2009 Terminated employees in Oregon

Looking for all former Farmers Insurance employees who have been terminated during the end of the 2008 year and throughout the 2009 year whether for alleged lack of performance or for misconduct/integrity issues of any kind. There is a substantial list already being made and we would like to add additional people to the list. Especially would like to hear from those people of a protected class, especially, those, but not limited to those over 40 or with documented disabilities. Additonally, would like to hear from those people terminated for misconduct and what Farmers gave as a reason. There are a number of attorneys throughout the state that are currently working on a number of claims and we would like to direct as many additional people as possible to these various attorneys to see if you too have claims against Farmers. If you have had experiences in these areas personally or with others you know please direct them to this site to provide feedback.

We would also like to gather information on certain individuals in regards to these terminations. We are looking for information on cases involving any of the following individuals, including, Gill Wiseman (Zone Director), Cheryl Hartley (HR), Jared Hansen (Former Oregon State Manager), and Linda Nelson (VP overseeing Oregon)

If you believe you may have a claim and have not yet been in contact with an attorney please leave your information and we can place you in contact with one. The more people who file individual suits the better as this will draw more attention to Farmers Ins and we can hit them where it hurts.

At this time we are only interested in helping those formerly employed in Oregon who were terminated during the dates listed above. We are aware that this has been happening across the country, so eventually, a group can be started for other states.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2009 07:25PM by administrator.

Forgot to mention that this post is in regards to wrongful terminations or discrimination leading to termination whi no merit. As some may not feel comfortable leaving contact information, please do not do so at this point. Please leave an annonymous post sharing your personal experience in these areas if you were recently terminated, laid off, forced to resign or retire, or demoted in the state of Oregon. If you are a former Farmers employee from the state of Oregon, please acknowledge any of the employees listed above, who were involved n your situation.

AT a later date we can direct those that post to a local attorney or law firm if needed. The purpose at this tme is to expose the wrong doings of Farmers Ins. to its employees and customers alike and to those entertaining becoming either.

Good Day
ExFarmer

Though I was not employed in Oregon, I was employed by the Michigan Property office and terminated for alleged "Misconduct" for the following reasons:
1. Made a comment to a fellow employee regarding what the Regional Manager, James Taylor, referred to her as a "Manipulator of the system" along with another Claim Adjuster in Illinois. Taylor stated that these comments were "Confidential amongst management". Clear violation of their precious "Values and Norms"of not to say anything about anyone without being able to tell it to their face.
2. Sending an email to the staff asking how I can improve myself after being accussed by the Current newbie manager, David Martin, that there were "grumblings amongst the staff over my behavior. Funny I investigated this and only one employee had an issue with me and that was because of her poor performance.

Clear to me that based upon statements made by moron Martin that they were terminating me because of my age. Have filed EEOC complaint. Does anyone have others subject to Farmers current cost cutting of experienced employees making good salaries getting axed for BS reasons to cut their salary to fatten the big boys profits. That would be in the protected class 40 and above. If you do or if there are others organizing for potential class suit, please let me know.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2010 05:43PM by administrator.

Have anyone in Michigan willing to pursue this. Would like to get Farmers and put them where they belong.

Our group is aware of numerous acts of discrimination in the state of Oregon and Washington State. These involve such things as age discrimination, whistle blowing for age and wage discrimination, disability discrimination, etc. We are also aware that this has taken place in every state that Farmers does business over the last year. It is an obvious cost cutting measure. Perfect reason to eliminate employees over 40, who were good performers, because they are grandfathered into the old pension plan, right???? For those who are not aware, Farmers purchased 21st Century Insurance and the word is getting out that this may have been a bad purchase up front and that Farmers may be suffering from this and thus they are slashing jobs through firing instead of layoffs in order to make it look like revenues are the same or higher then in the past.

Since others have started to respond to the post, please open up the forum, lets start getting the discussion going among those employeed or formerly employeed in all states that Farmers does business.

If you want to keep your name annoymous that is ok. If you had a similar situation in the state of Oregon however, and would like to speak to an attorney, please let us know. If you are a former Oregon employee please share your experiences with the Oregon leadership mentioned above. Its time to get the word out.

For other state,our hope is that others will talk and that all wronged will be able to get legal councel and get justice. A recommendation is that each person file independent claims against Farmers as this will in the long run draw more attention to their wrong doing and will cost the company alot more money and resources.

This will not be an easy process, but by all working seperately, but together, we can tighten the noose around Farmers neck and put a stop to their behaviours.


