From sclark@best.com Mon Mar 16 08:54:24 1998 Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 15:02:14 -0700 From: clark To: fkfanfic@merlin.darkmage.net Subject: Equal Opportunity This is a short bit of fluff. An imagined conversation. Feel free to pass any feedback back my way. And, as always, this is based on characters and situations that aren't mine. Thanks to TPTB for the use. They've been hermetically sealed and placed carefully back in the original wrapper. No permission is granted to repost/reprint/reuse. If you're interested, drop me a line. "Equal Opportunity" (01/01) by S. Clark "You found all of this out after he finished his probationary period?" "Well, you know, there are certain things we can't ask before the applicant is hired." "I suppose not. He probably has protected minority status." "I haven't checked, but..." "We'll just assume yes." "That would be prudent." "And it did take a while for certain... problems... to surface." "It always does." "How has work performance been?" "Fine. Above average, even." "I don't suppose there's a medical reason to dismiss him." "We've got a note from his doctor declaring him fit for duty." "His doctor? From the company health plan?" "Actually, he has a private physician." "Really? Found one that makes housecalls? I suppose that would be necessarily, most offices aren't open at night. Is there a way to dispute the findings?" "I believe we could consider her an specialist. She's a coroner." "Naturally." "Besides, I'm concerned instituting new health regulations, minimum blood pressure, minimum pulse, at this juncture without demonstrated cause could be actionable." "Oh, quite true. We certainly don't need exposure to lawsuits. But if he's fit for duty. And doing his duty, what's the problem?" "It's the women?" "The women?" "Yes, the women in his department." "Has he attacked someone? Frightened someone?" "No, quite the opposite, actually. They find him charming. They're infatuated with him." "That's not fully unusual." "No mam, but it is proving to be an impediment to productivity." "Excuse me?" "The women from his department, and even several associated departments, are spending so much time trying to attract his attention their productivity is failing." "So, while he's productive..." "...the overall department output has declined by 40%. And, as I mentioned, the effects are beginning elsewhere, as well." "This is a problem. The board will not like this." "He's waiting outside, would you like to meet him?" "He's here? Of course." "Please, enter, Mister de Brabrant. And thank you for waiting."