Ironically, Kent's business with The Outside World seemed to be exemplary, above board and beyond reproach, while Kent In The Office continually always created (and worked hard to maintain), a substantially hostile workplace (including but certainly not limited to: sexual harassment [several female workers having quit under Kent's barrages and sexist name calling], theft of labour [withholding and threatening to withhold compensation for labour, under the false guise of such being "contingent" on the company's treasury (when the organization not only had not taken any losses since when I had been hired, but February of 2000 had surpassed the donations of February 1999)...], racial slurs and racial "jokes" as well as sexist slurs and sexist "jokes," Kent's own professed/declared religious bigotry and closed mindedness, and my favourite, giving to his CFO [who ("inadvertently"...?) gave it to me] written and hand-signed instructions that Vee was to commit the criminal and fraudulent act/s against me personally [to wit, without my consent, permission and/or consent, she was unlawfully instructed, to unlawfully alter the amount of allowances on my coerced W4 form], etc.). While this fraudulent and criminal act was stopped before it was implemented, the hand-signed conspiratorial document remained in my possession.

A few times a week Kent would grace my coworker and friend William and I (William smartly resigned a week after I was let go), with what Kent foolishly called "motivational" speeches. We had no idea why he called them so, These calmly delivered 45+ minute ramblings and ravings invariably were comprised of back-handed compliments, outright falsehoods, seemingly as well as outright incoherent babblings, numerous belittling and demeaning statements, all apparently designed to drain the mental lifeforce out of anyone even attempting to follow Kent's nonsensical streams of consciousness (for a good example of Kent's "communication skills" [particularly when asked a direct Yes/No question], reference Paul Winfield's character Dathan in the 5th season Star Trek: The Next Generation episode [#5.2] Darmok...).
Towards the end of my working there, Kent would ask if we/I need "any motivational speeches." I had learned simply to say no and would keep working: Kent clearly was unable to grasp that he has never once ever given to us a motivational speech (probably to anyone), nor would he understand it if pointed out to him that he has no comprehension of the true definition of such words as "motivation," "inspiring" "uplifting," etc.
I had never wanted to be fired from a job as much as from this one... J
I got my wish February 25th (the day my friend's first child Holly was born).
At work I had had to leave early for an audition, about which Kent was fully aware. As I reached the elevator around the corner from the doors, I heard Kent coming out his door and heading in to where William and I worked. That evening William and I met up at the hospital to visit our friend, still in labour until the next day. William relayed that he believed Kent planned to fire me; that he and Vee had come in and found I'd already left, and that with disappointment Kent said to Vee they'd missed their chance. It sure sounded as though he was hoping to waylay me before I left for the audition with my termination, but had delayed a few minutes too long. Ironically it was mere seconds. I was already out of sight before I'd heard the doors; had I wondered enough as to what Kent may have wanted, I would have stepped into his trap.
So I was prepared. The first thing I did in the morning was pack up every piece of personal stuff of mine I had and stowed it to bring home. I proceeded to work after making sure no files remained on the computer that could be construed as personal.
Kent came in around 10am, and handed me an envelope in which was a simply written memo thanking me for my work but that "due to lack of funds," I was being let go. Also included was a check to cover the week's work to the end of that day.
Kent had a sharp mind but based on results was not entirely bright. Due to the wording of the memo, and the checking paying me to the end of that day, I thanked him and wished him luck... and proceeded to continue to work at my station. After all, I was paid to the end of that day. J
Predictably, Kent's mind couldn't wrap around the reality, plus he could never handle my finding it so easy to mess with him. He stood over me, utterly baffled not only as to why I was still working for the pay I'd just received, but stymied as to what to say or do. Eventually he had to say outright he pretty much wanted me to leave Right Then.
"Oh," I said in mock innocence. "I thought I was paid to the end of today." I retrieved my stuff and left.
William later reported the following dialogue took place the instant the door closed behind me:
"Well, I guess that gives you some incentive, huh?"
"Uh... what incentive?" William replied, puzzled.
"Well, if I can fire Badger, I can fire anyone," Kent said jovially, strongly reminding him I had less job security that I must have thought I had.
According to William, Kent began to imply William start to add my work duties to his job description. "I can't do that, Kent," William said politely.
Kent was surprised, and asked why not, to which William reminded him that he and Kent had only just reached their written, contractual agreement for William's pay amount being only for the substantial work William was already doing. If Kent wanted William to add my job duties to the work William was already doing, he and Kent would have to work out another pay raise to compensate for the new amount of work. William let it hang in the air that for William to do any of my work, Kent would have to add to William's pay the amount Kent had been paying me... Characteristically, Kent realized too late what a mistake he had made letting me go.

One of the most baffling aspects while I worked there, was of Kent's sincere, frequent and deliberate challenges to me that I sue him. This was no joke on his part; in front of witnesses he had insisted I "give it [my] best shot" (usually after he had learned I was aware of some of his more unlawful doings, or asking a clarifying question that demonstrated Kent had been caught in another lie). Considering a local Attorney General openly hated Kent but at the time could not "get anything" on Kent (as the businesses with The Outside World are all legal and above board), I began to ponder whether said Attorney General would want to get Kent on a more personal level of unlawfullness, such as violating numerous and various labour laws...

One of Kent's last stunts (while I worked there), was to threaten his workers with unlawful theft [via an unsigned] memo, declaring he might Simply Not Pay Us our compensation for current labour: that we might be paid "contingent upon the availability of funds in the association's treasury." The memo (the content of which I'm certain violated several Labour Laws), went on through implication to threaten the probable closure of the currently thieving [yet at the time simultaniously being a] substantially profitable charity and that workers for Kent Stryker/NAAM should "seek more stable employment."

It is ironic that Kent had the nerve to be surprised when William did exactly as the memo suggested, and found himself a far better job, both in atmosphere and compensation for his labour.

Knowing Kent, he could easily have chosen to falsely file for "bankrupty protection," in an unlawful effort not to pay his workers before paying (or pretending to pay), other creditors.
When it was pointed out to Kent that he had neglected to sign the memo, he calmly tore it up in my face (thankfully, apart from retaining the torn version, I'd already made a photocopy, "for future reference"...).

The most amusing was the final act: with William having found his better position, he waited until a few days before his final week there to notify Kent that his last day would be Friday. Kent freaked out and became all blustery.
"What what what...?" he stammered. "But, you're giving me no notice!"
Without a trace of guilt at getting to say it, William replied, "I'm giving you far more notice than you gave Badger..."

Don't just take my word for it; check out some of these independent sites:

Update
Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Kent karma

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