Don't have any more guilt feelings because you are not through with her YET. While temping in Phoenix, I got to see people coming and going often enough to know the drill. Now she will file for unemployment compensation, of which you will be forced to pay half, and she will also file a complaint with the same bureau, charging unfair termination. You are going to have to fill out paperwork for them and probably get several phone calls asking why you won't take her back. Nope, it ain't over yet, good luck :headshake

once upon a lifetime i was an HR director. i know exactly what is in store. i also know that her transgressions are documented so fully that any attorney will walk away from her during the discovery period. i have no fear in this area.

i do have heartburn that a 60 year old woman will spend the rest of her miserable life fealing that i cheated her, wronged her, ________ her. she truly does believe she is without fault in the matter. i am comfortable with my decision. i still feel sorrow for one who is so deep in their delusions.

If she's that old, my friend, this is not the first time she has put her neck in the noose. Unless she recently got on drugs, or stopped taking her meds, this behavior did not spring fully-developed when she went to work for you. Not knowing how well you checked her references, I can only assume her resume made you feel she was qualified. She sounds like a borderline hysteric, a liar, and more than a little incompetent. The "blaming the boss" part is just her self-justification mechanism, she probably thinks the whole world is conspiring against her and nobody recognizes her true worth because there is something wrong with all of THEM instead. You were just too nice about the whole thing, she took advantage of that. This was not by any means your fault, you are just lucky she didn't come after you with that letter opener.

BTW, where were YOU when I was looking for an ethical and considerate boss to be completely devoted to? :D Maybe it was just as well, hiring me might have been a jinx. It got to be a joke every time I had to update my resume in Phoenix, any company which hired me full-time went out of business. Happened 3 times, and it was extra-frustrating because my manager was always a really fantastic person with a really sharp mind who had a lot of confidence in me.

A) my firm has been around since 1871 and are the most diversified in the industry, give us a try - we probably won't go out of business this year.

B) i didn't hire her, i inherited. several others didn't have the backbone/stamina/cruelty to deal with her and chose to relocate instead.

C) she really does believe she is faultless. her mental illness is not my problem

D) "the bitch is goooone" /the heat is on/

E) sorry i won't hire a liberal. (just effing kidding)

My judgment is that the capitalist pig did very, very well in the situation.

seriously though - EVERYONE - thanks for you support. part of the problem of being self employed is not having any real safety/support net behind you. you all have really been my support net during this time.

i couldn't have done it without you. (of course i probably couldn't get my business to the next level if i could get to the cellar during working hours either :o )

She sounds like a master of manipulation -- despite having no redeeming social skills and making life miserable for everyone around her, she manages to get people to feel sorry for her. She needs to work down in the trenches again before she retires -- an assembly job or something. Being one of the hive will knock alot of that BS out of her.

Sad story, but you don't need her brand of grief lookout. g/j