Written termination received with no details

The previous satyagraha had it's effect.

Today Thursday, 9/25 morning, I was seated in my couch waching CNBC when someone in blue uniform went past the window. That's not typical how people arrive at my door. Soon I heard 2 bangs on my door. I got up and noticed something thrust under the door. It was a FedEx package. I picked it up and opened the door but he was gone. All this happened in 5 seconds or so. Very suspicious. He was not a typical FedEx guy with typical behavior of seeking signature and such. Seemed like he was some "hired" guy with clear instructions how exactly to deliver the package. Anyway here is the photo of the letter.

Yes, reason was "Misconduct". No details at all. I definitely did not conduct myself to their unethical whims and fancies as deliberated earlier.

.

SATYAGRAHA - day 5 - No termination letter yet?

Ever since the remote termination I had been waiting for the written confirmation of the same. Considering HR's nature of always indulging in phone talks and not leaving a paper trail I had my suspicions. I waited for 4 days and then today - Tuesday 9/23 - decided to head to JPMC building downtown for another day of satyagraha demanding details regarding my termination.

Heard the news that CBT Rich Clew, had a confidential conference call with select members of my erstwhile technology team. They were all told that there was an incident recently and I am no more an employee. It was a quick meeting. Muffling the voice, silencing the critics and closing the case is the name of the game! This is in line with what Anna did earlier!

That call must have "scared" some Indians, though several had the courage to drop by where I was seated or call me over phone. Some continued avoiding me as usual, they were contractors from my group who are at the mercy of Greg's goodwill for their survival jobwise, I can understand their dilemma. That is perfectly OK. But what is worse is two of them are being used by Greg/management to spread rumors against me! Casting aspersions on someone without knowing the Truth is a heinous act. These two are being sepoys with sepoy mentality. 

What is sepoy mentality?

The British used the Indian sepoys to fight against their own countrymen including the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. It's another story that they did rebel once. sepoy mentality is a generic term used when a native works against the natives on behalf of an outsider for crumbs. This works very well because other innocent Indians begin to believe since it's coming from their own and thus less prone to suspicion. In this case Greg/management is using Indians against an Indian. Now when you see such contractors who are willing to sell their integrity for few $$$ it reminds of sepoys. This is a proven technique used by colonial powers to subjugate the natives throughout the world and in the modern world continues as a form of Neocolonialism

Here is one snippet from that beautiful must read essay.

It is to be remembered that 99% of all bullets fired and all police atrocities committed during the British Empire were done by Indian Sepoys under British command. Interestingly, the Chinese did not make good sepoys, because they refused to sell out. The Blacks had to be physically chained to enslave them. But Indians volunteered with great pride.

.

SATYAGRAHA - day 4 - "You have been Fired" ?

After restoration of phone service on Thursday, 9/18, I called Linda of ER at 8:20 AM CST from home. No response, I left a voice mail asking her to call me back on cellphone. Then proceeded to do Satyagraha at downtown. 

After settling down beside JPMC building I called CBT. He said I need to talk to Linda only. Then I called site director. Same answer. I told both that I am unable to reach her. By 11:30 CST I got a call from Linda asking whether I will be able to take a call at 1:30 PM CST, Judith also will be joining she said. She further suggested that it's better to be at home since this is a 'sensitive' issue. I was thinking - what is sensitive here, it's been a mess anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. I said ok, cellphone is fine.

At 1:33 PM the call came. Here's the conversation:

Me - "Hello"

Linda - "Hi BrownMan, How are you?"

Me - "Hi, Fine"

Linda - "Judy is here"

Me - "OK"

Linda - "BrownMan, where are you? near JPMC building?"

Me - "I am inside a restaurant"

Linda - "Are you ok there?"

Me - "Yes"

Linda - "You have been fired, today is your last day"

Me - "OK, but why?"

Linda - "Misconduct"

Me - "Misconduct? What do you mean? 

Linda - "It has lead to unfavorable working condition"

Me - "You know that it's not fair assessment"

Linda - "We don't believe so, we can talk next week"

Me - "OK, Are you going to send a written confirmation of this?"

Linda - "Yes"

Me - "OK"

The long distance firing was not totally unexpected considering the turn of events, but what surprises me is the fact that the reason is very flimsy. So here is the post-mortem.

