Not all heroes wear capes some wear hardhats and yellow vests. Maurice German, a Verizon employee, was working in Port Richmond when he answered the distressed call of neighbors regarding their cat Princess Momma, who had been stuck on a telephone pole for the past 12 hours. However, what ended as a happy story for the cat ended with a job suspension for German.
The cat owners were distraught and said they had attempted to contact the animal rescue, the fire department, and other organizations for help but had been unsuccessful. Thankfully for them, German accepted the challenge and was recorded in a video from CBS Philly reporter Steve Lindsay, rescuing the animal with the help of his company equipment. Well, it turns out that Verizon does not have a soft spot for kitty rescue videos and responded by suspending the worker. In response to his suspension, the internet has rallied around German in a truly heartwarming way.
Port Richmond, Pennsylvania resident Amanda Fairchild Boyce noticed her neighbor’s cat was trapped on a telephone pole
Image credits: gofundme
Boyce said told CBS that the cat got stuck at around 10:30 pm on a Friday. She and her neighbors had tried to rescue the cat themselves at first before calling for some outside help.
Image credits: Amanda Boyce
One of Boyce’s neighbors Sandy McLeish, an animal activist, was the one to find the Verizon worker, who agreed to help them with their rescue mission.
Image credits: Amanda Boyce
Watch German carefully rescue the cat from the pole
“Momma” the cat is rescued in Port Richmond after a long ordeal. See how the community came together to get it done on #CBS3 at 11. (📹= Amanda Boyce) pic.twitter.com/N2hlGoQGNC
— Steve Lindsay CBS (@SteveLindsayCBS) March 17, 2019
Verizon did not like the video and suspended him
Image credits: gofundme
The community was touched by German’s selfless act of goodwill, but Verizon said that the worker had put himself and those around him in danger and suspended him. “We take no joy in this job action,” Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said. “However, we’re committed and responsible for keeping our employees and customers safe while working in a particular area.”
In response to Verizon’s suspension, Boyce put the company on blast with an online post and asked people to spread the word of his generosity across the internet in support.
Image credits: Amanda Boyce
Word caught on of German’s story and a bystander from Friday’s rescue even created a GoFundMe page to support him, writing: “This generous man is now being punished! Maurice is being suspend from his job for saving an animal. Let’s support Maurice for his good deed while his employer punishes him!”
Image credits: gofundme
The donations exceeded the goal by Sunday and raised close to $3,000. People touched by the story have continued to contribute to the cause and the donation number continues to go up.
People were shocked at Verizon’s response to his rescue
I'm a Verizon mobile customer and I'm now officially looking for a new cell service provider...
Verizon sucks! Way overpriced internet and phone service.
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Verizon, that's exatcly how NOT to act when one of your employees helps other people (and their cat, of course)
Good on you fella. The cat is worth way more than the moron who thinks you should lose your job.
I have just now closed my Verizon account over this. That man is my hero!
Verizon is the same carrier that throttled the firefighters' data during the wildfires in northern California last summer because they exceeded their plan's allowance: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/verizon-firefighter-data-service/ A few somebodies need to be fired for poor decision making over there...
Wow, during a massive threat, a little bit of over-usage doesn't matter if youre TRYING TO SAVE LIVES, VERIZON!
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Screw Verizon .....im dropping them and going to at&t .....was already debating which one to use that made my choice easier
AT&T is much worse - prepare for a lot of dropped calls and billing issues.
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How did he "put himself and those around him in danger"? Did he have no training? if so, why did they let him loose with the equipment. Total BS
Merely playing demonic-telecom-company's-advocate (I left the devil's employ... too many coworkers and all of them asshats)- at best I could see this case being made if he some how didn't set up or use the lift bucket properly. On the other hand, it's probably some bureaucratic pencil pusher who needs to go get a real life.
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You can help Maurice at https://www.gofundme.com/help-maurice-german-for-his-kindness . Love cats, hate corporate morons. How hard is it to spot good press from catastrophically bad press Verizon?
So surprising that Verizon would act this way...said, No...One...Ever.
