Stealing from the Company
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 06:49PM HR accused me of stealing from the company today. 
I think Triplet, the VP of HR, now believes she is Kyra Sedgwick, star of "The Closer".
Triplet
sent me a message this morning informing me that very serious
accusations have been brought against me and that we would need to meet
and discuss at 5:00 p.m. today.
This is how she thinks she'll make me sweat.
I responded by saying: I can't make it at that time. But I'm free at 4:00.
I'm sure this infuriated her. She did not want to lose her strength of position by letting me set the time, so she informed me that I would have to accommodate her request.
I told her that she would have to take it up with Smithee, my boss, who has scheduled a budget meeting with me at that time.
She then sent a message to Smithee explaining to him the situation and how critical it was to meet with me at 5:00 today.
Smithee responded.
Kyra met with me at 4:00 today.
This is how she thinks she'll make me nervous.
"What am I doing here?" I finally ask.
After a dramatic Kyra pause, Triplet says: "Does this can of Diet Dr. Pepper look familiar?"
I examine it closely. "This particular can does not look familiar. However, I have consumed similar cans of Diet Dr. Pepper."
I stared at her for a moment in disbelief. It's usually no surprise when I get called to HR. For example, I fully expected Triplet to call me in because I told someone Aho made fun of Mai Ding. I knew HR would call when it appeared Smithee had been murdered. I knew I would be sent to HR when I burned to death in the pretend fire during the fire drill. I expected trouble when I sold candy bars and cookies to compete with kids whose parent's work here.
This one was a surprise.
"Are you saying that if I walk out of the building with a can of Diet Dr. Pepper that got from a company fridge--I'm stealing from the company?"
"Let me clarify," she said. "You are stealing from the company if you walk out of the building with an unopened can of Diet Dr. Pepper that you got from a company fridge."I just stared at her.
There was a moment during her explanation that I thought I wouldn't have a response. But magically, as soon as she finished, I blurted out:
"What if I licked it?"
"What?" she asked with that familiar repulsive look on her face that indicates, I don't know where you're going with this but I know you're going to somehow make it make sense and win again."What if I licked it before I left the building?" I asked. "Who would want to drink it if I licked the top, right?"
She sighed. "Why would you lick the top?"
"It's personal," I said. "Can I go now?"
In her Kyra best effort, Triplet tried working multiple angles to discredit my lick the top of the can defense, but she fell short every time.
I was curious to know who turned me in, but she wouldn't expose the witness. Someone's out to get me. I'm feeling paranoid again...
Reader Comments (8)
I get calls from HR daily. Of all client groups to support, I get HR --go figure.
I would have thrown the can at her head (not really). Blair probably put her up to it to keep a close eye on you or to make you feel as though there's a set of eyes watching you at all times. Are they friends?
Nice defense though ("what if I lick the can?...") - FUCKING GREAT!
I've always worked at companies small enough not to have a HR.
Bureaucracy sucks. :)
I have to tell my "evil" HR manager. She will laugh and laugh at this one! I mean, who gets close enough to you to notice that the top of the soda can ISN'T open?
I agree with Tech Babe, I think it's Blair. I think she's been stalking you more than you've noticed. Since she can't really do anything about your relationships without proof (which you better damn make sure she never gets) she decides to go with the "artificial karma" approach and try to make you miserable.
Tech Babe; if Blair and HR teamed up, it would be the end of me...
Fishy5, consider yourself very lucky.
Winter, maybe my list of suspects should include those closest to me... Gladstone has turned me in before (when I told him "Kun" was not a racial slur)...
Zorro, if you're right, that could definitely result in misery down the road. I haven't been fucking with Blair enough lately to keep her in line. You have inspired me...
Hostile work environment anyone? Jeeze! You should sneak in a case, like a 48 pack... then walk out with it one day in front of her. Just to see what happens ;-)
I like the way you think, Justin. Sounds like you'd be fun at work.