Photo: Rainer Zens

Secretary fired over meatball snack after 34 years on the job

Published: 7 Oct 09 11:14 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091007-22399.html

A Dortmund secretary is fighting for her job of 34 years after being fired for snacking on a meatball from a conference buffet on the job, daily Bild reported on Wednesday.

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Magdalene H. had worked for the North Rhine-Westphalian building association in Dortmund for more than three decades only to be fired for taking two rolls and a Frikadelle, a German meatball specialty, after setting up a meal for her boss and his guests.

But later a colleague noticed that food was missing and her boss confronted her, the paper said. When she admitted to eating the food, she was sacked.

On Tuesday, Magdalene H. faced her employer, building association head Hermann Schulte-Hiltrop, in court to request that he give her a warning instead, saying the incident was not a classic case of theft.

“She believed her behaviour was in order,” her lawyer Wolfgang Pinkepank said. “Bread and Frikadellen that are left over after conferences are allowed to be eaten by workers. If she had been reprimanded she would not have done it again.”

But Schulte-Hiltrop, 51, told the court he would not change his decision.

“From the outside it naturally looks like a minor offence,” he said. “But we work on highly sensitive information here. And if you don’t trust someone any longer, it’s not a good feeling.”

Meanwhile lawyer Pinkepank said that at 59, his client would likely not find another position.

Official court proceedings will begin in January 2010, the judge said.

In a similar case, a Berlin court ruled in February 2009 that a former cashier for the Kaiser’s supermarket chain was rightfully fired after allegedly taking €1.30 in bottle deposits, though she maintains the termination was because of her union activities.

The woman, identified as Barbara E. but dubbed “Emmely” by the German media, had worked as a cashier for 30 years, but the company said the incident could no longer trust her. The case has inspired union-related solidarity groups and made national headlines, making her a minor celebrity.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

#1
11:34 October 7, 2009 by UrbanAngel
What would've happened to the food? Either eaten by other colleagues or thrown away.. so how is this stealing? It does sound like a cover up story for something else.
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#2
11:54 October 7, 2009 by Portnoy
I'm thinkin' she didn't want to play hide the sausage anymore so he wouldn't let her play hide the frikadelle.
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#3
12:00 October 7, 2009 by fraufruit
Was food handling part of her job description and did she get the proper tests to do so at the Gesundheitsamt?
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#4
12:05 October 7, 2009 by NoBullJim
Actually she should get a raise for having the forethought to taste test the food for freshness and eatability. She was just looking out for her boss and his guests. It's not like she bellied up and put a napkin around her neck.
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#5
12:09 October 7, 2009 by Heinrich der Zweite
I don't believe any of this!

Only ONE meatball after 34 years on the job.
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#6
12:12 October 7, 2009 by NoBullJim
I don't believe any of this!

Only ONE meatball after 34 years on the job.
And the bread, obviously she had to test that as well. Hardly grounds though, I agree. Gotta be something underlying.
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#7
12:17 October 7, 2009 by dessa_dangerous
The justification made by the boss about not being able to trust her anymore sounds like 100% grade A bullshit. Could be that at 51 he feels that he has a right to a hot young secretary whom he can borderline sexually harrass instead of this 59-year-old hen who likes to have a snack every now and again.

The second example given about the Kaisers employee who stole a couple euro worth of bottle deposits on the other hand is something else. Cash is cash, no one understands that better than someone who's been a cashier for 30 years. While one can imagine having somewhat elastic scruples when it comes to swiping a frikadelle (from a BUFFET, that she helped set up, for christ's sake), the idea of a person who works with cash all day deciding that a little bit of "superfluous" cash in her pocket won't hurt anything seems somewhat more of a reason for concern.
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#8
12:17 October 7, 2009 by Lorelei
They must have been looking for an excuse to get rid of her.

Here she is with her lawyer, Herr... er... Pinkepank: Sekretärin nach 35 Jahren wegen Frikadelle gefeuert

A photo of Hermann the boss is further down the page. He looks younger than her, but not much.

Wonder if she can countersue for unfair dismissal.
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#9
12:27 October 7, 2009 by Chanaka Lloyd
UNLESS, this is no cover-up story and the info is legitimate, I this is by all means b-u-l-l-s-h-i-t ! No employer would lose the trust just 'cos someone eats meatballs!