Okay, so, dont kill me, i am a dog person, but that doesnt make cats any less important as an animal. I was outraged for a second when I saw the title. He was saving a life, a car couldve run into that pole, the cat couldve gotten electricuted, and he was SUSPENDED?! How would you feel if that was a family member or even your pet? Good job to you, worker, Verizon...shame. If it were me i would promote him to manager... #AnimaLivesMatter #VerizonUnsuspendedThisGuy (What is up with the hashtags, Lizzie? Well, i honestly dont know.)
The cat would have eventually gone to sleep or suffered effects of dehydration. Both of which would have caused him to lose his balance up there.
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I have never used Verizon...and now I never will. If corporations are people then Verizon is the old crank down the road that yells at kids.
Verizon could have handled this better. I will NEVER consider Verizon for a cell phone carrier now.
I agreed with Bob. Even if it doesn't sit well with me using this beautiful act of humanity as a free publication for the company. But this kind of story sells. Verizon should use this opportunity to boost their company further...
Wouldn't work- people's reactions are too negative. Maybe they were afraid of being sued or penalized for their lift being too close to electric lines. Maybe some sort of city ordinance about that was violated. -- Hey Verizon, a sincere apology and promise to never let it happen again would have gone along way to remedy that.
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so happy for the cat. glad I suspended Verizon. Hello At&T ;
F**k verizon! Seriously? Rescuing a creature in desperate need of help isn't something to punish anyone for - I'd expect losing a lot of customers, especially customers regularly buying cat's stuff. They had their opportunity to benefit from this, by doing some nice gesture, providing a free phone to the cat or whatever, but decided to prove who and how they are. So ... f**k'em ... what else?
From the same company who throttled the data for first responders of the California wildfires last fall. Way to go, Verizon.
Shame on you Verizon apparently I need to look into another carrier who has a heart. AT&T?
Verizon says that the reason they suspended him was because: "For safety reasons, our trucks and related equipment are not intended to be used in the area in which he was operating, specifically around electrical wires," a company spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch by email. However, having worked on and around telephone poles for Verizon for 27 years - The pole only had phone and cable tv wires - not electrical???? See how stupid Verizon thinks the public is?
Thanks for the insight on this -- Double raspberries to Verizon. I see a loss of revenue on their horizon.
Load More Replies... How exactly did he put people in danger? If using that lift is so dangerous how can he do his daily job of going to the top of telephone poles without killing of dozens of people..
That truck is not insulated. If the worker were to have made contact with the energized conductor (that he is not trained/authorized to work with) the boom/truck may become energized. The worker may have been electrocuted or if someone on the ground touched the truck, they could be harmed.
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I've always said my dream job is to sit down in board rooms and raise my hand whenever I hear a dumbass idea. Like this one for example. They should have taken credit for company image, and privately tell him don't do it again please.
True, if they would not recorded he would be all good to go, as there was evidence of violation of security and propieties, he would be a nameless hero with no harm
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Here is a petition I made on German's behalf: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/608/348/480/verizon-reinstate-worker-who-rescued-stranded-cat/#published Please sign and share!
I abhor cats and would normally find a stuck cat pretty funny. Major props to this guy for doing what he could to help. It was a stroke of luck that not only was he nearby, he also had a cherry picker. I have a mental image of Verizon bosses sitting at a table in a conference room and every single one of them looks like Agent Smith from The Matrix. To work in a corporate company at that level, I'm convinced you're not allowed emotions.
Not all hero's wear capes - i am cancelling my 12 year Verizon plan. This could have been great Verizon.
You know why companies have to be so ridiculous about their rules like this?! Because everyone in this damn country is so litigious. Imagine if they accidentally took the power out on that street while doing that... people would have been freaking out because "why was he doing that? he shouldn't have been doing that." People wanting to sue over every thing is why companies are unable to give leniency. I disagree with the man getting punished, but I see why companies are forced to be this way.
All life is precious - and kudos to those who value tiny life - not so arrogant to presume something outweighs another - thank you just dismayed this cost you your job - who are we anymore?! :-(
Well I'm definitely canceling Verizon now!! Hey Verizon go f**k yourselves!!! If I ever see a Verizon executive in danger I'll say sorry I can't put myself and my community at risk your on your own bud, byeeeeeeeeee!!
Make sure if you cancel with Verizon you tell them this is the reason. Most companies would have commended him and used the free PR and told him quietly not to do it again. Let them know why you'll be spending your money elsewhere.