Once it became apparent that I won't be forced to accept their incompetent and unfair verdict they were in quandary how to handle this. My resolve was firm. Denying me of work email access and subsequent building access were arm-twisting efforts that did not bear any fruit for them. My peaceful satyagraha further complicated it for them. Then they let this drag while fervently looking to "build a case"; but they could not find really anything against me; I was a good employee. And when they tried unethical tricks, like presumed absence or presumed unstable mental condition, I hit back at them exposing their hypocrisy. The only equitable option that was always available and simplest one of all - having me back under a different manager - for reasons I will explain was simply not agreeable to them, so they ran out of options!

Let me rewind and consider what was stated in the last FedEx letter, they wanted to discuss - "status of my current absence, future employment at the firm and disability package"

This call was supposed to be that discussion. Their earlier plan probably was to "force me to believe" that I have a mental problem and extend the presumed absence into some sort of disability leave, gradually push me to labelling me as 'disabled' person and eventually say that I am unfit to work for JPMC. Very sleazily suave and sleazily sophisticated way of getting rid of me!  I did not let that happen!  Reminds me of the saying - "what a tangled web they weave when they begin to deceive!" Thus among 3 the first and last topics weren't touched at all. The future employment at the firm at the firm turned out to be about future unemployment at the firm! 

So something triggered a change since last FedEx letter. It's my resend of gmails which got past JPMC mail servers. Here's a summary of what effect each had:

1. My 3rd letter had exposed that HR lacks an effective mechanism to handle my case, in fact any case that involves a colored man from a non-Christian background. I argued against Eurocentrism and thus hit the nail on the head regarding their hypocritical analysis including "denial" and "blaming the victim" techniques.

2. They must have thought - how dare I reach out to higher management again. Lower management was concerned that this episode will reveal to higher management that racism exists within the firm in Houston. On the other hand if senior management gets a wind of this it is an embarassment for them that they cannot "handle" an associate level employee "appropriately" and cover it up.

3. Some gmails in line with my asking - how can I work with denial of work facilities, can you clearly state my employment status with FedEx attachment back to them and HR's obscene game of forcing a disease on me was clearly a big embarrassment which they had successfully blocked from being revealed earlier. The people who were initially CCed on my OOO gmail were part of that email chain. Also I had to state to them why I was FOOO. Thus HR's unethical techniques were exposed to all. At a personal level it revealed how sleazy Linda, Anna and such ilk can be.

So in summary without considering the equitable option they believed they had no option but to get rid of me, even that was unprofessional - remote termination over the phone. Sure, Linda's reply was absolutely right per her frame of reference, it's misconduct because I did not conduct myself to their Eurocentric line of thinking, I did not succumb to their verdict of reporting to a racist, I argued on behalf of righteousness etc., etc.,

If it has created unfavorable working condition what is the root cause? An unfavorable working condition affecting me - i.e prejudice - was the root cause. They are letting that root cause persist. An unfavorable working condition further breeds unfavorable working condition. Why ignore that? Why indulge in short term fixes like firing the victim instead of disciplining the criminal who created the unfavorable working condition in the first place?  OR the least they could have done is solve the problem equitably as stated above?

Anyway they could not handle the Truth!

Satyameva Jayate?  I had asked all along. 

Satya (Truth) won because it did not succumb and refused to be subjugated!

I am waiting for the written confirmation of my termination and the actual verbage!

Response from ER - after resend of gmails.

Because of Gmails blocked I resent several gmails again and received response from Linda of ER as follows, this time they couldn't stop the newly created gmail address! I am sure HR will block this email address also. But it served it's purpose, got what seems like "nice" reply but now I know better! We will know soon when I talk to Linda.

fromlinda.padilla@jpmchase.com
ton019019 n019019 

ccChristine.Eckert@jpmorgan.com,
Jocelyn.Donat@chase.com,
Judith.D.Bess@chase.comPublish Post

dateMon, Sep 15, 2008 at 11:30 AM
subjectRe: Response to our last meeting
mailed-byjpmchase.com

BrownMan, We hope that you and your family are well in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Thank you for contacting us with regard to your situation. Please contact Judith Bess at 212 552 3314 or me at 212 552 6048 when phone service is restored.

