I knew who my number one problem child would be from day one. It would be Rachel. She gossiped and talked to the other teams. When I started, I set up a system that would assure us meeting our numbers each week. We were constantly the top team for the first few months I was there. Everyone on the team loved it because it meant we got prizes and other incentives. Our winning streak came to an abrupt end. The other teams caught up. I soon learned Rachel told them about our system. Apparently she and a few of the women on the other team are “smoke buddies”. She had also made the rounds with a few of the men on these other teams.

Vaneesha walked into my office livid one day. I had never seen her that angry before. She was always level headed and jovial. She had a complaint against Rachel. Their cubicles were beside each other. She was distracting her from work with her constant personal calls. She said the calls were sometimes sexual in nature and she would not be subjected to this at work. She said if I did not address it she would go to HR. I spoke to Rachel and she stopped.

Linda, another team manager approached me and told me to keep Rachel out of his area. She was disrupting Linda’s team and the provocative clothing she wore was inappropriate. This got me really upset. Lindsey was one of the few team managers I got along with. She helped me tremendously when I started by showing me the ropes. We became friends and often bounced ideas off each other even though we had competing teams. I was not going to allow Rachel to destroy this alliance.

 I called Rachel in my office.

“Rachel, can you explain why you have been spending time with Linda’s team when you have a stack of work here”

“I needed assistance with one of the screens and no one on our team knew how to do it” she was taking a stab at our team. I know Carlos could probably have helped her. He knew the system inside out. Abaven also could have helped but he had the day off.

“And Carlos was at lunch”, she added.

It was like she knew I was going to ask about Carlos.

“Why did you not come to me?” I asked.

“You were in a meeting that Tuesday”, she replied masterfully placing the blame on me. She continued, “I had to get it done so we could meet our daily quota so I went to another team who I knew experienced this problem”.

She was good at excuses. She knew the buttons to push. I had heard rumors of her being able to manipulate any situation to her advantage. She even bragged to the other team members of how she played the men she dated to get just about anything.

There was nothing I could do. She had it all covered. I think she timed everything when she knew Carlos was at lunch and I was in a meeting.

“I know you want to meet the quota but in the future do not go into another teams area without my permission or that team manager’s permission. If you have to wait for Carlos to return, then do that.” I said sternly.
“Okay sir”, she looked like she really regretted it but I had seen this act before. She used sir just to make me feel like the “big boss”.

She continued, “I only want what is best for the team. I am so sorry for messing up”.

It was an Oscar performance.

“Thanks, Rachel” I replied beckoning her to get back to work.

“Sure, It will never happen again she replied. Then while walking out the door she said something very suggestive and swung her hips.

“You know I will do anything for the team”

She said it loudly enough that the rest of the team would hear.

I heard Michael say “You go girl” as she sat down at her cube.

These were just the warning shots. I knew a war was brewing and it did not take long.

Rosa realized how stressful the job had become. I was easily agitated and our conversation was always focused on what happened at work today. It would be what Rachel or Michael did today? I think she was tired of hearing about them. She kept hinting that I should look for another job. I wanted to spend at least a year in “management”. It would look better on my resume. I also had concerns about changing jobs while we were saving for our wedding.

Sue also realized the job was overwhelming me. I used to tell her about what happened there. She was especially interested in Michael and his flamboyancy. It made her laugh. We use to have regular conversations about the people at work till one day she told me “Stop telling me bout dem mad people at yuh job”.

I don’t know that it was her that wanted to stop hearing but her new “boy toy” Jermaine was not happy with the homosexual topic. He was her man of the moment when “Sidney the boops” was in Jamaica taking care of his business.

I remember the first time he heard me talking to Sue about Michael. She asked how was my day at work and did Michael do anything outrageous.  It happened to be a day he did say some outrage things about gay men hygiene having things in common with feminine hygiene.

He was in shock.

He wanted to know why I did not find a way to fire the “b****man”. He went on about how we Jamaican have become so accepting of “b****manism”. I think this is when Sue changed her mind and did not want to hear about my stories at work.

The missile was finally fired and the war broke out.

Rachel was late for work 4 days in a row. She was taking more smoke breaks than normal.  Some said her reeked of alcohol. She was gossiping more. She was cursing more and being disruptive.