Moreover, any company buys such items in excess to make sure they have enough for the guests. So, what are we supposed to think? Suddenly the boss realized there aren't enough meatballs? So, he sacked the secretary for eating the extra one?

This is ridiculous.
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#10
13:03 October 7, 2009 by Unbiased
I don't believe it.May be they were waiting for an incident to sack her.
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#11
13:05 October 7, 2009 by auniquecorn
Schulte-Hiltrop is a Fi:::::n Idiot
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#12
13:07 October 7, 2009 by UrbanAngel
It's also possible that she was really shite at her job and they'd been looking to sack her for a long time. I've heard it's quite hard to sack people in Germany, however this case undermines that opinion!
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#13
13:15 October 7, 2009 by fraufruit
We don't know what other infractions were in her file if any.
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#14
13:17 October 7, 2009 by Owain Glyndwr
it is possible she had already been warned for stealing food, or something similar, so hard to comment without knowing all the facts.
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#15
13:18 October 7, 2009 by leky
I would've said the frikadelle looked dodgy & I didn't want any of the guests getting sick, but there wasn't a bin around so I put it in a piece of bread until I could find a bin, & put it in my pocket to throw away.
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#16
13:21 October 7, 2009 by don_riina
C'mon, this is Germany - employees are so unbelievably protected here, that it is sometimes nigh on impossible to get rid of staff, even if they are absolutely useless and the personification of utter incompetence. They might well have been looking for an excuse, and she gave them one.

Is it ridiculous to be given the boot for your job for eating a meatball sandwich? Yes, it does sound that way.

Is it equally ridiculous that you cannot easily lose a member of staff that is simply not performing? Yeah man.
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#17
13:25 October 7, 2009 by Melf
Publicity!
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#18
13:38 October 7, 2009 by LeonG
If somebody noticed that food was missing, there must not have been a lot of food. Maybe they only had one meatball and roll of bread for each person and her taking some meant that somebody that the meal was meant for didn't get any. Maybe she was a total bitch and they really were looking for a reason to get rid of her. Maybe they knew her weakness and set up the meatballs as a trap, who knows

In any case, I like my food, I don't like when my food gets eaten from me. I can totally understand a boss that fires somebody for stealing his food. Taking money would be better although I would also fire somebody who took money. I wouldn't fire her for eating left overs after the lunch was over but I would give her a write up because if she wanted some, she could have asked.
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#19
13:41 October 7, 2009 by acquascutum
Let that teach her a lesson.
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#20
15:15 October 7, 2009 by freechoice
seriously i am rather impressed by the German spirit of attention to details....
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#21
15:43 October 7, 2009 by bagatelle
I was informed by a friend in human resources that it is considered theft if you take a paperclip, make a copy, or even charge your cellphone. So if your company wants to get rid of you - be careful!
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#22
15:48 October 7, 2009 by Katrina
On my first day working at Sainsbury's*, I had to watch a short film which told me that even if the pack of biscuits had fallen on the floor and had broken, it was still stealing if you stuffed your face with them.

But yes, I also strongly suspect that this could well have been a quick, cheap and legal way to lay off an older, more expensive employee.

*Christmas 1993, toys department, during the Power Ranger craze. It was *enlightening*.
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#23
15:53 October 7, 2009 by Buffy
Absolute bullshit along with the other example given in the article. I think it's absolultely disgraceful and it sounds to me that the women were just getting too old and they needed a reason to get rid of them without making them redundant and having to give them pretty big pay offs due to their lengths of service.

On another note, if they call that stealing, I'd hate to think of what my company would do if they found out the things that we get up to!
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#24
16:08 October 7, 2009 by Heinrich der Zweite
don_riina

I agree with you 100%

If one reads the original article (see Lorelei ) this case is a farce. The fact that it's come before a court of justice is a disgrace. I've lived and worked here now for over

30 years and such cases are no longer a rarity. See the readers comments in the

original. I hope this woman will come out on top. She has a lot of support from

the works committee (Betriebsrat) and at least one union.
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#25
16:34 October 7, 2009 by Lorelei
Publicity!
Yes, this does make you wonder if Hermann Schulte-Hiltrop is this tricky with his customers.
Could be that at 51 he feels that he has a right to a hot young secretary ...
Uncanny...

http://www.bauverbaende.de/wir-ueber-uns/team.html

(the person in the second picture is his secretary)
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#26
17:30 October 7, 2009 by Steven192
Here we go again. I suppose this will upset the non thinking crowd again and garner me a load of reds but hey ho!