Additionally, would like to hear from all who worked under the "Service Power" inspection scheduling program. This is gathering increased attention as a devise that infact creates a need for employees to not only work overtime (for which the company does not want to pay), but also removes the ability for employees to take law mandated breaks and lunches. If you worked under this system or still do, please share your experiences and we recommend to seek legal representation as you may be owed additional wages by Farmers.

Oh I can assure you that none of us take the law mandated breaks or even the whole 45 minutes for lunch. This program inheritently is non workable with the wage laws. You can hit the whole state of Texas on this one.

I agree that something needs to be done here. Farmers seems to be having a field day with this.I was just about to turn 43 when I was terminated. I'm also diabetic, requested an ADA accomodation when I was ill and was turned down and ultimately terminated.
The difficult thing with working seperately is some (if not most) don't have the finances to hire an attorney to handle this. Not every attorney will be willing to take a case on a contigency basis. I was told to take a case through Federal Court (if it got that far) would cost about $75K. After being unemployed for 15 months, I know there is no way I could handle that. I'm actually eating glucose tablets for lunch because I have no money for food. I started working again in April but, it's not get easy getting out of the financial hole after 15 months of being unemployed.
If somebody did have the resoures to file suit, Farmers will use every stall tactic in the book knowing the average person could not financially carry on that long.
I always thought if a news program 20/20, Dateline etc... picked up a story on Farmers, it would be a proverbial punch in the gut to Farmers.
Maybe if attorneys saw something on a news program, word would get out and the attorneys would be willing to pursue such cases. Attorneys would possibly start reaching out to assist the jilted workers.
As you said, not an easy task but, there has to be some recourse for us. Farmers shouldn't be allowed to continue their corrupt behavior for the sole purpose of having a perpetual hard on aginst the rest of the world.

Make sure you focus on the performance objectives in yearly performance plans. Quite frequently, objectives aren't even set in stone until mid way through the year or later... or, objective change multiple times throughout the year. Employees are never really sure what goals they are working toward, and in some cases are retroactively held to certain ones. This is a huge problem with the company. I would make sure to follow the changes.

As far as 21st goes, I think the previous post was right to an extent. 21st is an enormous auto carrier. Right around the time the 21st merger was in the works, a Farmers Executive announced that Farmers was overstaffed in the Auto line of business. They wrote it off to ServicePower, but it seems more logical it was due to the soon-to-be-announced 21st merger. And then the firings and layoffs began. Kirkland, WA was hit especially hard.

Ethics and Farmers are kind of like Farts and flowers - the two oppose each other.

One other thing to mention is the Higher Standards method of performance rating. Here is an example with 5 performance objectives:

Goal 1: Exceeds
Goal 2: Far Exceeds
Goal 3: Exceeds
Goal 4: Far Exceeds
Goal 5: Partially Meets

Your 2009 performance rating: PARTIALLY MEETS

Can anybody see why someone may offer a legal challenge to this? Especially in this economy, where rumor has it the company will offer no 2009 performance increases to those rated "Meets" or below. This also affects your STIP payout, as the percentage will greatly decrease with lower performance ratings.

Curious if anyone from Oregon or Washington has file complaints with their state agency or EEOC for discrimination (particullarly age) or file a lawsuit?

Would like to see how many are out there. Also would like if people can share their experiences with this. We are aware that there is a huge national problem for this within Farmers, but we are particullarly focussing on Oregon and Washington.

This problem is not specific to Oregon. Lots on inconsistency with handling of integrity issues.

I agree. Management in charge of Washington and Oregon have infiltrated other venues such as Nevada with devastating results.

Management has fired or demoted anybody with experience unless they couldn't simply because there wouldn't be anybody to do the job.

Although higher people are involved, the head Loser and the lead Pig in Nevada and formerly of the Northwest lead such unhappy and pathetic lives they have to discipline or fire good people to feal better about themselves. There is no amount of terminations or misery the lead Pig could inflict that would fill up the empty void in her fat useless body.

I was a long time employee who many people on the west coast would know (at least the name) who was recently terminated. The losers in charge were so confident they could pressure me into quitting they didn't realize I had been documenting everything. Because I was well liked by many I had been given knowledge of their intentions. I have numerous records showing the fabrication and manufacturing of documents given as reasons to terminate me. Some of these were not meant for me. A couple of examples include the destruction of information in my personnel file and another was a letter to Home Office requesting my termination based on completely fictitious event.

