On the matter of Houston D.

Houston D. has taken, the past 18 months or so, pretty much off, for one reason or another. One pinched neck, one recovery and an operation on a "suspect" shoulder have caused Houston to be in this unfortunate situation. Houston has been paid usual wages for guarding silver, erasing compact disks and performing "audits".

Got to a showdown, continue paying him for not being able to do anything, OR have him find another job within six months that he can do.

At the end of this period of time, Houston finds a new job he can do or Houston is no longer with us.

I sent Houston home on June 11th for six months, to look for his new job. He said, "What do I do now?" I said, "Go home".

He did.

Got to thinking, what if Houston comes back in five months, three weeks and four days (somehow, it could happen) and says "I'm ok, I want my job back", and me saying, "No, man, you can't do that", and importantly the lawyers agree.

I called up Clara "the Director" and she said, "It's ok, but document, document". I am.

First of all, I'm only covering a period of fifteen months, as that's as long as I've been responsible for this individual. Houston D. is an entry-level code and has been with the company for seven years now.

In January and February Houston had taken 12.5 days of vacation. I don't know how many he may have carried over from the previous year, but I think he might have blown most of what he gets for a year (three weeks) in two months.

In March of 1996 the pinched nerve began, and lasted through August. My best calculations are that during this period of time Houston was either incapacitated or in therapy of some sort. During this time he sorted Compact Discs in Building 12. Sometime in the fall of 1996 Houston came back to the Cube Cell and in September he was accommodated an extra day to attend a funeral in North, or South Carolina.

In October Houston was out for the week of October 20, 1996. I hope to find out from the Nurse what this was for, as I do not remember.

In November, Houston hurt his shoulder at a football game in Syracuse and again was restricted from doing required work. Houston was absent in November and December and during this time, had surgery. He returned to work in early 1997.

During 1996 Houston D. had 155.5 hours of vacation 592.0 hours of absence and was restricted from doing his required job duties for the entire year. Early in 1997, not sure exactly when, Houston was accommodated with a position in Silver Recovery (Guard Shack). In February he had 36 hours for therapy sessions: April, 18 hours of vacation, and an additional 4 hours of therapy. In June, Houston had 8 hours of vacation.

Again, in 1997, Houston has been on restriction an entire year (through early June at this writing).

The action taken in this case was to send this individual home for six months, with pay, and to find another job that does fall into his capabilities. Services are provided upon request, and rendered to help individuals through this process.

It seems to me, a very liberal Democrat, that Houston Daniels has been given every opportunity.

"I rest my case, your honor"

ps.

About eight weeks into Houston’[s search for another job, he went back to his doctor and received a clean bill of health. He had his restriction removed by the Medical Department. He wanted

his job back, I said “no”. He filed a discrimination complaint against me. My calls to the legal group went unanswered. At a meeting with Medical and Legal, the Lawyer said, "If he's filed a complaint against you there's nothing we can do, it looks as if you are preventing him from assuming his duties". Pointing out to this group that Houston had not lived up to his end of the agreement we, as a group had agreed to pursue, fell upon deaf ears.

Houston returned to work with another ten week paid vacation while I tried to explain to his team-mates, who'd carried him for a year and a half, that we need to make sure Houston is treated fairly in the future.

Meanwhile, I wonder how long it will be before he's hurt again.