If she had waited until after the buffet was over and then rescued the food from going in the bin then that is a different matter but in this case she decided to just take it.

How can you trust someone who steals from you?

It seems as if a lot of people on here seem to think that taking things that belong to other people is just perks of the job?

Those of you who think that raiding the stationary cupboard is perfectly honest and normal way to behave - how far will you go? The odd pen or two? A pack of stamps perhaps? How about 10% of any cash you happen to find laying around? The bosses wallet if he isn't looking, he has enough money and won't miss a couple of hundred euros, the same way the company won't miss the cost of all those pens and paper you take home.

It sounds ridiculous that you can get sacked for eating a meatball but if you can't be trusted with something this small then why should you be trusted at all?

It has nothing to do with the value of what you took but that you did it in the first place.
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#27
18:33 October 7, 2009 by Lorelei
I didn't mark you down, by the way, and I can see your point. But surely only a manager who was entirely innocent of similar behaviour would be justified in sacking someone without notice for eating one measly meatball and a couple of scraps of bread. It's inconceivable that the manager of a company as big as this one should consider this in itself a sackable offence, unless one is prepared to believe that the manager has never used company property for his own purposes (e.g. used a company pen to sign a personal cheque or driven a couple of yards in the company car on private business).

It's just a pretext for getting rid of long-standing members of staff. Not just her, but another woman too:
Aus den gleichen Gründen hatte man noch einer weiteren Mitarbeiterin gekündigt - nach 24 Jahren Verbandsarbeit.
It would serve him right if one of his customers or business associates pulled a similar legal trick on him.
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#28
19:07 October 7, 2009 by horseshoe7
I suppose this will upset the non thinking crowd again ....
wow. you mean the crowd that doesn't think as conservatively and uptight as you?
If she had waited until after the buffet was over and then rescued the food from going in the bin then that is a different matter but in this case she decided to just take it.

How can you trust someone who steals from you?
I'm sorry. It was a meatball from a buffet that would have leftovers anyway. And if it was the 1/1000th time an entire buffet does get eaten, who the feck is that uptight and strict? Are you completely messed up??
It seems as if a lot of people on here seem to think that taking things that belong to other people is just perks of the job?
YES - They DO. SHE TOOK A PIECE OF BREAD AND A GODDAM MEATBALL. After working somewhere for 34 years, it's not just a job you do, it's a third of your life. But no, to you theft of a MEATBALL is a sackable offense. I pray to God you never have any amount of power in your life, you sad person.
Those of you who think that raiding the stationary cupboard is perfectly honest and normal way to behave - how far will you go? The odd pen or two? A pack of stamps perhaps? How about 10% of any cash you happen to find laying around? The bosses wallet if he isn't looking, he has enough money and won't miss a couple of hundred euros, the same way the company won't miss the cost of all those pens and paper you take home.
You cock. Do you honestly think like this? Yes, keep your eye on the meatball thief. Meatballs are just a gateway to wallets, didn't you know?
It sounds ridiculous that you can get sacked for eating a meatball but if you can't be trusted with something this small then why should you be trusted at all?
because she, like the rest of the world minus that manager and you, can see the big picture. You must be taking the piss.
It has nothing to do with the value of what you took but that you did it in the first place.
Wrong. It has everything to do with it. If you ever tell a white lie, I hope you will imprison yourself immediately. If you ever venture a strong opinion about somebody, I hope you will arrest yourself for slander.

I hate that I have to share the world with people like you.
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#29
19:16 October 7, 2009 by LeonG
It depends on what she was used to. If it was customary for the staff at this company to get first picks at the buffet set up for bosses/clients whoever, then it would have been normal for her and it would not be fair at all to fire her for that. However, in companies where I've worked, that has not been the norm. Rather, the bosses/clients eat first and then the bosses get first pick at taking home any leftovers and whatever is left over after that is for the worker ants. Ok, maybe it's not a sackable offense but she could have asked, how hard would that be?
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#30
20:10 October 7, 2009 by Heinrich der Zweite
horseshoe7

Very well written.

