply offended, spiritually and morally, by the school’s lack of concern for my dietary program and preferences. What is more, during the luncheon, a diabetic was served a sugary, and by his or her standards, an inedible dessert, and a “vegetarian of opportunity,” who would have preferred a vegetarian option was served and ate what he or she was offered.

Although I am sure that the best intent was meant by the school, I will remain deeply hurt by the school and its lack of concern for my spiritual beliefs and personal ideology, something that is so deeply valued by me, one of your former, entrusted faculty members. I have received an apology from the school’s dining service. I acknowledge its apology.

There is little that the school can do to reconcile the fact that there was an animal placed before me! It was disgusting and revolting!

[All-American]

Imagine a colleague who, at least twice a week, prints out a Garfield comic strip, in French, and slides it under your office door. For that reason, and the ones mentioned above, he should not be teaching anywhere.

I put in a call to the VP of Business Operations; he's an attorney. We'll see if I hear back from him, and I'll let yall know. For fun, here's an email this guy sent out to the.entire.campus!

I can see why you're concerned about the legal implications of describing this guy to a potential employer. Yikes.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Imagine a colleague who, at least twice a week, prints out a Garfield comic strip, in French, and slides it under your office door. For that reason, and the ones mentioned above, he should not be teaching anywhere.

I concur.

[LA Ute]

A friend who went to graduate school with me just messaged me and said that he's on a search committee for a tenure-track professor of French position at his school. One of their applicants no longer works at my school due to several important issues. Ethically and legally, what can I say about this person? I want to tell him what I know, but I also think the man has rights even if he is a lousy professor. I'd appreciate any advice the attorneys might have.

PAC and imanihonjin (sp?) have it right. Let HR handle this. Simply remaining close-mouthed yourself may well tell your friend seeking information everything he needs to know at this point. It may well be that HR responds with "He was here from this date to that date, and that's all we're saying." When pressed, HR may say "We'll respond to your specific questions if Professor X signs the enclosed release authorizing us to do so." If X signs the release, then HR can respond as fully as they wish as long as what they say is true. If X refuses to sign, then the prospective employer probably has grounds to reject his application. Anyway, all this is tricky enough that it's best to leave it to HR.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I'm confused, I never pictured Triple Father as a sodomy expert. I'm going to need more information before I deem him an expert.

[Katy Lied]

Here, I made one suitable for opportunistic mormons:

Dear HR,

I was deeply offended by the company's lack of concern for my religionism. I attended a Holiday luncheon for all employees. Although I have been an excellent worker here for 5 years, I was offended by the departing “lunch.”

I was served coffee in a cup directly touching my utensils. It is gravely offensive in terms of my spirituality, my religion, and my essence. To be served this hot drink goes against every fiber of my being. To have it placed directly in front of me is an insult to my religious and spiritual practices. I do not drink coffee. What is more, I will with not eat anything from a place setting which has any coffee on it! Maybe you do not understand my personal practices. If you wish to discuss my personal practices, I will make myself available to you.

I remain deeply offended, spiritually and morally, by the school’s lack of concern for my dietary program and preferences. What is more, during the luncheon, I was also served tiramisu, a sugary dessert containing coffee, and by my standards, an inedible dessert containing caffeine.

Although I am sure that the best intent was meant by the school, I will remain deeply hurt by the school and its lack of concern for my spiritual beliefs and personal ideology, something that is so deeply valued by me, one of your current valued employees. I have not received an apology from the event caterer.

There is little that the company can do to reconcile the fact that there was caffeine placed before me! It was disgusting and revolting!

[HBCoug]

Oh, boy.

Look, here's the thing about DDD. He's at least as smart as anybody else here. He's certainly as quick-witted as anybody here. And if that wasn't enough, he's willing to post more than just about anybody here. When you get in a spat with DDD, you are outgunned. Life around here becomes so much nicer once you decide not to get in pissing matches with DDD.

P.S. We should be together too!

[San Juan Sun]

P.S. We should be together too!

Unknown-8.jpeg

[wuapinmon]

Here, I made one suitable for opportunistic mormons:

Not bad. He was one of the most absurd people I have ever met in my profession. He wore a three-piece suit every day with a fitted Reds ball cap. His office contained a collection of coffee mugs that rivaled the merchandise selection of an Oklahoma truck stop.

[pellegrino]

Not bad. He was one of the most absurd people I have ever met in my profession. He wore a three-piece suit every day with a fitted Reds ball cap. His office contained a collection of coffee mugs that rivaled the merchandise selection of an Oklahoma truck stop.

How old was this dude?

[Green Monstah]

Check your own employee handbook/guidelines. If it strictly prohibits giving Feedback, tread lightly. If you trust the person asking, have a phone call where you give an off-the-record opinion of the former co-worker. Avoid references to his religion, race, creed, national origin, gender, and sexuality in your discussion (e.g., don't discuss his bizarre religious rant), and reiterate that this is off the record and you don't want your name attached to the feedback. If you don't trust the person, leave it at that.

[CardiacCoug]

Interesting thread.

I've been asked by potential employers about colleagues from training and practice and always just spoke openly, including occasional negative info -- never occurred to me that I could be getting myself into a legal situation. Hmm...

[clackamascoug]

Interesting thread.

I've been asked by potential employers about colleagues from training and practice and always just spoke openly, including occasional negative info -- never occurred to me that I could be getting myself into a legal situation. Hmm...

You're going to need to LWYR UP.

[Topper]

Interesting thread.

I've been asked by potential employers about colleagues from training and practice and always just spoke openly, including occasional negative info -- never occurred to me that I could be getting myself into a legal situation. Hmm...

Unless it is always positive this is a bad idea. Keep up this practice and you will be sued.