No good deed goes unpunished

IT manager pilot fish at this government-owned utility is proud of his work: He's done award-winning network designs, has lots of nines for his server uptime and hasn't had a virus outbreak in eight years.

But one day, he gets an odd request from his boss: to go to the home of the utility's general manager and fix her computer.

"Seems the GM moved and now her Internet access won't work," says fish. "I think the problem is probably a bad router, but since I can't get the GM to return my calls, I really don't know for sure."

Fish's boss makes an appointment for fish to meet the GM's son at the house. Fish gets there and discovers that the problem is indeed a damaged wireless router. He swaps out the router, tests the system and then returns to the office.

The GM is not happy. Turns out the GM's husband had put on a badly engineered antivirus program that's now blocking the GM's ability to check personal e-mail from her laptop.

Next day, fish goes back to the GM's house and removes the offending software. He recommends that the GM purchase a different antivirus program.

GM's husband puts his antivirus program back on the PC.

The GM is not happy.

Husband then talks to GM, questioning fish's abilities.

GM talks to fish's boss and requests that she hire a local outsourcing company to fix GM's computer issues at her house.

Boss calls the outsourcers, and two techs are scheduled to make the house call. But before they head out, they talk to fish, who fills them in on the problem.

Techs go to the GM's house and call fish to ask what they should do. Fish steps them through what needs to be done, which includes replacing the bad antivirus program. They finish, test everything and leave.

"The next day, I get a message from the GM through my boss," says fish. "The GM has 'lost confidence in my abilities.' I am then advised that maybe it's time for me to move on.

"One week later, I find a job and put in my notice."

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