Amy, that's kind of awful. And I am forced to ask, like msbelle, did you know about it when you took the job? (Boss who did time for rape, ack!)

And Trudy, I'm so sorry--how hard that must be. Good luck to you and your family.

Truday, man--I hope everything resolves well and quickly!

I swear to god, I am getting so familiar with the undersides of the bus--and sometimes I can't even fight with why I got tossed under there--the guy pushing back on the workflow we agreed to months ago is annoying, but my boss telling the new director I'm really artistic, so something like, oh, redesigning the front page of the application for next week's executive presentation just landed in my lap...am I supposed to say I suck?

No, I guess I'll let the pudding do its own proving.

Shit, we now have a company discount at Staples. This can't end well...

I'm editing meaningless SEO-loaded content based on the clients' history, work experience, hobbies. So for a urogynecologist, you get a set of four blog pieces about ... urogynecology, organ prolapse, incontinence, etc.

Then there are clients who are "ID protection," which means we're basically creating a false identity under their name to throw Googlers off the track of their negative items.

Like mug shots, arrest records, articles about the illegal waste dumping they've been doing for years.

When I started, I was supposed to be writing, and a lot of it was going to be pop culture or newsy things, as a contractor. Then I was offered the staff position for more money, and more security, since it's a 9-5 thing. And I had no idea then half of what we do.

I don't even get to edit any of the pop culture/newsy pieces anymore, because we have one girl doing only that, to make sure things are posted in a timely way.

Like I said, I have a job. But every once in a while, I wonder when we're going to get sued, or when we'll get fined for not following, like, standard regulations for workplaces.

A bunch of the writers -- again, contractors -- brought in snacks and cake for one their birthdays. AND beer and wine. And I said to my boss (who is 25, and would do his job high if he could), "Are we sure So-and-So is old enough to drink?" (Some of them are still in college in town.) And I swear to god he looked at me like, "Don't be the uncool old lady."

ETA: I did NOT know what the owner did when I took the job, no. He, of course, says he didn't do it. @@

Oh god, Trudy, all kinds of ~ma to all of you. That's an awful situation.

Wow, Amy. It's a stupid world where you have to feel grateful for that job.

Timelies all!

I'm sorry erika.

~ma to you and yours, Trudy.

All possible good wishes to you and yours, Trudy.

Amy, that's... Um. Isn't that false advertising? Bait and switch? Don't you have some legal recourse--what am I saying, of course you wouldn't. Well crap. Stealth job search, meanwhile? And I'm not surprised it's making you unhappy.

Amy, that's... Um. Isn't that false advertising? Bait and switch?

I get the feeling no one cares because so many of our clients are scum. So.

I'm sorry to complain. Today was just a really bad day, and I'm terrified to ever say anything at work, because people get fired left and right (at least in the sales department). And the truth is, I need this job a lot. At least until I can find something else.

Amy,

no, I can understand why you are uncomfortable and terrified. I have been musing what I would do in your situation and I can't come up with a cogent response that I thought would be helpful to you.

You're in a bad situation with no easy way out, Amy, you are allowed to complain.