Two or three years ago, some training became available that was critical to my advancement in the company. I watched many fellow employees get this training despite having far less time with the firm than I. I called my boss, stated my case and he told me bluntly he didn’t give a damn if I advanced within the company or not. I told him I appreciated his honesty and now knew where I stood with the company. Less than a week later he sent me to that very same training and instructed the staff to give me their very best because my extended length of employment demonstrated my outstanding loyalty to the company.

He and I spoke from time to time (mostly when one of us wanted a truly objective opinion about something) but we never became close friends.

This fellow was noted for very “adult” humor and especially such in the company of females. Almost forty years of corporate PC doctrine had failed to take root in his psyche though he could parrot the dictums of the feministas when EO meetings made it necessary for him to do so. In particular, he promoted and associated himself with two large, bawdy and mostly brain dead gals who were happy to exchange sex stories, XXX rated humor and even NSFW gifs on their phones with him. Oh, it was a sight to behold! Three “cool” people snuggled like bugs in an astroglide soaked rug using the company’s office like it was a middle school smoke break behind the shop class!

An injury took me away from the company about a year ago and I happily withdrew from company politics and the gossip mill until a friend texted me about a week ago saying that the boss had been fired for sexual harassment stemming from charges levied by the two large ladies and verified by two male employees (both of whom were some of the boss’ best buds). Apparently, one of the women thought the boss was being pushed out for medical retirement and thought she was doing corporate a favor by tying a few more millstones around his neck. The general consensus is that the other three folks went along with the deal because everyone knew how the boss carried on and the fact that the reporting party’s husband is a state trooper with decades of service.

The whole affair was no skin off my nose and I put it all out of mind until my phone rang one morning with an unknown number. I answered and was a bit surprised to hear the ex-boss on the line. He confirmed what I had heard, asked me if I could suggest a good workmen’s comp attorney. I could and did and we talked a bit. I told him I was sorry that he had been stabbed in the back by people he’d trusted and actively pushed for advancement within the company. He paused and said, “Man…..thirty-nine years with this company and they threw me under the bus. Less than forty-eight hours after the charges they took my company phone and my company truck……..”

I really don’t have any reason for posting this other than getting it off my chest. I have worked with women for over twenty-five years and have never engaged them in sexual humor. I have never seen one who was happy to make dirty jokes like one of the boys who didn’t eventually bring the boys up on sexual harassment charges. You guys be careful out there and don’t trust any of your female co-workers who want to engage in adult humor.

You guys be careful out there and don’t trust any of your female co-workers who want to engage in adult humor.

Yep. In fact, don’t talk to them at all except about work matters. No personal conversations at all. Save that for the guys at the pub, guys who don’t work where you do.

Edit: The book 48 Laws of Power, by Robert Greene, has a section on trusting your friends, and other sections that apply very well to corporate power struggles. If you are a corporate drone, be sure to read this excellent work. The author’s other books are worth a read too. You don’t even need to buy the book. There are blogs and chat forums devoted to it. And YouTube videos:

I NEVER talk about me ….. EVER

They will store and use any and all information against you at some point. Maybe to get ahead or maybe because … well … they are just on their period.