Verizon lost a good opportunity for some amazing press, no doubt. And handled this really badly: they should be commending the employee not punishing them. But this is also a good example of why everything doesn't need to be videotaped, recorded, televised, on social media, etc. How about just doing a good deed for the sake of doing a good deed vs hoping to get some kind of fame and glory from it (not saying this was the case with the Verizon worker, but one has to think that using your company's equipment for non company use may have some negative consequences, esp if said company is Verizon).
You know, every time something like this happens, I can't help but think - how stupid is their PR department? I mean, I get it they're callous, greedy corporate bastards, but it still makes good sense to pretend they cared, especially when a free, golden opportunity like this shows up... but nope, they managed to shoot themselves in the foot and show everyone their true colours. GG.
I think the security and osha is bigger than pr department
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Shame on Verizon. They deserve any bad reputation and loss of business they get because of their decision. They really shot themselves in the foot with this one. Could have been great for building a positive, family friendly image for free, instead of as an uncaring corporate overlord. Would they have responded the same way if he rescued a child from a tree? -- Yea! to the rescuer and the people who helped him w/ Go Fund Me. I'm glad the cat is safe.
I am done with Verizon. What an immoral unethical company. This man is a local hero. He saved a vulnerable animal from a horrible death and comforted and overjoyed the kitty's distraught human family. SHAME ON VERIZON!
maybe if Verizon had been paid for rescuing the cat the guy wouldn't have been suspended! With these companies it all about the MONEY! Which is really sick!
Well, they'll be losing a whole wastewater treatment plant's worth of money now thanks to their crappy attitude toward the saving of lives. I wonder what the CEO would have done to Maurice if it had been HIS cat up there and not a potential customer's pet
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This is why Citizen United is the most disgusting ruling ever made by our Supreme Court. Why does the Supreme Court give corporations the power of being a "human" without having to act like one?? Its because they are not humans . Corporations are never going to prioritize compassion over the bottom line. This corporation would NEVER decide the return on investment to save a cat was not worth it unless it helped them financially. A human being has an option. A corporation has no choice.
1. Citizens (pl.) United. 2. It protected free speech by the members of labor unions, & it was endorsed by the ACLU, but it was worse than the Dred Scott decision? 😬 A white citizen having ‘the right to traffic in’ slavery, but one of ‘his negroes’ being treated by the govt as ‘an ordinary article of merchandise and property’ is not THAT bad? (Those 3 phrases are actually in that ruling, from the same govt we remain under. 🙁) I suspect that you don’t mean what you say. 3. The word ‘human’ is not anywhere in the C.U. ruling. 4. A corporation can’t have ‘the power of being a “human”’; e.g. it cannot marry, or father or bear a child. That power is not in the power of any of us to give. It would be absurd. 5. The problem w/ Verizon is not that it ‘has no choice’ but to sacrifice compassion. A corporation is just a group of people, who have the same right of assembly that you do. 6. At least 1 of these people HAD the option, & sacrificed compassion, but we don’t know who.…
Load More Replies... This is Philadelphia. They’re probably overworked. It doesn’t say they refused, just that getting them was unsuccessful.
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Thanks for saving the kitty sir, I'm sure you'll get a better job than Verizon soon!!
I bet they can hear everyone now. Smh, they should have used that guy for a commercial and gave him a slap on the hand. Hmmm…maybe they should update their handbook. "No rescuing cats with the equipment please".
Yeah, call the fire department. -- Wait, that didn't work either.
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Read the comments on Verizon's facebook page. The hate is real. They seriously goofed.
A competitor needs to message him like “Saving cats is awesome!!We want to hire you!!”
I'm also a dog person and still think the boss was very wrong...
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How very American, i know rules are rules but for f***s sake, just be a human sometimes. If an engineer from my company had done this, we would be sending him e-mails from every department saying 'good job pal'. I'm a Brit so don't use this company but can any Americans reading this please leave them and go to a competitor instead, despicable behaviour.
Unbelievable that this guy looses his job for doing a good deed and saving that kitty!! "No good deed goes unpunished" VERIZON you are going to lose so many people as customers for this!! SHAME ON YOU!!