This secretary is not a young girl working for the fisrt time on a two week trial period.

This is the boss's secretary, she's been employed at this company for 34 years.

This present fiasco has not the slightest thing do with being trustworthy or honest.

A so called collegue noticed something was missing and she went to the boss.

They must surely have had another meatball for Gods sake. This boss wanted to get rid of this secretary a long time ago. One meatball is gone, and this poor woman has to stand in a court of law. It stinks.
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#31
20:21 October 7, 2009 by Steven192
wow. you mean the crowd that doesn't think as conservatively and uptight as you?

I'm sorry. It was a meatball from a buffet that would have leftovers anyway. And if it was the 1/1000th time an entire buffet does get eaten, who the feck is that uptight and strict? Are you completely messed up??

YES - They DO. SHE TOOK A PIECE OF BREAD AND A GODDAM MEATBALL. After working somewhere for 34 years, it's not just a job you do, it's a third of your life. But no, to you theft of a MEATBALL is a sackable offense. I pray to God you never have any amount of power in your life, you sad person.

You cock. Do you honestly think like this? Yes, keep your eye on the meatball thief. Meatballs are just a gateway to wallets, didn't you know?

because she, like the rest of the world minus that manager and you, can see the big picture. You must be taking the piss.

Wrong. It has everything to do with it. If you ever tell a white lie, I hope you will imprison yourself immediately. If you ever venture a strong opinion about somebody, I hope you will arrest yourself for slander.

I hate that I have to share the world with people like you.
Try looking up ad hominem and then try growing up and keeping your childish insults to yourself before you answer again.

Why do you think that it is perfectly legal to fire people for this sort of thing?

There have been any number of court cases and people feeling all hard done by but in most cases everyone (except those who get caught and fellow travellers)agrees that dishonesty is a fair reason to loose your job.

I am not saying that this is the only reason she got the sack, I am sure there are lots of other reasons but she did do something that is a reason for instant dismissal.

If you can't understand that trust is required then I hope you never get in the position where your actions are going to affect anyone else.
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#32
21:40 October 7, 2009 by legal_alien
On my first day working at Sainsbury's*, I had to watch a short film which told me that even if the pack of biscuits had fallen on the floor and had broken, it was still stealing if you stuffed your face with them.
I used to work with a man who also worked at Sainsbury's. One of his work mates was throwing away out-of-date apples and took a few bites out of one before it went in the bin. This was caught on CCTV and they did indeed sack him - for this action alone without any regard for his usual performance. So stupid.

Do agree though, that it was possibly to do with wanting to get rid of somebody and needing a reason. 30 odd years is a long time to wait for that reason though.
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#33
22:08 October 7, 2009 by Meringer
This boss perpetuates the unfair stereotypical view of Germans held by many in the world. A rigid, unbending, unmerciful, petty, little, vindictive person. I know all, not even most, Germans are this way, but he prjojects this image for all to see. The sad part is, he probably sees himself as the poor, put upon, victim in this situation.
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#34
00:03 October 8, 2009 by Boots
On my first day working at Sainsbury's*, I had to watch a short film which told me that even if the pack of biscuits had fallen on the floor and had broken, it was still stealing if you stuffed your face with them.
True - but Sainsbury's business *is* retailing food - so I can understand why they'd be strict about it up front (still a sad story about the apples, though).
But yes, I also strongly suspect that this could well have been a quick, cheap and legal way to lay off an older, more expensive employee.
This is the more likely explanation, given the employee's age. I think they found an excuse to lose her before her official retirement date. Or before they were planning a bunch of lay-offs - because her record would would entitle her to a good pay-out. Her colleagues should watch out ...
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#35
01:05 October 8, 2009 by nyexiled
This is so obviously a case of wanting to get rid of an older member of staff , on the facts we are given (we don't know of any other issues in her file)

But going on the facts we have been given and speaking from my own experience as a manager, if it had been brought to my attention that a member of staff had done this, I would have had a quiet word with them to ensure they didn't do it again.

