At approximately 3:45 PM on Friday October 16, 2009, Employee, and General Manager of GGRC, Joe Thomas accosted my wife Janet in the laundry room of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.
Janet had been talking with Janice, head of housekeeping, while she did laundry. A few minutes after Janice left, while Janet was alone in the laundry room, Employee Joe stormed into the room, yelling that she was to NEVER talk with his employees again about anything. Thomas then backed Janet into a corner crowding her personal space by approaching her within inches of her face and body.
Thomas then repeatedly demanded that Janet recite word for word exactly what she had said to Janice. In spite of Janet telling Bully Joe to get out of her face and leave her alone, he continued to act in a threatening manner – continuing to corner her using his big bulk to try and tower over and intimidate my 5′3″ 110 lb wife – and not allowing her to escape his pinning her in the corner.
Fortunately, Janet does not intimidate easily – and she made it clear to Employee Joe that HE was the employee, that we pay his salaries, that he had zero right to talk to her like that, that he has no power or authority to attempt to control who she speaks to….employees, other owners or guests of Deer Ridge…nor does he have any right to control what is said or even to know what was said. She tried to make it clear, even to him, that Americans – and even Deer Ridge owners – are FREE to express their opinions about anything they want, to whomever they want, whenever they want – without dictatorial censorship.
This is not the first time that Employee Joe has attempted to intimidate other owners at Deer Ridge…especially those of us who “do not toe the RML line.” We have been told of several instances where this petty tyrant employee has had delusions of adequacy and importance and feigned authority over owners…even to the point of threatening owners with, “You better watch your back.”
This is also not the first time we have reported bad behavior by Petty Tyrant Joe Thomas at DeerRidgeOwners.com: Please click the following link from March 2007:
Employee Joe Attempts to Enforce Dictatorial Censorship of All Deer Ridge Owners
Luther, this indefensible, deplorable and totally inappropriate behavior by YOUR employee is completely unacceptable in every sense of the word. While we are investigating whether we can press criminal charges against Joe Thomas for his actions yesterday, we DEMAND that you finally do something to control YOUR employee. If GGRC chooses to continue to ignore these antics of its employee, GGRC risks being held legally culpable for his actions.
We demand that you and the Board finally take immediate disciplinary actions against Employee Joe Thomas including providing us with:
- A copy of your letter of reprimand to Employee Joe about his deplorable behavior – including language about his immediate termination on the next occurrence of ANY attempted intimidation or threats to any owner or their guests. Also, this letter of reprimand should clearly state that Employee Joe is to NEVER talk with Janet again unless another female employee is present.
- A written letter of apology from Joe Thomas to Janet, on GGRC letterhead.
- Stating that he was completely out of line to approach her and attempt to intimidate her.
- Stating that she has every right to talk with any employee, guest or owner that she wishes to without limit.
- That he promises to never talk with her again in any threatening manner.
- That another woman employee will always be present for any future conversation with any woman owner or guest.
- A statement of policy signed by you, on GGRC letterhead, clearly stating that:
- Any owner or visitor to Deer Ridge has the total right to talk with, or communicate with in any manner, any other owner, employee or guest of Deer Ridge
- Without limitation as to when, where or topic
- Without any need whatsoever to report to Employee Joe
- That any and all employees of GGRC and RML have the right to talk with and communicate with ALL owners – including us. (Apparently, Petty Tyrant Joe has demanded that employees not talk or communicate with us. We both personally very much like the staff at Deer Ridge – all of them are GREAT folks – and we regret that they have been caught in the middle with Employee Joe’s tirades.)
- Any owner or visitor to Deer Ridge has the total right to talk with, or communicate with in any manner, any other owner, employee or guest of Deer Ridge
Deer Ridge is our home – and we will NOT allow the hired help to ever do this again – to us – or to any other owner.
Luther, your very questionable impotent management style of blithely overlooking and ignoring serious problems at Deer Ridge cannot be used for this obscene behavior by your employee. Good management would dictate that you immediately terminate Joe Thomas with cause. Please act accordingly.
At a minimum, we demand IMMEDIATE action as described above – or GGRC will bear the legal consequences.
Robert A-202
PS: We encourage other owners who have suffered any kind of attempted intimidation by Petty Tyrant Joe Thomas to post comments to this blog posting below describing what happened. Employee Joe has apparently depended in the past on owners not having a forum to compare his attempts at intimidation. I am hopeful that this blog helps solve that problem – and will let the light of day expose all of the questionable actions of both Joe Thomas and the Board.
Tags: freedom of speech, threats, Joe Thomas, intimdation, impotent management style, obscene behavior, Fire Joe Thomas, RML, Petty Tyrant, Board of Directors, hired help
Janet,
I am sorry this has happened to you. I can truly understand how you feel.
I also know the odd behavior and timing of Joe Thomas. I have explained some of this with Luther Parker a long time ago with Debra Coogle present. Other topics, as well.
Like Janet and Robert, no one is going to tell me whom I can or cannot speak with. Not while I am living in the USA.
However: Please, realize and all must, that the employee’s must not speak with us, or whomever they may be ‘instructed not to talk to’ at any given time. Simply in order to keep their jobs. This is not new procedure. It has been going on for YEARS, or since I have owned here. I am sure long before that. I know, as well as the employee’s both sides of the ‘no-tel’ fence very well. They will not be permitted to speak candidly on this either, or may have to deny. Incorrigible.
So, if the board wishes to contemplate how and why all this happens (along with all other Deer Ridge Owners) this is also just a ‘portion’ of what can and does occur here. Hard to imagine, or even BELIEVE, I realize. If it had not happened to Janet, I am sure she would not have understood. Been there, seen and heard it and I understand.
Living here is a Blessing. Some things should never be tolerated.
I have experienced having the Employee being afraid to speak more than a few words to me, even though I have never brought up anything that would be a sensitive subject, it’s always been personal and small talk…
Neil,
Yes, me as well. I do not put anyone in jeopardy. From an employee’s standpoint, ‘repercussions’ from management would be astronomical and detrimental for anyone saying anything.
I have never witnessed anything quite like this. Strong arm technique and a control factor. This creates the no-tel motel.
Luther Parker, as your Board president, has not responded even on this indefensible, deplorable and totally inappropriate behavior by General Manager Joe Thomas.
Once again, it appears that the Board will do nothing to control their out-of-control Employee Joe – no matter what. Their lack of action, and their implicit approval of Joe’s assault on Janet opens up the GGRC HOA to all kinds of potential claims.
Makes you wonder what Luther’s pecking order of priorities must be as Deer Ridge President?
We are already considering getting a court-ordered peace bond filed against Employee Joe for his accosting Janet in the laundry room. If anything like that EVER happens again, we won’t even hesitate a day. Then, again, we may even make what has already happened part of the upcoming litigation – and get that peace bond in place before he tries anything like that again.
Maybe some day the Board members will get their collective heads out of other body parts – and attempt to manage this property with at least some small measure of competence – and the correct priorities.