Verizon is the same company that throttled firefighters' cell phones for going over their GB limits during last year's disastrous California wildfires, leaving firefighters unable to communicate with each other and putting several in direct danger of getting cut off and killed. When the fire service called Verizon to complain, they tried to force them to switch to a plan that was twice as expensive as the one they had, saying they couldn't restore full service unless the fire service agreed. That's called extortion. Then they lied and swore they hadn't done it, but it was proven they had. There's a current lawsuit pending about it that Verizon looks set to lose. Wonderful company. I left their sorry service behind long ago and have never looked back. They are symbolic of everything that's wrong with the corporatocracy that America has become, chasing the almighty dollar while leaving every decent guiding principle behind. Shame on Verizon!
Wow Verizon. Wow. That's really sucky of you to suspend a man who thought helping an animal in need is important. I officially HATE Verizon. Screw you Verizon!!
Verizon, you should be ashamed of yourself. I ask people every where to not use you as a cell provider.
The guy I'd a decent human being. That Verizon reacted like that is incomprehensible. And inhuman.
Any updates on the guy? Would like to know whether Verizon went sorry for their b*tchy idea of suspending a Hero
Great opportunity for good publicity. Now they are losing a customer instead.
Good on you Maurice ! What you did was selfless and extremely kind. We have a rescue cat who is terrible at heights and we would be extremely desperate for anyone to rescue her if she was in trouble. It's hard to comprehend how any company could be so short sighted and narrow minded as to not have been proud that an employee of theirs did something so kind. Pet lovers around the world stand with you Maurice.
He used proper safety gear, harness, hat, gloves, glasses to rescue the animal. I can't see where he created a danger.
Isn’t this the same company with that guy who helped that mum by cuddling her crying son?
Yes, except the guy that did that was a contracted employee that actually worked for a different company for Verizon. I think that is part of the difference.
Load More Replies... oh boy -Verizon says that the reason they suspended him was because: "For safety reasons, our trucks and related equipment are not intended to be used in the area in which he was operating, specifically around electrical wires," a company spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch by email. However, having worked on and around telephone poles for Verizon for 27 years - The pole only had phone and cable tv wires - not electrical???? See how stupid Verizon thinks the public is?
Thanks for clarifying the details, Nick. I didn't know what kind of cables those are. This makes Verizon's reps look even worse. Its a stretch, but maybe they didn't know what type of cables were on that pole either.
Load More Replies... MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM WAT DO I TINK??????????????? I TINK DAT IM SWITCHING TO SPRINT!
In Verizon's defense, his cherry picker was over extended and he was in danger of tipping over. Saving the cat's great, but he should have taken a bit more time and made sure he was working safely.
He is a trained adult, i'm sure he knew what he was doing.
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Verizon doesn’t care. Besides $2,400 that was raised is nothing to a global corporation like that! As for the “unsubscribers” you will be replaced with new lines before you finish reading this article.
Ew WTF Verizon, I kinda want to get rid of them now, i have verizon and i'm a HUGE animal lover. THis really made me mad and rubbed me the wrong way. F you Verizon. What kind of company punishes their employee for doing the right thing and saving a life!?!?!?
I was at my computer when I read this story and I immediately called Verizon to cancel my account. The woman on the phone told me it was just a hoax, and I told her to CANCEL it. Just in case Verizon is reading this, Verizon's confirmation number of my cancellation is PA 114 600 098 46. I have never liked Verizon!!!
