Vile Adam Store

Yesterday, I opened the Vile Adam CafePress store dedicated to Advance America. It features over 150 items with the tag line "I believe Advance America (Cash Advance) promotes a hostile work environment. Here is a sample shirt from the store:

 

VileAdam

I started a new twitter account @VileAdam. I am going to retell my wife's story using it. I have to admit, my motivation is not pure. Advance America made Amy's life a living hell and I cannot let it go...

Three Months to the Day

Amy started her new job today. She is very excited even though it took three month. I held off publishing this blog until she was employed again.

Laid Off

Amy was laid off today. You would not believe the relief I heard in her voice when she called to give me the news. Good Riddance Advance America!

Going Julie

Today an Advance America customer coined a new term. He or she jokingly told Amy that if they didn't get their way they were going to "Go Julie on her", similar to going postal. Julie Z. was not mortified by this but was rather proud. She remarked that she would have to use that term herself.

Late from Lunch

Julie Z. verbally reamed Julie M. today for being eight minutes late getting back from lunch. Julie Z. then took her lunch and was fifteen minutes late. Leading by example?

Home Late

It's 7:20 and Amy is not home yet. I wonder if she had a good day...

Throwing Out the Trash

A couple days ago Amy brought the trash home from her work. She didn't throw it out in the dumpster behind the center because every time she went out there was a vagrant by the dumpster. This man has evidently been picked up by the police a couple times. It was on Wednesday because when we got home we took our garbage can to the curb for Thursday pickup. We ended up just adding Advance America's trash to our own. Amy commented that the Julie's next take the trash out. We were throwing away a pizza box from Daisy's visit on the 17th.

Checking Her Out

Amy tells me that her co-workers are constantly "checking her out", especially when she wears dresses. It makes her rather uncomfortable. I'm thinking this is harassment; sexual harassment?

Magazine

The Julies were looking at a magazine while Amy finished End of Day this evening. If you want proof ask for the video; Amy says they were doing it in range of the cameras.

Cinderella

It occurred to me in the shower today that Amy is Cinderella to the Julie's ugly step-sisters. There does not appear to be a Fairy Godmother or Prince Charming in this version so far.

Trust Advance America?

Amy stated today that she does not trust Advance America and she feels that her job would be in jeopardy if she formally filed discrimination or harassment charges against Julie Z. She also stated that she feels this way since the company has not done anything to address the issues at the Longmont Center since they were first brought to upper management's attention.

The Bitch is Back

Amy came home in tears today. Julie Z. is back to her nasty ways. I have asked Amy to document the demeaning treatment she received and send it to Alan.

A New Leaf, Yeah Right!

Julie Z's desire to turn over a leaf and no longer be the Ebenezer Scrooge at the Longmont Center lasted all the way to today. After being out for surgery for two days the old Julie Z. is back with a vengeance. She is looking for all the things Amy and Julie M. failed to accomplish during her absence, nothing. Berating Amy for not completing work in the proper fashion. (Except the task, paper clipping certain papers together has never been a procedure at the Longmont Center.) As well as dressing down Amy in from of customers. At 2:15 a customer came in and Amy had her start on her paperwork. Amy then went to Julie and asked if she should take the customer since she was scheduled for lunch at 2:30. Julie did not seem to understand the reason for the question. After trying to explain and giving up, Amy went back to her window. Julie immediately came up and told Amy to go to prepare to go to lunch. Monutes later she ask Amy in a sarcastic tone, in from of the customer "What is taking you so long?". Amy was actually logging out at the time.

A New Leaf

A couple days ago Julie Z. told Amy that she was going to turn over a new leaf; she had an epiphany. After watching A Christmas Carole she realized she was Ebenezer Scrooge. She has decided to be a nicer person.

We shall see...

Advance America's Creed

I was browsing today and ran across Advance America's Creed. I wonder if I should forward this to Julie Z, especially the highlighted portion.

Respect Your Customers
- Treat them with dignity and courtesy at all times.
Respect Your Associates: 
- Treat them as you would like to be treated.
Respect Yourself
- Work hard and use good, ethical judgment in everything you do.
Respect the Law
- It is there to protect us and our Customers.

January Schedule

Amy got her January 2011 work schedule today, three days before the start of the month. This is the earliest she has gotten a work schedule since she started with Advance America.

In a Funk

Within the first two weeks of starting with Advanced America, Amy was tasked with closing the Longmont center by herself. Amy had the early lunch and came back for Julie Z. to take hers. Part way through her lunch, Julie called the center and told Amy that she was not coming back. She was "in a funk" and needed to take the rest of the day off.

(Exact date needed)

Work Hours

Amy started work at 9:00 this morning and did not get lunch until after 2:15. I wonder if she got a break...

Over Time

Generally over time is not allowed by Advance America, at least that is Amy's understanding. On the other hand, Amy is scheduled for 41 hours the week of New Years. To me that would indicate she is authorized for an hour of over time. I wonder how this will play out...

