The jerk got what is justly deserved!!! A knife is not a play-toy!
Re: Joking With a Knife Leads to Removal
Aviation Safety Inspector FAA Mon Jun 1, 2009 8:53 AM
He was only “joking” because he got caught. If this woman was intimidated into silence I have no doubt that it would have escalated into something far worse.
Joking with a knife
CE Tech USDA Forest Circus Fri May 29, 2009 9:39 AM
Way back when I was in the Navy we all carried folding sheath knives on our belts. Some of the guys would think it fun to whip theirs out and threaten the newer crew members. Even done in jest, it feels VERY intimidating, as I can personally attest to (45 years later)!
This guy got what he had coming to him.
What an imbecile!
Program Analyst OPM Fri May 29, 2009 10:10 AM
"This case should serve to remind that it is pretty dumb to flash a knife at a co-worker, even if in jest. Rightly so, government agencies pretty much do not find such behavior funny and will tend to react quickly and seriously."
That says it all!
Why
Senior Power Plant Operator Corps of Engineers Fri May 29, 2009 11:16 AM
Why did he even waste time with an appeal, he was very lucky he did not face criminal charges. I know the union would make sure due process was followed in his termination, but no one could possibly defend his actions.
Inappropriate Behavior
PM DON Fri May 29, 2009 11:35 AM
Obviously this government employee was not in a union otherwise he would still be on the job.
Re: Inappropriate Behavior
HR Manager (retired) DOD Fri May 29, 2009 1:18 PM
No he would not. There are many decisions on similar cases and union membership has not saved any of the offenders. Management would have been derelict if they had not fired this employee.
Article
Program Analyst Treasury Fri May 29, 2009 12:34 PM
The author writes that it was "unfortunate" for McGuire that there were 3 witnesses. I'd say quite the reverse, that it was fortunate for the coworker who was threatened by this guy that there were witnesses, and that those witnesses were willing to risk their employment to testify. I'm sick of the "I was only joking" defense. I'll be he had used that before, and no one, including management, had told him it was inappropriate.
joking at work
Admin Assistant USDA FS Fri May 29, 2009 1:21 PM
Noted and understood. I will no longer joke with anyone at work about anything and I will caution others not to joke. It's not worth encountering someone without a sense of humor and losing your job over it.
Re: joking at work
Retired DoD Fri May 29, 2009 4:28 PM
It's okay to joke Admin Asst, just don't flash anything that can be interpreted to be a weapon. But if you're not sure, don't joke around.
Re: joking at work
software engineer NAVAIR Mon Jun 1, 2009 9:56 AM
There is appropriate humor and there is inappropriate humor, and many times humor appropriate in a particular context is not appropriate in another (duh). Humor correctly used can actually improve the products we supply to our customers.
I believe that it is obvious the the attempt an "humor" in question was inappropriate in just about any context and highly inappropriate in a work environment.
I suspect that Mr. McGuire blames the co-worker for complaining and takes no ownership for his actions. An immediate apology was required, even if he was seriously trying to make a joke and would not attempt to harm anyone at any time, however I see no hint in the article that he has ever apologized.
Re: joking at work
Task Manager USN Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:10 AM
No Admin Assistant you are correct if you value a long career you best just keep to yourself for numerous reasons that I have seen in 35 years. Humor is an excuse that will come back to haunt you!
Joking with a knife
Director HUD Fri May 29, 2009 2:03 PM
Why did the employee even have a pocket knife in the office? As soon as he pulled it out, that was a threat....what an idiot....
Re: Joking with a knife
transportation specialist USAF Mon Jun 1, 2009 7:07 AM
"Why did the employee even have a pocket knife"?
What kind of question is that?
I carry a pocketknife all the time. I know many employees that carry pocketknives.
It isn't to threaten people with. It isn't to make remarks like the fired employee made. I don't disagree at all that making threats, joking or not, is wrong.
But MEN carry pocketknives for many reasons. And not the threaten ladies with.
I guess you think guns kill people right?
Re: Joking with a knife
DOD analyst Tue Jun 2, 2009 8:47 AM
My husband always has a pocket knife with him. It comes in handy for many things such as opening the packaging of new windshield wipers. The one thing he has NEVER done is joke around with it.
The late great USA
Retired Retired Fri May 29, 2009 6:19 PM
The guy was in charge of explosives. He delt with seriously dangerous stuff every day. If anyone cannot understand that environment and thinks he should be fired over such and event, they really should stay home and hide under their bed.