Verizon done f****d up. You'd think they would've learned a thing or two from the backlash against Ulta. Instead of being grateful that Shane Dawson's video gave them a s**t ton of free advertising that was pretty much guaranteed to be seen by his 20 MILLION subscribers but nope, they fired her instead for a couple of silly non-offensive jokes she made in the video. The backlash was friggin CRAZY but Ulta deserved it. Then they tried to lie and say it was just a misunderstanding (b******t) and she still had a job there. Carol called em out on it and they just made their image look worse than it already did. Then they tried to get her to come back by giving her a paid week to decide if she wanted to or not. That's the power of the internet. The more people calling Verizon out online, the better his chances will be of getting his job back so with that being said, go tweet or whatever you do and ask Verizon why they're being such huge d***s about this. Do it right now so you won't forget
Sorry for the long a*s comment. I just get fired up when I see s**t like this happening to what seems like a pretty decent person. Once I really get going, it's hard for me to stop when I'm pissed. But I would like to add one more thing about this situation and them I'm done, I pinky promise. The video is not a very good quality at all so it's hard to see the details but from what I can see, he looks to be following all the safety procedures he'd be following if he while working on his actual jobs. He's correctly using his PPE like he should and he's being pretty careful so them saying that he was putting himself and others in some kinda danger is nothing but a bunch b******t excuses. He does jobs day after day where he would be using this exact equipment in the exact same way so why is it not dangerous then? So it's not dangerous when he's up there working on something but it somehow becomes dangerous when he does it to save a poor stuck kitty instead? Bullshitbullshitbullshit
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Did Verizon Wireless Throttle a Fire Department’s Data Service During a Wildfire? Firefighters in Santa Clara, California, revealed that they were forced to buy a more expensive service package due to a company "mistake." Verizon Wireless limited the Santa Clara County Fire Department's data access by "throttling" their service in the midst of a wildfire. True
Appalled at action of the company. If I was a customer of theirs I would no longer be so! Being punished for helping out someone or some cat in trouble ....would they have said the same if a human life had been saved?...or praised him if he had failed to act to save someone because of company policy...’no, I didn’t save the ***,. He died? That sucks. But it’s company policy.’
I wouldn't have expected anything less of Verizon, or any of out other big money-oriented companies. They're not in business to provide telephone service or rescue living things - they're in business to make money for executive bonuses primarily. It used to be that stockholders came in there somewhere but they're peripheral. It won't be long before the bonuses are the only thing that matters and heaven help the employee, customer or anybody else that jeopardizes that. Think I'm kidding? You flunked history if you do.
Btw I just posted this on Xfinity's Insta if everyone does maybe they will give Maurice a job
@comcastcares you should hire this guy and one up Verizon...as you always do! #xfinity give Maurice a job
I’m not surprised one bit - crappy response from a crappy company - i canned them years ago -
Verizon missed a golden opportunity to advertise their wonderful customer service, even for cats!
And yet nobody asks the important question: HOW the HELL did the poor kitty get up there!?
Thank you Sir, for helping the Cat. From one animal lover to another x
Instead of disciplining the employee, Verizon needs to discipline the head of their public relations department. This is Freshman PR 101. Let’s see how this works out for you, Verizon.
Verizon obviously don't appreciate good publicity. This man should be praised by his company, not fired. As we say here in Australia. good onya mate! :D
Verizon Marketing team must be a bunch of morons! This was a great chance for the best free Brand Awareness!
I get they don't want anyone using their equipment to do anything outside of the job description. Then that will lead to others using the equipment for other lesser tasks. That could actually put others in danger. Not all people have common sense and they do things because they use the card well "German did it to save a cat" then they have a preferential grievance on their plate . I know it's not fair but the should've got permission first. Then he'd be the hero and still have a job. Maybe a warning would've been suffice but we don't know his history with the Company either. Remember there are always 3 sides to a story their side , his side and the truth. JS
I'm just really pissed off now. I'm turning off my phone and watching a cartoon or something on my extremely overpriced WiFi from Spectrum. In the dark because of overcharging SDG&E who promised to actually read meters from now on. Argh. Guy does good, Verizon does bad and my evening just went in the crapper. Janky mofos.
Bite me Verizon. They would have left someone holding a cat up there too. Not cost effective. Hope the guy and the kitty are at least roomies now. We should inundate Verizon with email. But finding their email address would take one of these overpriced buckets that an entire fleet gets factored into our ridiculous bills. I'm thinking of bringing back the smoke signal or drumming or Morse code.
I can learn Morse code if you do. Smoke signals would be an interesting class, but we would reprimanded by Smokey the Bear.
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They suspended him using his own equipment? I bet he wishes he didn't work so high up in the air now!
the management of verizon are idiots... they show no humanity.... I think their handling of this event will cost them a lot. Customers will leave and join other service providers who show that they have a heart. No other service provider would react to this event, as they have a heart..
Seriously? This guy is a hero. Shame on you Verizon. Fabulous work, Maurice🐆
Verizon didn't handle this in a good way. But that "telephone pole" had power lines on it and that truck is not intended to work near energized lines. We can't know any of the details around their policies. What the man did was a great kindness. What got him in trouble was the publicity. He likely would have been happy to do the kindness without the fanfare.
