Wow, Alan, talk about stress!!!!
I kind of got involved in a bit of whistle-blowing myself, and I'm sure some
of my superiors weren't happy with me either for reporting to certain other
higher-level administrators about things that should have been done but
weren't. But, my experience certainly was nothing like yours.
Hope to see you in the NAQP later today.
Tom Behler: KB8TYJ, Big Rapids, MI
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 10:47 AM
Subject: Re: Update From KB8TYJ
> My employment situation was slightly different with respect to the company
> that I had gone to work for upon graduation from MIT. They transferred me
> out to Phoenix from the Boston area in 1975. Ultimately I got caught up
> in
> what today would be called a whistle-blowing action. Except, that term
> hadn't been coined yet. Lacking a cause of whistle-blowing, it became an
> wrongful termination action. It stemmed from me reporting several
> managers
> for permitting another former manager into the office complex where we
> worked. The purpose of the former manager coming onto the property was
> specifically to get ahold of proprietary corporate data/information, to
> give
> to his new employer, which was a competitor. It is hard to believe that
> such a blatant violation of security could happen, but it did, and my
> report
> was fully confirmed by the security and legal departments, and those
> responsible were reprimanded; not fired as they should have been.
> However,
> since these guys were over me and my department, they weren't overly happy
> with me. To make a lengthy and convoluted story short, I ended up suing
> the
> company, and won a jury verdict, and a fair amount of dough, after a 7
> week
> trial in superior court.
>
> There was a certain irony to this whole affair. If I hadn't accepted the
> transfer to Phoenix in 1975, I would have left the company and entered
> Harvard law school that fall.
>
> What are you gonna do?
>
> 73
>
>
>
> Alan R. Downing
> Phoenix, AZ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Tom Behler
> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 7:00 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Update From KB8TYJ
>
> Ron:
>
> Well, from one former Department Head to another, I have to say that the
> situation you describe mirrors my experience exactly.
>
> Far too many demands from all sides, with very limited resources and/or
> power to do what's truly needed.
>
> Actually, I received excellent performance evaluations from both my
> faculty,
>
> and the administrative side, but you just get to a point where you
> seriously
>
> have to ask the question: "At what cost should I keep doing this?"
>
> Teaching clearly is my real passion in academia, and it will be a pleasure
> to be back in the classroom starting in the Spring semester.
>
> I now have your personal e-mail address, and would like to share more with
> you off list at some point if you are interested.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dr. Ronald E. Milliman" < [log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 11:49 PM
> Subject: Re: Update From KB8TYJ
>
>
>> Tom, as the former Chair of the Marketing Department at Loyola
>> University,
>
>> I
>> fully understand and support your decision to take a break from the
>> position
>> at the university. I think being a department chair is one of the most
>> stressful jobs in academia. You are caught in a kind of sandwich; i.e.
>> you
>> hear complaints from all sides, and in my case, I had limited resources
>> to
>> remedy the issues about which students, faculty, and administration were
>> concerned about.
>>
>> I retired a year ago, and I have not missed the publish or perish
>> pressure
>> for one nanosecond! <lol>
>>
>> Kick back for a while, and enjoy ham radio, and you'll be a new man
>> before
>> you know it!
>>
>> Ron, K8HSY
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Tom Behler
>> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 7:00 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Update From KB8TYJ
>>
>> Hello, everyone.
>>
>> For a time, I debated sending this post, but have decided to go ahead
>> with
>> it, because I consider the folks on this list to be part of a great
>> family
>> that I have come to know over the past 12 years or so.
>>
>> If this is felt to be too "off topic" for some, please hit the good old
>> delete button, and I promise I will not be offended.
>>
>> As many of you know, about a year and a half ago, I took the Acting
>> Department Head position in the Department Of Social Sciences at Ferris
>> State University. When I took the position, I knew going in that it was
>> going to be extremely demanding. Not only would it be a 12-month
>> position,
>> and would involve 50 to 60-hour work weeks, but it would involve running
>> all
>> administrative functions for a department with approximately 30 faculty
>> members, and 5 major University programs.
>>
>> By all counts from both administration and faculty members, I was a great
>> success in the position, and met or exceeded all initial performance
>> expectations.
>>
>> However, beginning in the late Spring of this year, I began experiencing
>> some significant stress-related medical symptoms, and those symptoms
>> steadily grew worse over the Summer. Fortunately, the symptoms didn't
>> seem
>> to aggravate my already-existing heart condition, but they became
>> important
>> warning signs that I simply couldn't ignore.
>>
>> As a result, I have officially stepped down from the administrative
>> position, and, with the authorization of my doctor, have taken a medical
>> leave for the Fall 2013 semester. Fortunately, I have ample accumulated
>> sick time, so that this will not create a financial burden for my wife
>> and
>> I. The plan is for me to take the Fall off, work on some other
>> professional
>> projects, and then resume my full-time teaching in the Spring of 2014.
>>
>> I am nearing 60 years old, now, and still need to work a few more years
>> before getting serious about retirement, so hopefully, this little hiatus
>> will carry me through.
>>
>> I also am hoping that the time off will allow me to get more back into
>> ham
>> radio than I have been lately. So, look for an increased presence from
>> me
>> on the list, and also on our week-end nets over the coming months.
>>
>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>
>
|
