My boss is replacing all his employees with Jehovah's Witnesses

[Jainarayan]

You all realize of course I'm being totally tongue-in-cheek about Canada being part of the US? It's probably because of our mutual history of being British subjects (along with Oz and Kiwis) that we're all allies and friends.

And I seem to be one of the few people (at least down here) who remembers that it was the Canadians who got the Iran hostages out.

[The Sum of Awe]

Definitely sue. Not just for you, but for all of the other non-Jehovahs that may want the job.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Alceste

My boss is a JW. A little while back he let go a long time employee and hired a JW to replace her. Then he hired another person who I met today. Turns out she is also a JW. Meanwhile he is making all kinds of noises to the two of us who are not JW that he needs to cut back on our hours "to save a few bucks", but I can't help but notice every shift we get shaved off our schedules is going to these JWs, who get paid the same as we do (I know, because I do the books).

Should I sue him or just quit? If I quit, should I do it in a fit of rage and cussing or should I properly train the JW who he has apparently pegged to replace me first?

That depends. You could pretend like you're a JW.

Or do a lousy job. Without him knowing, of course.

Or only take a shower once a week.

Switch the decaf and caf coffees in the morning. This is killer, makes a bad day for everyone.

Change the language on his computer to Japanese.

Sign him up for all kinds of fan clubs and have literature sent to his house. I signed up my boss for a different fan club each month for two years. I never told him, and I still do it even though I'm not there anymore. I'm talking about Star Trek, Hello Kitty, Star Wars... just really oddball stuff.

If you really want to play dirty, buy him a subscription to the nastiest porn you can find. I did this to a supervisor once and had it delivered to work. Poor guy got fired.

[Alceste]

Originally Posted by Father Heathen

Whatever course of action you decide to take Alceste don't let him get away with it.

I think the fundamental laws of the universe are not going to let him get away with it. He is the sort of person who checks his bank account on a shared computer in a bustling shop and then wanders away for several days without bothering to log out or shut down. I've seen what kind of shape he's in. There are collection agencies calling all the time.

[Alceste]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

Sign him up for all kinds of fan clubs and have literature sent to his house. I signed up my boss for a different fan club each month for two years. I never told him, and I still do it even though I'm not there anymore. I'm talking about Star Trek, Hello Kitty, Star Wars... just really oddball stuff.

Oh, yeah! Take that, dumb boss!

[IsmailaGodHasHeard]

Sue him for religious discrimination.

[Terrywoodenpic]

More thoughts.....

What are the most profitable bits of his business?
What are the bits to avoid?

Could you duplicate the best bits with out having a shop?
Could you take on the music students with out a shop?
A small Office over somewhere or workshop, might work.???
perhaps part time hours to start?

Do you have a client list?

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

Could you duplicate the best bits with out having a shop?
Could you take on the music students with out a shop?
A small Office over somewhere or workshop, might work.???
perhaps part time hours to start?

FWIW, a friend of mine had a language school. He'd hold classes during the day and a few evenings a week. The rest of the time, the school was unused, so he looked around for other people - including music teachers - to rent it out to on the other nights and weekends.

As long as you're teaching guitar, say, or some other portable instrument (i.e. not piano), you might be able to make a similar arrangement with someone in your town. I can't say for sure, but it's a possibility.

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by Alceste

My boss is a JW. A little while back he let go a long time employee and hired a JW to replace her. Then he hired another person who I met today. Turns out she is also a JW. Meanwhile he is making all kinds of noises to the two of us who are not JW that he needs to cut back on our hours "to save a few bucks", but I can't help but notice every shift we get shaved off our schedules is going to these JWs, who get paid the same as we do (I know, because I do the books).

Should I sue him or just quit? If I quit, should I do it in a fit of rage and cussing or should I properly train the JW who he has apparently pegged to replace me first?

I don't know if I'd bother with suing, as the time and energy required could well not likely pay off for you. If I were you, I'd foul up as much as stuff as possible, that you couldn't be legally held responsible for, and quit at the most inopportune time for your boss's business. Basically, **** his business over as much as possible before you leave. As it sounds like he's not very organized or knowledgable about the workings of the business, it seems as though you could really do some damage that nobody there would even be aware of.

Since you want to run a competing business, take the knowledge you learned while working there - both things to do, and things not to do - and use that knowledge to create a superior business model. Since you're starting from scratch, you have the advantage of trying to do improve on all aspects of the business from the start.

Personally, I think the output of negative energy required to pursue such a lawsuit, is often more detrimental - whether you get your "justice" or not.

[Alceste]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

I don't know if I'd bother with suing, as the time and energy required could well not likely pay off for you. If I were you, I'd foul up as much as stuff as possible, that you couldn't be legally held responsible for, and quit at the most inopportune time for your boss's business. Basically, **** his business over as much as possible before you leave. As it sounds like he's not very organized or knowledgable about the workings of the business, it seems as though you could really do some damage that nobody there would even be aware of.

Since you want to run a competing business, take the knowledge you learned while working there - both things to do, and things not to do - and use that knowledge to create a superior business model. Since you're starting from scratch, you have the advantage of trying to do improve on all aspects of the business from the start.

Personally, I think the output of negative energy required to pursue such a lawsuit, is often more detrimental - whether you get your "justice" or not.

Leaving him to run his business himself is probably the most damaging thing I could do. In addition to the fact he doesn't understand the bookkeeping system for the school or the rentals, the people he has hired from his church are both awkward and terrible with customers. One traps customers in a corner and waffles on endlessly about specs and the other is so meek and timid she won't say a thing to anyone - more importantly, she won't be assertive getting people to pay up for their lessons.

I like the idea of letting him destroy his business on his own. It's elegant and keeps my hands clean while still quenching my thirst for revenge.