Christmas Bonus

Amy found out today that Julie Z. is one of five center managers getting a Christmas bonus. Is it fair to assume this is an award for the manner in which she treats her staff?

Amy had an OK day at work. Julie Z. was not scheduled.

Julie Z. called in sick today. Amy had to work the day by herself.

Assisting Advance America on Twitter

UAdvanceAmerica: If you had $100 extra to give away, who or what would you give it to and why? www.uadvanceamerica.net/holidaysweeps -@UAdvanceAmerica


dMagy: @UAdvanceAmerica Your link appears to be wrong -@dMagy


UAdvanceAmerica:  @dmagy Thank you so much! It's www.advanceamerica.net/holidaysweeps -@UAdvanceAmerica

Amy worked from 8:00 to 4:00 without a break. She had lunch from 4:00 to 5:00 and punched out around 7:30.

Amy was asked by Julie Z to work with some customers that were coming in because she was best suited for the task. When they got there, Amy was told that Julie Z. had been quite rude to them. They asked who the manager was. When Amy pointed out Julie Z, they asked who her manager was. Amy directed them to the comment page on the web.

Julie Z. was actually the banker at the end of the day. Amy noticed she had too much money in her own drawer. She wanted to get rid of the extra because she knew it was company policy, but especially because Julie Z. had yelled (literally) at her previously for this infraction. This time however, Julie Z. did not have time to take the money since she was too busy and that Amy should just keep the money in her drawer. An hour later when she decided she did have the time, Julie Z. did not know the process to transfer the cash to the vault. When Amy explained that it was an easy process, Julie Z. took offense at Amy supposedly condescending attitude.

December Schedule Part 2

Amy got her December schedule today.Two days after the month started. She is scheduled for more hours than she is allowed to work.

Written Up

Amy was written up today for my actions on Twitter.I really wonder if this is legal...

Here are some inaccuracies in the document:

1. My previous twitter activity about Advance America was during the week of May 16, not June.

2. My tweet in May did not make a disparaging remark about the Center Manager of 807. It was a statement of opinion that Advance America promotes a hostile work environment. At the time I did not reference Julie Z. at all.

3. Amy never assured Advance America that I would not tweet again. In fact, Alan requested through Amy that I remove my tweet, which I did. It was also conveyed that it would be understandable if the tweet was reposted if the situation was not rectified in the future.

Questions:

Is it legal for Amy to be written up for my actions? She was not aware of at least some of the tweets until Advance America brought them to her attention.

How can my actions be in violation of the Advance America policy? I am not in their employ.

Legal Threats

Though not part of the document, Amy was also verbally threatened with legal action against me if I did not stop my online activities in regards to Advance America.

Twitter Account Disabled

At 3:30PM Amy called me while on her lunch break and asked me to take down the Twitter account: AdAmLongmont. I did so immediately though I did save the account information and 3 tweets on my cell phone. 

Unsent Letter of Response

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing in response to the counseling my wife received at work today. First, I assure you that I have deactivated the @AdamLongmont account I created on Twitter. Just so you know, Amy had nothing to do with the account’s creation or the posts I placed on it. At this time, I intend to not post anything else about your organization. On the other hand, if at some point in the future I feel the environment at Advance America is so hostile that it would be better if Amy was I fired, I may change my mind.

I would also like to point out some inaccuracies in your document. The week of May 16^th I posted the following on Twitter: (Complete with the misspelling of environment)

“I believe Advance America promotes a hostile work enviroment, specifically at the Longmont location.” -@dMagy

I think you will have to agree that this is not a disparaging remark about the Longmont’s center supervisor. She is not mentioned in the tweet. If you do believe this to be about her, I must assume you also believe her to be directly responsible for said hostile work environment.

As for Amy stating that I would no longer post about your organization, that is also inaccurate. At the time, Amy conveyed to me a request from Alan to remove the above post, which I did. It was also conveyed to me an understanding that it would be reasonable if the tweet was reposted if the situation had not improved.

Finally, I very specifically did not use your logo mark. I created one that resembled yours but used a different font for the dollar sign and different star. I do not know if I differentiated enough if you decide to sue me.

Sincerely,

Daniel P. Magyar

Tweet

"Saturday her boss "forgot" to do the End of Day. Amy had to do that before doing her Start of Day work on Monday morning." - @adamlongmont

Tweet

"It is November 30th and the December schedule is not yet posted." - @adamlongmont

Tweet

"I am using this account to document my wife's daily tales from Advance America - Longmont." - @adamlongmont

Account Creation

Being very frustrated I decide to document the awful treatment Amy is subject to at Advance America. I create the Twitter account AdamLongmont. I created a logo for the account that I intentionally make somewhat different than the company's.

My Logo

Official Logo

Tweet

“I believe Advance America promotes a hostile work enviroment, specifically at the Longmont location.” -@dMagy

I do not have the exact date and time of this tweet, but my blog recorded it in This Weeks Tweets on May 16, 2010:

Your Stories

Please use the Post a Comment space below and tell us us about your experience with Advance America.