Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT: 2878-2882 (19-23 January 2015)
ItsNotATumor:
I've read several comments saying that Dora should have put Faye on leave of some sort, with a condition of cleaning herself up. In the US (the real US, not fictional QC US), that's a terrible idea. A manager doing that is opening themselves up to potential liability by having given a verbal expectation that the employment will continue.
Companies used to have things like performance improvement plans, but these have been phased out. Current HR theory is that it's best to just fire immediately. Dora has done the absolute right thing for her company.
(I am not a lawyer, so what I write should not be taken as legal advice)
AnnathEawesoMe:
While we lambaste Dora for making the decision that we all saw coming, let's remind ourselves that Dora is actually a fairly smart human. She is the one who first put into words that Faye has, at the absolute least, an alcohol problem, as early as #981. Except when playing victim to her self esteem, she gives sound advice and has held together the (admittedly horrendous) business of CoD. AngryBoss Dora may have had no choice but to fire Faye, but I personally think that what feelings Dora acts on next will be more telling of her real character. She can either keep holding a grudge and act on the basis of being betrayed by her 2nd in command co-worker and friend, OR calms down and realizes its nothing to do with her, and that Faye is in need of help.
I also sincerely doubt that Faye will go home. Going home would mean facing the reality of being fired, while going to a bar would enable her to keep running from it. What time is today's comic taking place in QC universe? It can't be after noon...
Regardless, Jeph has written this arc exceedingly well and I can't wait to see where this goes.
Woooo first post after reading QC for 4 years and forum lurking for at least 1!
Welu:
A good first post at that.
Svennerson:
Okay so I'm just gonna go ahead and throw in my two cents on a number of questions here that got me thinking:
Was a straight up firing justified? I say so. It's one of the very few hard lines we're given Dora has with her employees. She was very straight with Faye THE DAY BEFORE about not drinking on the job. Dora has full context of Faye's alcoholic tendencies and knows just sending her home, even on unpaid suspension, would not change her issues. In addition, Faye got promoted solely due to her seniority. There is very little in-comic evidence to suggest Faye works harder/smarter/better than another employee would given her experience. Finally, that presents a major immediate liability, which would continue for the forseeable future. Aside from the milk incident, all "harm" given to customers has been solely verbal, which is not something that can be sued over. And the milk incident was not any serious harm. Marten's ex knew she didn't have a leg to stand on between no observable damages and three witnesses who would claim it was an accident.
This could actually hurt someone, and Dora has enough scraps of empathy to not allow that to happen.
The termination is completely justified, and is in my opinion the best course of action Dora could take.
Dora's not being supportive/Faye's being a bitch/This will only spiral Faye downwards/About time Faye gets comeuppance/Screw Dora/Screw Faye
No.
No.
NONONONONO.
These are two reasonable people dealing with stresses the best way they know how. Faye is stuck with a number of issues, especially abandonment and alcoholism, and has been able to continue getting by due mostly to good friends and good luck. This is the first time her issues have led her right into a wall, and her best shot at overcoming them yet. Being mentally scarred and unable to cope properly is an entirely different animal from being selfish. At the same time, Dora's tried being supportive, even gone through the therapy/gym scenario with her, and has found the issues worse. She has a liability to her business and to the hundreds of customers she will likely get that day before Faye.
What will happen next?
There are a hell of a lot of scenarios, so I'm gonna go through a few and their likeliness/my opinions on them because I have nothing better to do.
1 - Dora pulls a turn around and is only giving Faye a temporary suspension. I've seen this a lot on the forum, but I would hate to see this. Faye needs to feel a really bad break, much more than a suspension to get her mind right, and it would remove a lot of Dora's reputation as a lenient-unless-you-do-this-bad-thing boss. I don't think Jeph's gonna go this way, as a full-on drama bomb has been building for a while and it's not gonna defuse that easily.
2 - Faye, without a job or a Marten to rant to/punch/hug/barf on, drunk calls Angus. This is the one I want. It gives a chance for actual closure with Angus and development with Faye. This could also lead to a number of possibilities (LDR, hook-up and move out, some form of closure), and could segue into any of the later options. I have a gut feeling Jeph will do this, but I wouldn't call it likely. But PLS JEPH PLS.
3 - Marten chooses ailing best friend over date with Claire, first argument ensues. I'd argue this is the most likely scenario. Marten, although he's gotten firmer over the past year real time, is still Marten. He's still caring to a fault, easily pushed around, and cares about Faye more than he does anyone (except Claire) at this point. Claire, in her first relationship, and still having a fair amount of self-esteem issues, could easily take this the wrong way, spreading the drama throughout.
4a - Drunk Faye goes to Sven, drunk sex causing nuclear levels of fallout with Dora. Please, Jeph, no. Faye needs a rock right now and might see that in our (least) favorite smarmasaur. Sven is obviously still smitten for Faye, and would love a chance to "prove" himself worthy. The rest of this writes itself, but it seems too easy.
4b - Drunk Faye goes to Sven, Sven actually is a gentleman and turns Faye down. Okay, before anyone asks, no, my name is not in reference to this Sven, it was my online handle before I read QC because I am quarter Swede. I feel like this would be a great opportunity to give character development to two of the least-developed characters in universe, Sven and Faye. It could prove Sven actually deserves a spot in the QC cast and has some shreds of decency, and he could easily be Faye's rock in helping sober up.
5 - Either drunken or sober, Faye gets back into art. I feel like this is the likely long term scenario, as I don't see Faye getting rehired. Faye has been shown to have artistic success (the dino statue commission.) She's gonna need to make rent. And the key to her recovering is to start taking ownership of her actions and her life, instead of riding on Marten and Dora's coattails.
And finally, 6 - Steve eats more cereal. Because duh.
Any questions class?
Meilu:
Never really liked Dora, but anyone that thinks she's wrong for firing Faye is crazy. I've owned my own business, that kind of nonsense being allowed comes back at the employer just as much as the employee. Faye's downward spiral is obvious and Dora's already called her on it, Faye brushed it off. It's all on her. Dora can still be her friend here, depending on how she reacts beyond this.
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