I am purposely omitting a couple of documented (in writing) events that are simply hard to believe even by Farmers standards. They involve threats used unless I was terminated.

As I stated in an earlier post I am ready to "vent" in due time regarding some specifics my circumstance and what is currently going on in my office. I just need some perspective from others.

Thanks

Criminal Minds,

Is one of the former head losers, Linda Nelson? I think she is well known for her hatchet like ways. Our sources say she goes in and fires people and moves to the next region. Others include Gill Wiseman and Jared Hansen in the Oregon area. There are numerous employees throughout Oregon and Washington that have started legal proceedings. I encourage you and others to do the same, no matter what state. Our group understands this is wide spread throughout the nation. As a large group, peoples voices will be heard better.

Farmers Victim Advocates.

Sorry for the delay in responding.

I apologize for sounding so venomous and personal in my first post but what happened was really hard for me to take. My situation was unique but my previous office has lost over a third of their adjusters mostly to terminations based on so called "behavior" or "file quality". Several people were also demoted due to random reasons selected by the management. The terminations and demotions were NEVER based on ability but on favoritism. The only qualification for promotion or acceptance was that you were female, someone hired within the last 2-4 years, and you would be 100% obedient and be able to look an employee in the face and lie no matter how wrong.

Linda Nelson is in control of the territory and Gil Wiseman moved on after inflecting as much damage as possible. There is enough blame to go around but as Hitler had his officers the Las Vegas claims office has its management and I blame them for having no character or integrity.

I am angry but what I say is 100% the truth. The current management staff put in place by the pig I referred to earlier has absolutely no claims experience but they can follow orders and fire people without blinking. This pig has just been promoted to a home office position over the Nevada office. I believe she started working at Farmers about 6 years ago after working at Target. She had good stats as an adjuster handling files with out attorney involvement and got promoted to supervisor after about 2 years. 2 years later she was promoted to manager of the Las Vegas Office and came there with another automaton from the same area to run the Nevada/Las Vegas operation. 2 years later she is home office liability manager after never handling a claim involving an atty.

The State Manager is just a weird guy who thinks he's cool but has obvious social problems. He rarely exited his office so we called him Dave in the Cave. For some reason this guy listened to whatever the Pig said. The Pig is obviously intimidated by men and especially ones she felt were a threat which basically meant men who had more knowledge or simply stood up to her kindergarten like disciplinary acts.

Thats all for now. I appreciate the response.

It seems that the problem is Truely nationwide, There are a couple of us that were also wrongfully terminated exactly the way others above have described.

We have started action down here as well and are waiting on the EEOC to review our cases.

We would love to exchange our stories with anybody who is in the same unfortunate situation.

We should all keep in touch and get our attorneys talking with each other.

If anybodywants to speak of this website my email address is dmacappraisals@comcast.net

Please get in touch as soon as possible I will provide phone number to compare stories

Please forward the names of attorneys who are willing to take on farmers.

Robert,

I will Gladly provide you attorney name and number. Shoot me an email at dmacappraisals@comcast.net snd we can exchange numbers and horror stories.

Dave

Criminal Minds,

Sorry about your troubles at the Las Vegas claims office. Unfortunately I know who "The PIG" and Dave in the cave are..So that is what people there called them! ahahaha..I had other names for them.

Your details about PIG's behavior are so accurate. Her childish, fictitious details that she documented on probation notices are the lowest I have ever seen in my career. She would get certain claims reps to make up tales about other employees to get them out the door. I can only wish someone like her the absolute worst in life. Caveman is just as disgusting as that skank and strange. Are there any other victims of the Las Vegas claims office? I would love to see FIG collapse for how they violate current and former employees.

CM thanks for sharing your story. We probably crossed paths at some point in that office.

Please contact me immediately at the email address of jillrunyan@comcast.net. I was an RDM IN OREGON for Farmers Insurance June 2006-Dec 2007. My case goes before arbitration next Thursday. We need to talk!

Jill Runyan
360-907-9090 direct

I was forced to retire under threat of being fired when I only had one year and four months to retirement. All BS reasons. I'd be interested in a lawsuit!

Is there anyone that did not get STIP in CA. Even though they worked throughout 2009 and got terminated prior to payout in 2010? I was told that if you are not employed at time of payout in 2010 you cannot get your STIP for 2009. Is this true? I would also like to see what I got at my year end review. I never got to see it. I saw my mid year where I Far Exceed.