It was time to write her up. I also had the option of suspending her for a few days from work.

I needed advice from HR on how to handle it. They told me to stick to the facts. Do not say anything personal.

It was late Friday afternoon when I called her in.

I started to explain to her why she was called in. Before I could finish she started to cry. She was being abused by a new boyfriend and that is why she was late and stressed.  There was a faint smell of alcohol on her breath.

“He is abusing me physically”, she pulled up the sleeve of her blouse to show me a black and blue mark.

I was caught off guard. I did not know what to do.

I gave her a box of tissues to dry her eyes.

My manager training from college came back to me. I explained that I felt bad for her but I still had to write her up because the time clock will still show she was late. This is when she went into a tirade.

“I can’t believe you are doing this to me. I am the only person on the team who works their but off to assure we are at the top. None here cares more about their job than I do.” She shouted.

I was thinking to myself Carlos does.

“Be very careful of the people you trust or your think is loyal. Carlos who you give all the breaks is a racist. He calls black people n***ers.”

I was shocked.

She saw the look on my face and went in for the kill.

“Yes, your dear Carlos is a racist. I went to lunch with him and he mentioned that his sister lost her job because of affirmative action and the n***ers in Miami. He said it is just like what Fidel did in Cuba”

I had to hold my composure. I did recall Carlos saying his sister lost her job but he did not give a reason why. He asked if I could hire her if there was an opening.

“Rachel, I still need you to sign here to acknowledge receipt of this notice” I was trying to complete the write up process.

“No. I will not,” she walked out the door.

I was in shock. Was Carlos a racist? Was it really true? There were rumors that she tried to seduce Carlos but got no where. Could I believe a rejected woman? She was drinking and they say drunks tell the truth. Some of the facts she gave were believable. His sister lost here job. I have heard many white Cubans do not like black people because Castro took from the rich white to give to all. You hardly saw black Cubans protesting Castro. You never saw them on the boats trying to get to Miami. There is no way to prove Carlos was a racist or no way to prove he was not a racist. I always hear the term they live amongst us but we never know. How can I manage a racist team member? Was Carlos working this hard to get my job?  He is my hardest worker. If I lose him the whole team loses.

Should I confront him?

I have no facts so it made no sense to confront him. He was my right hand man. I meet with the team weekly but also with him separately. We would meet to discuss the goals for the week. He was a trusted confidant. How could I look him in the eyes without doubts? Could I tell Human Resources about this? That probably would not work because Rachel had to back-up the story. Who could I talk to about it?

The weekend was a drag. I was not looking forward to Monday but I could not get the whole incident and racism revelation off my mind. It did not help that it was a weekend when Rosa’s parents were in town. I could not talk to Rosa about the situation. I am sure her mother felt slighted by the many things I did not do to show my respect. I was not in the mood to “woo” anyone especially her racist mother who does not like being black.  

I have never lost sleep about a job but I did that weekend.

Monday morning I got in extra early. I needed some time to think. I also wondered if there were clues in Carlos’ cubicle. I walked by it and looked around. No smoking gun.

I also knew I had to take care of Rachel. She had the option not to sign. I know there was a next step and needed to meet with HR about it. I walked back in my office preparing my paperwork to go to HR. Someone was at the door.

“Can I come in”, it was Gary the director, my boss. He was the entire team mangers boss.

“Sure”

“I understand you had a situation with Rachel, last week”

“Yes” I replied.

“She came to my office this morning”.

Again she is trying to be ahead of the game.

“Oooh”

“Yes, we have decided to assign her to Tom’s team”

I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. I wanted to scream “What?”

“Oooh”

“She is a good worker and just having some issues”

A pretty face and a nice body always seem to win out. It also helps that there was a rumor she and Tom were once “close” friends. Tom is married with children.

I went back to business mode trying to recover from everything that just happened.

“Okay, but I am going to one person down. How can I meet this week’s quota?”

“You can hire someone. I think Carlos has a sister that is looking for work. He mentioned it to me the other day. Bring her in for an interview”

It was a knock out. I was down for the count with the second blow. Welcome to corporate America!

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