Are we not all guilty of the odd use of an employers time or costs. Who has never received a personal phone call at work. Just by answering it you are stealing your employers time. That sounds ludicrous, but no more ludicrous than eating a meatball from a buffet and getting sacked for it!
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#36
08:23 October 8, 2009 by Expaticus
I'm trying to get my hands around how someone noticed things missing in the first place. Usually, meatballs are in a big pile (and so's the bread); unless they were laid out symmetrically in a steam tray and her taking them left telltale empty spots. Stackenblocken.

Seriously, I had a similar situation at work. A few years ago we had a client conference with a buffet lunch. About half of the work people I invited didn't show up for the conference part. My secretary nudged me at about 11:30 and whispered "people are stealing the food". I walked out in the hallway and found people loading up plates to take them back up to their offices. I asked "what the hell are you doing? The clients haven't even had a crack at it yet, and you're not even participating in the conference!" One said "yes, but we were invited and it said lunch would be served, so we feel entitled to the free lunch part."

I didn't fire them, but did yellow-card them with HR via a Mahnung that went into their permanent file.
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#37
08:30 October 8, 2009 by Conquistador
I hope this lady either gets reinstated or (more likely) gets a realistic Abfindung. Given what was reported, it's pretty much impossible to interpret this disgraceful dismissal as anything other than an attempt to get rid of an older employee without paying a hefty severance. I would have a hard time believing that the person who fired her has never "stolen" anything or any time from the company himself. As pointed out above, there are a lot of things where it simply doesn't make sense for a company to strictly enforce the letter of the law, i.e., their regulations.

One other thing- the employee who reported her should be ashamed of herself. Probably had it in for her dismissed colleague or was trying to make herself look good to the boss. If the comments by the sacked employee's lawyer are accurate, she took leftover food, and in many if not most cases of leftovers, employees are urged to finish them once the guests are gone.
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#38
08:30 October 8, 2009 by Katrina
Yep, I've seen that happen Expaticus - once even Tupperware was involved and it wasn't at an employer famous for low wages either.

Or indeed, bringing an entire family and friends to a company event meant just for employees as the catering was free, clearing the buffet to make your own serving plates for your table and having your own party within a party by rearranging tables for your group. Then leaving when the food ran out.

The sense of entitlement gets me. It's sheer greed, plain and simple.

And no, not all of those taking the food were German.
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#39
08:33 October 8, 2009 by BigEnglish2009
The photo provided by The Local looks like Fleischpflanzerl to me and NOT meatballs (Fleischklöschen)!
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#40
09:11 October 8, 2009 by dang65
Ahaaaa... Could this be the last minute legal loophole which saves this lady's career and reputation?

Tune in next week to find out.
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#41
10:20 October 8, 2009 by westvan
The photo provided by The Local looks like Fleischpflanzerl to me and NOT meatballs (Fleischklöschen)!
Yeah, they were what we call Frikadellen, meat patties, not meatballs. Not that it makes any difference.
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#42
10:29 October 8, 2009 by Milton
To the poster who asked why she didn't ask:

Maybe she didn't want to ask. Maybe the company is such a miserable hell hole that she was comfort eating. Maybe her blood sugar level dropped and the only way she could stay on her feet was to eat a meatball and some bread.

Or maybe, in full knowledge that she wasn't supposed to take one - she did it anyway! What a thief.

Geez, what a discussion.
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#43
10:37 October 8, 2009 by don_riina
I just nicked all the sugar from a colleagues office, and he stole 2 of my cigarettes.

Waiting to see what happens....we could both be up for the boot I guess. Hope they do it before midday, I fancy going out to get some noodles for lunch.
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#44
10:59 October 8, 2009 by Milton
I might come and join you. Here I am checking the Internet - stealing my employer's time and bandwidth.
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#45
11:02 October 8, 2009 by NoBullJim
Really need to limit your usage to 8 hours a day like I do.
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#46
11:12 October 8, 2009 by Badsis
Was it in her job description to set up, oversee, deal with catering? was she working into her lunch break to assist her boss? Had it fallen to the floor and was inedible for public consumption?

