Wow, that's insane.

Vonnie, I think it's also not out of line to just say to him "oh, I got your friend request the other day--I don't like to friend coworkers/direct reports/etc on Facebook" or something. He doesn't know when you got/noticed it, and it could clue him in. I've said that to former coworkers (and occasionally friended them after one of us doesn't work there anymore). Or possibly suggest Linked-In to him.

Thanks for the good wishes.

Also - the job search process just keeps getting nuttier. Why would anyone want a job that pays less then the one they had before? Or are employers assuming that you (random jobseeker) are currently unemployed and desperate?

I think what they want to do is say: you earned $60K last year, we offered you $70K, that is clearly too high from what you earned last year, so we are going to pay you $65K instead.

sumi,

I just read. 'ma to you!

Yeah, it justifies not paying what the job is worth, even if it's a promotion.

Me, I shall probably have to submit a W-2 if/when I get the offer for the job I'm currently doing, because they will offer it to me at the bottom of the grade, and I will say, "No, I won't take a pay cut," and they will hem and haw and then ask for proof of my current salary. And then it takes them six weeks to get approval to match what I'm making now, as a contractor. (If they even can: I suspect I'll take a pay cut in exchange for much better benefits and a retirement plan.)

Corporations should not seek to profit at the expense of the good of their employees. That's just evil.

I had a temp job at a credit card company in San Francisco. They offered to hire me permanently, but at the same rate of pay (plus benefits). I told them I wouldn't accept the offer unless they gave me a raise. They said no, so I didn't end up staying.

It was annoying because I was hired to do data entry in Excel, but by the time I left I was doing database programming. Meanwhile, my pay rate hadn't changed.

Can we ask to see the company tax returns before we decide what to pay for their services?

Sumi, I hope the thing is easily dealt with.

People with 3.5" floppy discs, don't throw them out! Many, many lighting consoles use those discs and they are harder to find. Ask your local theatre if they'll take donated discs. edit - ask if the lighting department could use the discs. People in the office probably won't know.

aurelia - excellent idea.