Shame on you, Verizon!!! This is NOT the way "to make friends and influence people."
This idiot company verizon...well.. what else is new??? thay only allow this to happen IF THIS WILL BRING THEM MONEY AND PROFITS......THESE MORONS JUST DONT GIVE A DAMN TO A POOR ANIMAL LIFE!!! GRRRR!!!👹👺👹👺👹👺
This man is a hero. The poor cat needed to be rescued. He should not have be en suspended. Shame on Verizon.
That is a terrible way to treat a good, kind man. That just goes to show you how getting to the top of the food chain can make people cold and unfeeling suckers.
So if your cat gets stuck like that, who are you supposed to call? I can't believe no one would help that should have been able to help.
How about this. If soneone is misusimg companys propierty, violating safety codes and regulations in order to get you a personal favor,, do F*****G NOT expose them with viral b******t. Just because you want a F*****G millions of views in your page, doesnt mean he does it for the same reason. Please put the f*****g phone down and acept the illegal geasture. At the end you got your favor but he fets fire.
It's understood on the safety issue, first of all ,the man that rescued the cat has a good heart, second , the people called all the options , they had no luck, the boss should have given just a warning, thanks for the rescue, with the extra money donated, give it to a rescue shelter, just a thought !!!
And this will be why Verizon will lose millions of customers.This man is a good person in a world with so many selfish people in it. By the Verizon, my cell carrier is now Sprint
Yea verizon does have "the first to get to 5G" but why do we need like a gigabyte per second download speeds when you really can't download much on a tablet or phone.
"For safety reasons, our trucks and related equipment are not intended to be used in the area in which he was operating, specifically around electrical wires," a Verizon spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch. "While our actions may not be popular, he potentially put his life and those around him in jeopardy."
Not surprising. They throttled the firefighters during the wildfires for more money and lied about it. What do you expect? I will never be a customer of theirs.
How was he a danger to anyone including himself? Is he not professionally trained to be able to deal with the pole in the first place? They are greed and evil. They try to screw over the firefighters in California last year. They would not have changed that if it was not for the public attack they got. Rightly so. I have been needing to change phone companies, just not sure what ones have good deals with phones. But now, I must make this a priority. How do these people get paid so much to be so stupid!
Wow, Verizon just wow. That's heartless and ridiculous, I have Verizon now but will start searching for a new service provider. Just stupid they are.
That was a sweet thing to do, but the guy who fired the hero is just a salty pickle!
That cat could have gotten down by himself. Don't let the desperate meows fool you . If the cat can get himself up there , he can get himself down. Put cat food at the base of the pole. He'll climb down eventually. At the same time, it was wrong to fire this guy. And Verizon's reason for doing so is BS !!!!!!! I'm glad I use AT&T.
I know I'm going to get down-voted for this, but here it goes. Verizon is a corporation. The rules for corporations don't vary, don't take into account extenuating circumstances or 'feel good' stories. They have rules that encompass every worker, and they are pretty hard rules, too. They have too many employees and locations to bend the rules for anyone. This is the unfortunate results of growing into a large company. I understand their stance on this. Do I agree with it? No. But, I understand it. I work for a corporation. The rules of what I'm allowed to do, say and act are so different from smaller companies it borders on the ridiculous. But, still, I understand why. They cannot make allowances for behavior that is off the standard. They are much too large to look at each case independently and decide if it is a punishable offense or not. I'm sure his immediate supervisors (even if they applauded his actions) had others above them dictating this guys punishment.
While it's good that this guy got the cat, doing so was very foolish. He was using a non insulated aerial device while in proximity to energized conductor. He put himself at risk. If he wanted to help he should have alerted the electrical distributor from the area so linemen with proper equipment and training could get the cat.
he is a telephone employee get a cat off a telephone pole. I'm sure he had training before he was given the job. notice he did survive.
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I was a firefighter for20 years and the dispatcher got a call from a women the a cat was up in a tree could the FD come and get it down the dispatcher asked the women did you ever see a cat skeleton in a tree it will come down on its own lol
Firemen probably don't have training with electricity.
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I think Verizon can afford it. What they can't afford is bad publicity. Verizon execs should've just sucked it up, patted the guy on the back, then let it be. Instead they decided to punish someone for having a heart. what goes around comes around. Karma is a b***h. I'm talking to you, Verizon.