Did the boss not get it the night before????????
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#47
13:26 October 8, 2009 by Carl46
Since he fired his secretary for taking the meatballs, I wonder if her gave the colleague who noticed that food was missing, a promotion. It's not like his secretary took a , dressed it up to look like meatballs, replaced the original meatballs with her balls and got caught in the act by a colleague. Now, that's a good reason for being sacked.
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#48
14:24 October 8, 2009 by LeonG
Are we not all guilty of the odd use of an employers time or costs. Who has never received a personal phone call at work. Just by answering it you are stealing your employers time.
Not all companies will allow that you know. My former employer in Canada had a strict no cell phone policy except during breaks. One of my coworkers was suspended for 3 days after being seen looking at his cell phone outside of break. He had been warned before though. Another guy was fired for cell phone use but that was during his probation period. Whatever the rules your employer sets, as long as you know what they are and they don't make up new ones without telling people, you can either stay out of trouble by following them or you can look for a new job with less rules.
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#49
14:53 October 8, 2009 by Expaticus
This can depend on the industry in which one works. If one works in the brokerage industry, most firms want all market hour phone calls (and emails, for that matter) coming through the company landlines so they're logged.

One would have to be running a pretty crappy business to not build a reasonable number of personal phone calls into the budget. If anyone were to be fired for taking a "personal" call from one's kid's school to let you know he's face-planted off the swingset and was in the hospital would clearly test the boundaries of rationality and situational appropriateness.

Plus, this weird almost uniquely german view that incoming caller ID is reliable for business purposes is a joke. I've had situations where people have said "I couldn't reach you on the telephone". I reply "well, you didn't leave me a voicemail, and you didn't follow up with an email if it was so urgent." They often say "well, my number is on your 'missed calls' list. I reply "I've been traveling abroad on business for three weeks ... I can remotely pick up messages and emails via blackberry, but never that stupid, random 'missed calls' list that says 'unknown number' half the time, which is why I never bother".

Whilst we're mentioning telephone numbers, has anyone ever tried to calculate how much european GDP is wasted because phone numbers are 1) non-standardized as to length and/or 2) almost impossible to transcribe or memorize due to all the "four-and-twenty blackbirds" stuff instead of standard sing-songy seven-digit numbers? Happens in the UK too ("oh, two-oh-seven, double-two, sixty five, treble-three, "). "Huh, do you mean "[+44] (20) 7226-5333?"
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#50
08:21 October 9, 2009 by funf
I guess it's hard to fire people, and here was the boss' opportunity? Pretty shite. Rot in Hell, Boss-man.
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#51
10:15 October 9, 2009 by LeonG
One would have to be running a pretty crappy business to not build a reasonable number of personal phone calls into the budget. If anyone were to be fired for taking a "personal" call from one's kid's school to let you know he's face-planted off the swingset and was in the hospital would clearly test the boundaries of rationality and situational appropriateness.
Oh, I can't say that the people I was working with in Canada were happy with the situation. My boss there had promised that messages would be taken at the switchboard and delivered to the staff in a timely manner. I heard of a case happening where a guy was called there to tell him that his house was on fire and he never got the message and another where a guy was called to tell him that his wife had been taken to hospital and he never got the message. I however promptly got a message to call the power company when it turned out it was really not important at all.

After people complained that they couldn't be reached while doing overtime when the switchboard is closed, the employer installed an emergency line you could get to through the voicemail system but they'd regularly announce that it would be cut off immediately if abused. Most people just carried cell phones anyway. If it rings, you can go hide in the shitter and check who it was. If the rules are too draconian, people will find a way around them.
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#52
14:18 October 12, 2009 by jmjdk
I just heard on the radio station hr1 that the boss has not offered to reinstate her. So much for working with co-workers & other managers in this organization. She still has the legal option. Hope she has good legal counsel with which to pursue any & all claims against this Arschloch.
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#53
14:34 October 12, 2009 by Expaticus
If the dismissal sticks, I'll bet we'll witness a huge wave of companies suddenly offering camera-monitored daily steam trays full of meatballs.
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#54
15:53 October 12, 2009 by Expaticus
It probably all boils down to the assymetry of employer/employee relations in Germany (Mitbestimmung and all that). Tell employers what a bunch of sh*theads they are often enough, and someday someone will eventually call your bluff.

