| Topic Name: |
Am I screwed |
| Message Name: |
My young naive boy.... |
| Date Posted: |
01/06/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
This is my situation and I would really appreciate some advice.
As a college student, I joined a major firm in their finance department as a co-op student. My first semester there went very well, but my manager changed departments after I left. I returned for a second semester (spring) and worked my tail off (60-80 hrs on 40 hrs salary). Unfortunately a new VP took over our department and began chopping heads and took my new manager.
After I left, I continued to receive paychecks. Well the paychecks were handled by someone who has been in the dept for both of my work semesters. He mailed two checks to my university address and I held them. When I was around the firm's office, I stopped by to say hi and the guy gave me another check. I questioned it and mentioned to him that they weren't for time worked. He said "dont you think you've earned it??" and "dont worry about it, they are yours to keep". I ADMIT IT WAS WRONG/STUPID of me to do it, but I cashed them and put them along w/ all the other paychecks I had got from the firm. He transferred deparments and when I returned for my third semester, the issue came up. I was told I could not return. In the midst of this, the guy called me and said he feels bad and offered to pay me whatever I would have made if I still had the position. I am pretty sure he was hoping that I would not explain how he told me it was ok to take the checks. But I explained everything to the HR personel I talked to.
I am not sure what action was taken against the guy who gave me the checks.
I am actually in the process of having a background check done for me on myself so that I can see what the records say. But my question is, what should I do w/ this situation? Explain it? Or would I be better off putting the reason for leaving as "School Work Experience." I am pretty sure that would suffice for an answer unless it shows up in my background check. However, in this case I am actually looking at the option of not disclosing the situation just because the repurcussions could be so severe. |
| Message: |
When I first entered consulting after college, about two years ago, I was young and naive. I was just like you and would never have taken a check I didn't think I earned. Well now I have been around the block a bit and I learned that many of the people in consulting are not good people. I learned never to trust anyone and always, ALWAYS Cover Your Ass.
You did absolutely nothing wrong. How many times has your firm basically screwed you. Denial is not a River in Egypt. You as a low level employee cannot be responsible for the actions of those above you. What you need to do in this case is Deny, Deny, Deny. Act like nothing has happened. Don't offer information. Win over these fat corporate asses at their own game. You see most companies have a policy that they will not say anything negative about you. This is because when they make accusations they open themselves up to expensive lawsuits.
Apply for your next job like nothing has happened and that your previous employer loved you. If they do something stupid and say anything negative, get a lawyer, and get him to write a brief letter explaining what will happen if they continue... You will then see spineless corporate monkeys scurry away from you.
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