Linda Padilla, VP
Corporate Employee Relations
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, 18th Floor
Phone: 212 552 6048
Cell: 516 790 7886
Fax: 212 552 3199


"n019019 n019019" 
09/15/2008 12:13 PM ToLinda.Padilla@jpmchase.com, Linda.Padilla@jpmorgan.com, Linda.Padilla@chase.com
ccChristine.Eckert@jpmorgan.com, Jocelyn.Donat@chase.com

- Show quoted text -

Subject Response to our last meeting

Hi Linda,

Hurricane has decimated most of our ability to communicate. No ability to make or recieve phone calls. Hence writing this email from another location where there is internet access. I realized that my gmail account has been blocked by HR since a week hence resending all my previous emails from another account I created.

Thanks.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, Sep 6, 2008 at 6:12 AM
Subject: Response to our last meeting
To: Linda.Padilla@jpmchase.com, Linda.Padilla@jpmorgan.com, Linda.Padilla@chase.com
Cc: Christine.Eckert@jpmorgan.com, Jocelyn.Donat@chase.com


Linda,

Please see my attached letter with regard to our last meeting. Awaiting your response.

Regards,
"Building a workplace where differences are respected and valued is critical to our future. We have an amazing opportunity in front of us to build the best financial services company in the world. Achieving this depends on having the best people doing their best work. For us, the business case is simple: JPMorgan Chase is a place for talented people from all backgrounds and nationalities. Gender, race, sexual orientation, age and physical ability are just some of the kinds of differences that make people unique — and give us the diversity of perspective that will set us apart. We're committed to ensuring that diversity remains a key priority...our collective diversity is our strength." – Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase

- Show quoted text -

09/02/2008 01:27 PM ToLinda Padilla/JPMCHASE
ccBrenda McKee/JPMCHASE@JPMCHASE
SubjectRe: Fw: Accepted: ER IssueLink

Hi Linda,

Yes I will do per your instructions. I just called Brenda and talked about how we would meet. Thank you.

regards,
Market Risk Technology BAU VaR
"Building a workplace where differences are respected and valued is critical to our future. We have an amazing opportunity in front of us to build the best financial services company in the world. Achieving this depends on having the best people doing their best work. For us, the business case is simple: JPMorgan Chase is a place for talented people from all backgrounds and nationalities. Gender, race, sexual orientation, age and physical ability are just some of the kinds of differences that make people unique — and give us the diversity of perspective that will set us apart. We're committed to ensuring that diversity remains a key priority...our collective diversity is our strength."
– Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase

Corporate Employee Relations - Tel 212 552 6048 Fax 212 552 3199
Linda Padilla/JPMCHASE
09/02/2008 09:44 AM
ccBrenda McKee/JPMCHASE@JPMCHASE
SubjectFw: Accepted: ER Issue


Given that you are in Houston and I am in NY I've arranged for one of my colleagues, Brenda McKee to join our call today. She is located at 712 Main Street in Houston on the 4th Floor. You should enter the building on the south side (lobby). Please give her a call before you leave your office so she can meet you in the lobby and accompany you up. Her number is 713 216 4310.

Linda Padilla, VP
Corporate Employee Relations
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, 18th Floor
Phone: 212 552 6048
Cell: 516 790 7886
Fax: 212 552 3199
----- Forwarded by Linda Padilla/JPMCHASE on 09/02/2008 10:39 AM -----
Calendar Entry


Subject ER Issue

When Date Tuesday 09/02/2008
Time 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM (1 hour)



Where call Linda at 212 552 6048

Chair Linda Padilla/JPMCHASE

Invitees
Required (to)
Optional (cc)

[attachment "4_Letter_to_HR.doc" deleted by Linda Padilla/JPMCHASE]

Disability packet - unsolicited gift from HR

As stated earlier in the FedEx letter I received the CONFIDENTIAL Disability packet asking me to fill up details about physical or mental condition or both!  Yes, believe it, they have done it! professionally with JPM logo on it!



--

Nice! This is the most desperate case of "seizing the opportunity" based on a sick/ooo email. They block themselves hearing from me and want to assume that I have been on a continued state of absence with an unstable mental condition!  