Was it wrong? Yes. But, get serious, to fire someone over such an event; absolutely not. We are turning into a country filled with spineless whiners and lawyers who stand ready to make money on the whining.
Pick on the WG
Diversity Manager DOL Fri May 29, 2009 8:44 PM
This tragic here we have a hard working CS and he got canned. I'm sure it was because he was under NSPS had he been under the old GS program he would have been promoted. Death to NSPS
Joking With a Knife Leads to Removal
HUD
Fri May 29, 2009 8:59 AM
The jerk got what is justly deserved!!! A knife is not a play-toy!
Re: Joking With a Knife Leads to Removal
FAA
Mon Jun 1, 2009 8:53 AM
Joking with a knife
USDA Forest Circus
Fri May 29, 2009 9:39 AM
Way back when I was in the Navy we all carried folding sheath knives on our belts. Some of the guys would think it fun to whip theirs out and threaten the newer crew members. Even done in jest, it feels VERY intimidating, as I can personally attest to (45 years later)!
This guy got what he had coming to him.
What an imbecile!
OPM
Fri May 29, 2009 10:10 AM
"This case should serve to remind that it is pretty dumb to flash a knife at a co-worker, even if in jest. Rightly so, government agencies pretty much do not find such behavior funny and will tend to react quickly and seriously."
That says it all!
Why
Corps of Engineers
Fri May 29, 2009 11:16 AM
Why did he even waste time with an appeal, he was very lucky he did not face criminal charges. I know the union would make sure due process was followed in his termination, but no one could possibly defend his actions.
Inappropriate Behavior
DON
Fri May 29, 2009 11:35 AM
Obviously this government employee was not in a union otherwise he would still be on the job.
Re: Inappropriate Behavior
DOD
Fri May 29, 2009 1:18 PM
Article
Treasury
Fri May 29, 2009 12:34 PM
The author writes that it was "unfortunate" for McGuire that there were 3 witnesses. I'd say quite the reverse, that it was fortunate for the coworker who was threatened by this guy that there were witnesses, and that those witnesses were willing to risk their employment to testify. I'm sick of the "I was only joking" defense. I'll be he had used that before, and no one, including management, had told him it was inappropriate.
joking at work
USDA FS
Fri May 29, 2009 1:21 PM
Noted and understood. I will no longer joke with anyone at work about anything and I will caution others not to joke. It's not worth encountering someone without a sense of humor and losing your job over it.
Re: joking at work
DoD
Fri May 29, 2009 4:28 PM
Re: joking at work
NAVAIR
Mon Jun 1, 2009 9:56 AM
I believe that it is obvious the the attempt an "humor" in question was inappropriate in just about any context and highly inappropriate in a work environment.
I suspect that Mr. McGuire blames the co-worker for complaining and takes no ownership for his actions. An immediate apology was required, even if he was seriously trying to make a joke and would not attempt to harm anyone at any time, however I see no hint in the article that he has ever apologized.
Re: joking at work
USN
Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:10 AM
Joking with a knife
HUD
Fri May 29, 2009 2:03 PM
Why did the employee even have a pocket knife in the office? As soon as he pulled it out, that was a threat....what an idiot....
Re: Joking with a knife
USAF
Mon Jun 1, 2009 7:07 AM
What kind of question is that?
I carry a pocketknife all the time. I know many employees that carry pocketknives.
It isn't to threaten people with. It isn't to make remarks like the fired employee made. I don't disagree at all that making threats, joking or not, is wrong.
But MEN carry pocketknives for many reasons. And not the threaten ladies with.
I guess you think guns kill people right?
Re: Joking with a knife
analyst
Tue Jun 2, 2009 8:47 AM
The late great USA
Retired
Fri May 29, 2009 6:19 PM
The guy was in charge of explosives. He delt with seriously dangerous stuff every day. If anyone cannot understand that environment and thinks he should be fired over such and event, they really should stay home and hide under their bed.
Was it wrong? Yes. But, get serious, to fire someone over such an event; absolutely not. We are turning into a country filled with spineless whiners and lawyers who stand ready to make money on the whining.
Pick on the WG
DOL
Fri May 29, 2009 8:44 PM
This tragic here we have a hard working CS and he got canned. I'm sure it was because he was under NSPS had he been under the old GS program he would have been promoted. Death to NSPS
Re: Pick on the WG
DOD
Mon Jun 1, 2009 9:52 AM