If bosses routinely find themselves inheriting goldbrickers and being told that underperformers are "too expensive/tenured/fecund to fire", their marginal propensity to play things "by the book" and not be "situationally appropriate" is doubtless commensurate with their expectations that said employees would ever behave like adults and say "yeah, you're right, I'm really not right for this job" and leave quietly. Fat chance.

Classic example of the unintended consequences of overregulation. I'm sure there are a lot of German bosses out there poring over expense reports looking for padding and/or someone who sicks out without a note to a petty degree you'd never see in the real world. Just look at how people are hazed during their Probezeit.
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#55
16:12 October 12, 2009 by jmjdk
@Expaticus: Even in an over regulated environment is there no wiggle room between doing nothing & what has occurred?

I can not believe that this is the only avenue open to this manager? This type of work environment has to be simply horrendous to work within as a worker.

The workers position/question on moving on has to be can it be done within Germany. To this I say no, reason, Germany is way to rigid in the work place w/r/t employment qualifications/expectations from workers. So a worker can not reinvent him/herself to gain employment in another industry/profession like one can in some other countries.
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#56
16:17 October 12, 2009 by Gen
The Dortmund secretary who made headlines last week for being fired after 34 years on the job due to a conference buffet meatball snack can have her job back, her employer said on Sunday evening.
Just FYI.
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#57
16:17 October 12, 2009 by Lorelei
The meatball case was discussed on "Anne Will" last night. (Video recording.) The consensus seemed to be that the boss had acted disproportionately.
If bosses routinely find themselves inheriting goldbrickers and being told that underperformers are "too expensive to fire", their marginal propensity to play things "by the book" and not be "situationally appropriate" is doubtless commensurate with their expectations that said employees would ever behave like adults and say "yeah, you're right, I'm really not right for this job" and leave quietly. Fat chance.

Classic example of the unintended consequences of overregulation. I'm sure there are a lot of German bosses out there poring over expense reports looking for padding and/or someone who sicks out without a note to a petty degree you'd never see in the real world. Just look at how people are hazed during their Probezeit.
It might not necessarily be the fault of overregulation. Bosses who are prepared to fire their staff without proper justification or to haze their staff will do this anyway, whatever regulations are in place.
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#58
16:22 October 12, 2009 by Expaticus
The workers position/question on moving on has to be can it be done within Germany. To this I say no, reason, Germany is way to rigid in the work place w/r/t employment qualifications/expectations from workers. So a worker can not reinvent him/herself to gain employment in another industry/profession like one can in some other countries.
But that's German society's and the employee's problem ... not the employer who has to run a business against competitors in places that have it sussed.

Less rigidity, a bit more self-reliance and I'm convinced there's a lot of pent-up demand for new employees. But not as long as taking on new people is seen as the equivalent of getting a tatoo or having your house forcibly inhabited Dr. Zhivago style.
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#59
22:44 October 12, 2009 by jmjdk
News analysis program "Anne Will," which airs every Sunday evening, chose to focus on the topic, which it entitled, "Fired for a meatball - merciless working world?"

But as the show began, moderator Anne Will announced that the secretary's employer, the North Rhine-Westphalian building association in Dortmund, had retracted her dismissal.

261 words remaining. Click to read the [thelocal="http://www.thelocal.de/22509/">full article[/thelocal].

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Just FYI.
Apparently the show presenter does know what she talks about.

As stated earlier
I just heard on the radio station hr1 that the boss has not offered to reinstate her. So much for working with co-workers & other managers in this organization. She still has the legal option. Hope she has good legal counsel with which to pursue any & all claims against this Arschloch.
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#60
23:27 October 12, 2009 by RainyDays
I just heard on the radio station hr1 that the boss has not offered to reinstate her. So much for working with co-workers & other managers in this organization. She still has the legal option. Hope she has good legal counsel with which to pursue any & all claims against this Arschloch.
Yep, I heard and read the same (The Local headline is apparently wrong). The employer doesn't take the dismissal back, but hopes to settle the matter out of court (= compensation payment). The secretary however is determined to take it to the next level at the court. Either way, this meatball affair will become expensive.
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