The Peter Principle

The dictionary defines the Peter Principle this way:

Peter Principle –noun - any of several satirical “laws” concerning organizational structure, esp. one that holds that people tend to be promoted until they reach their level of incompetence.

This concept seems to be alive and well and living at my work place! Mostly in the management end of things. My sister works in the same school district as I do and recently she was called for jury duty. She went to do her duty as a citizen of this county and she was one of those selected to be on a jury. She served on the jury for 2 days, both of which were over 8 hours each day. She happens to work 2nd shift and her boss is harassing her now because she didn't come and finish out her shift of work after she had already put in two long days on a jury! The court excuses you from work on the days you have jury duty. It's just that simple!

It says right on the jury summons that your boss is not allowed to hassle you or give you any trouble over your having to serve your community or they will be held liable to contempt of court. So far he has intimidated her into putting down on her time card that she took both days without pay (we get paid by the school district as if it was a sick day and we have to turn over the stipend we get for the jury duty to the district....it's a good trade, I think you get a $10 a day stipend, plus mileage, for serving on a jury). He's left many messages on her cell phone about this, cornered her in one of the locker rooms to brow beat her about this, without having any union reps with her to witness his tirade and he has the papers ready to write her up. Our union is handling the entire mess. And it WILL be taken to the school board.

Here's one case where a guy in a managerial position is really screwing up. So much so, he could be arrested, fired and thrown in jail for contempt of court! I wish all these things on his furry head! Does he know all this is a possibility? I'm not sure if it's about malice or just ignorance. Who knows, but ANYONE with a brain knows you can't buck the court system and yet why is he doing this? Good questions! I think it's due to his arrogant demeanor and that high horse he rides on a daily basis. Not to mention his unusually high level of incompetence.

My sister is on her annual fall vacation in Jamaica right now(she's a very hard-working custodian and works all year round, so she is allowed to take her vacations during the school year). I hope she has a good time and doesn't fret over this. It will all be dealt with when she gets home! I just hope that beautiful Caribbean ocean washes all this away for as long as she's there.



Another Peter Principle...a good one this time. Here's a lovely shot of a friend's sail boat. It just happens to be named "Peter Principle".



Thought for the day...

"Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence."

Napoleon Bonaparte