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received a response that went something like this:

"Dear Andrea,

Not my problem. Its not in my job description. I have CC'd the union shop steward.

James"

Super. I had now spent the better part of a day working on this spreadsheet, as well as changing it to put "James" last. Now, I would spend the rest of the day researching the union manual about what all is entailed in a "job description."

The last line of the job description for "James'" job stated, "...and other duties as assigned by your manager." In my humble opinion, that made my case fairly cut and dry. My response, which included this important detail was well-versed and eloquent. I thought we had nipped this in the bud. But alas, the war had just begun.

As you can imagine, from this point forward, things lost the humor factor. What had begun as a simple battle of wits had turned to a vicious attack on character and a power play of union versus management.

I often think about "James," and if he recounts the story of how he was promptly terminated for not cleaning the fridge. Of course, that was not why he was let go. Rather, it was due to insubordination and verbal abuse. Nonetheless, I still find this tragic event in history to be one of the better Corporate America tales of woe.

Learn more about this author, Isabel Routner.
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