Lawsuit alleges Claus promotes hostile and unsafe work environment in shelf-elf program

Posted on

Funny!

Site Admin's avatarRoadkill Goldfish

FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 17, 2013

DALLAS – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit today against the Keller family and Santa Claus alleging they violated federal civil rights laws by permitting a hostile work environment filled with health and safety violations for Jerry Jingle, a student intern with Claus’s Elf on the Shelf ® program.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently concluded its own investigation on the health and safety claims and levied a $1.2 million fine against the Kellers for violations.  Their investigation of Claus is pending because heavily-armed penguins and snowman snipers have refused to allow OSHA to enter to Claus’s North Pole headquarters.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Claus promoted the program as “fun and playful off-site training” required for all elf underclassmen; however, the EEOC’s investigation indicated that the program was based on systematic and institutionalized humiliation directed toward Jingle and other interns…

View original post 616 more words

Marketing Books Effectively in the ebook Era

Link Posted on Updated on

Marketing Books Effectively in the ebook Era

Penny Sansevieri summarized trends that authors need to understand, in order to remain competitive in a changing digital age.  Everything you write, how you interact with readers and how many products you release are part of your brand.  Be sure they all present a cohesive picture.

30 Days of Thanks – Day 30 Reflection

Posted on Updated on

today i am thankfulI give myself  a”B” for this challenge, as I did not write a post for each day.

Some days the posts were easy to write, but some required prodding and I looked for suggested topics on Facebook and online.  Current events helped generate some thoughts, but I realized that the project was more difficult and deeply personal.  I learned to look past the superficial and focus on the important people and things in my life.  However, I was not prepared for the emotions that would be stirred up as I wrote each post.  I plan to do the challenge again next year, to compare where I am today versus in 2014.

Next week, I shall return to the lighthearted, humorous posts I prefer to write and catch up on my posting my book reviews.    But, for now, thank you.  Namaste.

30 Days of Thanks – Day 29

Posted on Updated on

Black Friday violators may be found in Dante's 4th through 9th levels of Hell.
Black Friday violators may be found in Dante’s 4th through 9th levels of Hell.

“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”  ~ Randy Pausch

I am thankful to have worked in retail while in college.  I enjoyed my jobs and have pleasant memories of flexible hours, great customers and fun co-workers.  With one glaring exception – Black Friday.  I was left so traumatized by the experience, over 25 years ago, that I never shop on Black Friday, and only patronize small, locally-owned or socially-conscious, green businesses.

Black Friday traditionally marked the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.  It was the period of the year where retailers would operate “in the black,” or at a profit, versus than “in the red,” or at a loss.  For folks employed by retail establishments, it simply meant earning more money in a shorter amount of time.

Sadly,  Black Friday has become synonymous with greed.  And violence.

I urge you to consider whether or not those items are dire necessities worth dying for today.  Or ever.

In the meantime, enjoy the dulcet, acapella tones of Sweet Honey in the Rock’s  “Greed.”

30 Days of Thanks – Days 27 and 28 – Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day

Posted on Updated on

snoopy charlie brown thanksgivingWishing you continued blessings and gratitude for being on the blog journey with me.  Please enjoy time with loved ones, as it is precious and entirely too short.  Pause for a moment to think about and thank all the people who work on holidays, sacrificing time away from friends and family, to keep us safe, healthy and free.  Let us work together to ensure they come home quickly, safely and are fully supported upon their return. Happy Thanksgiving!

30 Days of Thanks – Day 27

Posted on

Working at a dog day care.  It's not for the weak.
Working at a dog day care. It’s not for the weak.

I was able to spend the day with Hubby at his job, managing a dog day care. Whew! It was exhausting, but worthwhile work, watching dogs of all ages, sizes and play styles interact with each other.  For some reason, I thought working with animals would be easier than working with children.  In some respects it was, but in many more, it was not.  Dogs cannot tell you if they are hurt or why they may be sad.  Two dogs that may be playing happily with each other, may, all of a sudden, become aggressive and the people have to be vigilant for any signs of behavior changes.  Hubby has the right instinct for this type of work.  I do not.  It has been an interesting day and I am ready to see my K9 pack of three.

30 Days of Thanks – Day 25

Posted on Updated on

Fa-la-la-Lifetime
Fa-la-la-Lifetime

This time of year inspires upbeat, tug-at- the-heartstrings, romantic comedies to celebrate the holiday season. It is the only time of the year, I find myself wanting to watch television movies, because the characters overcome adversities and eventually find their happily ever after.  These are not the women-in-crisis, committing or victims of adultery or true crime dramas.  No, several television channels devote the period right before Thanksgiving until Christmas to uplifting stories, and I watch as many as I can.  Every year.  Thank you to the programming departments of those channels for making us smile.