Could you do it?

We (my boss, supervisor, and the other assistant manager) had a meeting today because of he-said-she-said crap. The meeting prior to this (which had every employee in the store) my supervisor said if anyone was caught gossiping or starting drama about another employee, they would be terminated on the spot.

Well, the first assistant told me the other assistant had been talking poorly of me. So, clearly... it got back to my manager and she set up a meeting to have it dealt with. I did not want to be in the middle of drama, nor did I want to risk losing my job because of what someone else was saying. My supervisor heard everything that had to be said... and came to the conclusion that the first assistant was the root of it all. Even if the other assistant had been talking about me, it was the first assistant's job to end it there, and not run back to me and gossip about it (which I can agree with).

He said he's firing her. Which means promoting me to her position. Which is a huge promotion -- I'd get 50% of my manager's bonus, a huge raise, 42 hours a week, stuff like that. BUT, the first assistant's husband has cancer. She relies on the company's insurance, and her income to support him. I love her to death and I do not want her to lose her job. I'm not sure if he IS firing her. After the meeting... he told me to send her back because he was letting her go (but I don't know if he had a change of heart after I left... yanno?)

Would you be able to take the position? If he fired her... of course the position will be open. But could you do it? I feel awful. I was shaking the entire way home. I don't WANT her to lose her job. I fought for her to keep her job when he started saying he was firing her. But at the end of the day, it's his decision. I feel like it'd be a slap in her face if I took her position.

Someone make me feel better about this, please  

I would.
She should have used better judgement about it. Yeah it sucks but you need to think your actions through when you are in a high up position.

I'd feel badly but you can't help it she messed up... and it's not like if you deny it, it'll go back to her.  

It's a smurffy situation and i hope she doesn't get fired... but if she does, yeah, I'd take it. I don't know if that makes me a horrible person but you can't make everyone elses' problems your own and not move up in the world.

She shouldn't have spread gossip if its against the rules. It sucks. But I'd take the job.

Yes, I would take it. As much as it sucks, she knew the rules and the consuquences.

Yes, i would. Refusing won't get her her job back and i have kids to feed. I can't turn my nose up at a huge raise.

You are not responsible for her poor choices.

Take the position, guilt-free. You are not the cause of her firing, because you don't control her actions.

Yes I would. If shes not there and you dont fill the position it will just go to someone else.

It sounds like it's really out of your hands. I see no reason for you not to take a position you have earned. I feel bad for the other woman but your boss was right, she had no business taking those things back to you. It's a hard way to learn that lesson but it's one she should have learned by middle school.  

Thanks, guys. I'm still hoping she wasn't fired. But if she is... I'll take it. I could definitely use the extra money (who doesn't?)

I'm waiting on my manager to text me back. I asked if he did fire her.... I'm on pins and needles over here  

I feel for her and her situation, but she made poor choices that led to her termination. Your not in any way responsible and have nothing to feel guilty about. Go for the promotion, and congrats!

I'd feel bad for her but she was the one in the wrong. She's a big girl and made her own choices.

They're going to fill it. Might as well be you.

But lesson learned about giving a smurf what someone else has to say about you.

So what, she talks smurf. Is it going to alter your life or can you just ignore it? Her husband has cancer, she's probably not in a good place and this is just the cherry on top of her smurf Sundae.

I would feel bad, but id take it. For the same reasons everyone else has mentioned.

Quoting Red Bottom:" They're going to fill it. Might as well be you. But lesson learned about giving a smurf what someone ... [snip!] ... ignore it? Her husband has cancer, she's probably not in a good place and this is just the cherry on top of her smurf Sundae."

And that's another thing that was brought up.... that maybe her home life isn't going so well because she has a sick husband, so she comes to work and releases all her angst/aggravations. No, the drama doesn't effect me. BUT, I did want it brought up because my supervisor made it very clear that any gossiping/drama would result in termination. So, I obviously didn't want to be fired because of something someone else was possibly saying about me. So I ended it before it could get that far. And I guess he decided she was the culprit of it all....


IDK. Part of me is hoping he was just being an smurf and didn't really fire her. So I'm holding out.