I was terminated in Arkansas in May of 2008. I was on probation for low SCR numbers (which they were not) and a high number of claims...liability adjuster. I was working from home when I was put on probation and taped the phone conversation. When I did not get the support promised or the review when it was supposed to take place I made the mistake of telling them I had taped the conversation and was aware of what they said was to happen. Two weeks later I was fired for violation of the Drug and Alcohol policy. No drug test, no auto accident, no proof of anything...they just stated "you know why you are being fired". I did not. I was able to collect unemployment...which they tried to deny but I won the appeal. What I can't figure out is why I can't get a job! I have very successful interviews then get a call or letter saying I did not get the job. Does anyone know what kind of information Farmers gives out on terminated employees. I have worked all my life (seven years for Farmers) and never had this kind of problem finding a job...something is not right. I would love to hear other stories if there are former employees out there not having any luck finding another job.

smitd10@cox.net

I was terminated in Texas due to "embezzlement". However, I never took any money that wasn't mine. What I did was reinstate three clients without collecting money right then and there. Two of them ended up paying about a month later. We used to do this at the district office ALL the time. As a matter of fact, a seasoned agent showed me how to do that. Now, they want to charge me over $16,000 of subsidy. I think this company is terrible. Some of the agent faked documents and had all kinds of formats to manipulate people's driving records.

I was 25 when I started with them, and four years later, I'm trying to re-do my life. I'm back in school and working part time at a warehouse. I don't have 16k to pay them. Any suggestions?

I was terminated in feb of 2011 and did not recieve fro 2010. not sure of my standings. could be not meets because my supervisor did not care for me.
Did you get answer about your stip and is it true if terminated before pay out you dont get it? and what about profit sharing?

Anon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Make sure you focus on the performance objectives
> in yearly performance plans. Quite frequently,
> objectives aren't even set in stone until mid way
> through the year or later... or, objective change
> multiple times throughout the year. Employees are
> never really sure what goals they are working
> toward, and in some cases are retroactively held
> to certain ones. This is a huge problem with the
> company. I would make sure to follow the
> changes.
>
> As far as 21st goes, I think the previous post was
> right to an extent. 21st is an enormous auto
> carrier. Right around the time the 21st merger
> was in the works, a Farmers Executive announced
> that Farmers was overstaffed in the Auto line of
> business. They wrote it off to ServicePower, but
> it seems more logical it was due to the
> soon-to-be-announced 21st merger. And then the
> firings and layoffs began. Kirkland, WA was hit
> especially hard.
>
> Ethics and Farmers are kind of like Farts and
> flowers - the two oppose each other.

I am an attorney practicing in Idaho. I presently have two cases against Farmers on behalf of employees or former employees. I am willing to consult with former or present Farmers employees who feel like they were discriminated against on the basis of age, disability or other protected classes. I can only represent persons whose claims would be based in Idaho.

Please advise how did you handle this situation? Did they affect your license ?

Can anyone advise me if this is still an active site? If so, could you please advise eather whom is spearheading this class action or the name of the law firm managing this effort? I am more than happy to provide my full name and contact information to any law firm representative. I have written medicle disability status and fall within the protected age categorie as well. You can reach me at: quietking1@aol.com.

Thank you!

TJ

Was hired in 2007 and told I was going to replace some of the 4 Oregon agents that were on the chopping block and would receive a big book of policies (which of course didn't happen the agents got axed but the promise of all those policies never occurred) so I know for a fact that this was a pre meditated plan to get rid of agents that had high contract value in favor of those that Farmers could bring on board and keep large % of commissions they were paying to agents. guess that should have been a red flag. two years after leaving Farmers they are still fraudulently Reporting income to me from them to the IRS when In reality They didn't pay what they owed me and never gave me any of my contract value.. what a these guys are in my opinion from the experience i had with them corporate thieves! so if any one needs testimony about their pre-meditated removal of agents in Oregon feel free to contact me!

There have been a number of employees apparently wrongfully terminated or driven to near insanity by Farmers while they seem to know just what to do to stay just on the edge of the law & within the time restrictions. These past employees are all over the country. Many of them had been with the company for many years & were over 50 years of age. Some commited suicide. I have seen writings of evidence of this & experienced much of it myself. Most of these folks went from being extremely good employees to horrible employess per Farmers/Foremost/Zurich overnight. There is just too many similar situations, even identical situations & it is doubtful if any of these folks have spoken to each other about this to make this purely a coincidence. This is amazing in that this company has gotten away with this sort of activity for so long, but they have always maintained a position on the very edge of the law apparently, but far from being morally & ethically fair. They have ruined a number of lives & family's lives.