The moment someone from EAP called me I figured where HR was heading; so had bluntly replied. Anyway I have replied to this twice - once as immediate response to 2nd FedEx and then during resend of all my gmails.

Complaining to HR about prejudice and then not agreeing to their verdict is a mental problem? That's tantamount to saying Mahatma Gandhi had a mental problem protesting against the British occupation, Nelson Mandela had a mental problem protesting against the "apartheid" policy of South African whites, Martin Luther King had a mental problem protesting against Slavery, Rosa Parks had a mental problem not giving up her seat etc., etc.,

Let us see if they have any shame at all!

GMAIL address also blocked - goes nowhere!

Note that I had started written communication using Gmail after JPMC blocked my work email access.

On Friday i.e 9/12, I realized that all my emails sent from my Gmail account have not been received by JPMC email servers, they have sort of gone into black hole. I did not recieve any bounced messages back so assumed the recipients had recieved it. I had no idea HR/lower management has indulged in this trick. I realized this only when I was talking to a person CCed on this email when he said he did not recieve that email or any since the Friday before.

No wonder they can assume conveniently - that I am on absence when I have made every effort to contact them to get back to work. My plan is to resend all those emails again from another Gmail account, create a quick temporary one and get it past their servers and then it does not matter. Considering Hurricane Ike and preparation for it I will do it as soon as I get a chance.

* updated later *

Hurricane caused severe damage to communication abilities for next few days. On Monday 9/15 I went to neighborhood location where there was internet access and created another gmail account. Resent all the following gmails again in the order I had sent to the same addressees retaining the timestamp so that JPMC cannot deny that I had this sent earlier.

After Meeting with ER the 3rd Letter
Letter to CEO + senior management again
Unable to work with denial of facilities
Final communication with HR seeking status
Letting coworkers know that I am FOOO
HR's most obscene game ever ..so far
2nd FedEx letter - still cryptic, meeting on 9/15

2nd FedEx letter - still cryptic, meeting on 9/15

Click below. This is the photo of 2nd FedEx letter with some details removed.




I called both Linda from ER and Judith from EAP and left clear voicemails that I have sent the following email and we can talk about this on Monday 9/15.


tolinda.padilla@jpmchase.com

ccjudith.d.bess@chase.com,
brian.fay@jpmorgan.com,
Christine.Eckert@jpmorgan.com,


dateFri, Sep 12, 2008 at 12:09 PM
subject Regarding latest FedEx letter
mailed-bygmail.com



Hello Linda,

I received your overnight FedEx dated 9/10. You have stated that you would like to discuss the following - "status of my current absence, future employment at the firm and disability" by end of today i.e Friday, September 12, 2008.

Let me state the facts on each of these:

1. status of my current absence - I was absent for 3 days in the past. First notifying for a day and then notifying that I will take rest for 2 more days, between dates 9/3-9/5 During those dates my access to work mail and JPMC building was denied. So it's inaccurate to state that absence is "current". Since Monday i.e 9/8 I have tried to be at work. I have written multiple emails in this regard. I waited whole day on Monday but received no communication back regarding this. On Tuesday 9/9 I was outside JPMC building doing satyagraha, I met Brad Breau and spoke with him about lack of communication from JPMC. The effect of that is your FedEx delivery that I received yesterday AM, i.e 9/11. I was outside JPMC building yesterday too. So had my first chance to read your message only yesterday evening. In summary your statement of current absence is inaccurate when actually I have made every effort to be at work since Monday 9/8.

2. future employment at the firm - Yes, we can discuss about this. Since HR lacks a mechanism to handle my case leading to failure to address my case equitably and considering that I cannot perform my duties under current manager let us explore how we can move forward.

3. disability package - I don't understand this at all. I have already made this crystal clear to Judith from EAP. Any attempt to "build a case" in this direction will be ethically wrong and will be a blemish on JPMC with serious reputational risk involved. Be mindful of that.

Here in Houston there is a hurricane alert. I might even have to evacuate. So today is not a good day to discuss. Be prepared to clarify on my concerns stated above when we talk on Monday. I will call you soon to let you know that I have sent this email.

regards,