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I'm a Verizon mobile customer and I'm now officially looking for a new cell service provider...
Verizon sucks! Way overpriced internet and phone service.
Load More Replies... Verizon, that's exatcly how NOT to act when one of your employees helps other people (and their cat, of course)
Good on you fella. The cat is worth way more than the moron who thinks you should lose your job.
I have just now closed my Verizon account over this. That man is my hero!
Verizon is the same carrier that throttled the firefighters' data during the wildfires in northern California last summer because they exceeded their plan's allowance: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/verizon-firefighter-data-service/ A few somebodies need to be fired for poor decision making over there...
Wow, during a massive threat, a little bit of over-usage doesn't matter if youre TRYING TO SAVE LIVES, VERIZON!
Load More Replies... Screw Verizon .....im dropping them and going to at&t .....was already debating which one to use that made my choice easier
AT&T is much worse - prepare for a lot of dropped calls and billing issues.
Load More Replies... How did he "put himself and those around him in danger"? Did he have no training? if so, why did they let him loose with the equipment. Total BS
Merely playing demonic-telecom-company's-advocate (I left the devil's employ... too many coworkers and all of them asshats)- at best I could see this case being made if he some how didn't set up or use the lift bucket properly. On the other hand, it's probably some bureaucratic pencil pusher who needs to go get a real life.
Load More Replies... You can help Maurice at https://www.gofundme.com/help-maurice-german-for-his-kindness . Love cats, hate corporate morons. How hard is it to spot good press from catastrophically bad press Verizon?
So surprising that Verizon would act this way...said, No...One...Ever.
Okay, so, dont kill me, i am a dog person, but that doesnt make cats any less important as an animal. I was outraged for a second when I saw the title. He was saving a life, a car couldve run into that pole, the cat couldve gotten electricuted, and he was SUSPENDED?! How would you feel if that was a family member or even your pet? Good job to you, worker, Verizon...shame. If it were me i would promote him to manager... #AnimaLivesMatter #VerizonUnsuspendedThisGuy (What is up with the hashtags, Lizzie? Well, i honestly dont know.)
The cat would have eventually gone to sleep or suffered effects of dehydration. Both of which would have caused him to lose his balance up there.
Load More Replies... I have never used Verizon...and now I never will. If corporations are people then Verizon is the old crank down the road that yells at kids.
Verizon could have handled this better. I will NEVER consider Verizon for a cell phone carrier now.
I agreed with Bob. Even if it doesn't sit well with me using this beautiful act of humanity as a free publication for the company. But this kind of story sells. Verizon should use this opportunity to boost their company further...
Wouldn't work- people's reactions are too negative. Maybe they were afraid of being sued or penalized for their lift being too close to electric lines. Maybe some sort of city ordinance about that was violated. -- Hey Verizon, a sincere apology and promise to never let it happen again would have gone along way to remedy that.
Load More Replies... so happy for the cat. glad I suspended Verizon. Hello At&T ;
F**k verizon! Seriously? Rescuing a creature in desperate need of help isn't something to punish anyone for - I'd expect losing a lot of customers, especially customers regularly buying cat's stuff. They had their opportunity to benefit from this, by doing some nice gesture, providing a free phone to the cat or whatever, but decided to prove who and how they are. So ... f**k'em ... what else?
From the same company who throttled the data for first responders of the California wildfires last fall. Way to go, Verizon.
Shame on you Verizon apparently I need to look into another carrier who has a heart. AT&T?
Verizon says that the reason they suspended him was because: "For safety reasons, our trucks and related equipment are not intended to be used in the area in which he was operating, specifically around electrical wires," a company spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch by email. However, having worked on and around telephone poles for Verizon for 27 years - The pole only had phone and cable tv wires - not electrical???? See how stupid Verizon thinks the public is?
Thanks for the insight on this -- Double raspberries to Verizon. I see a loss of revenue on their horizon.
Load More Replies... How exactly did he put people in danger? If using that lift is so dangerous how can he do his daily job of going to the top of telephone poles without killing of dozens of people..
That truck is not insulated. If the worker were to have made contact with the energized conductor (that he is not trained/authorized to work with) the boom/truck may become energized. The worker may have been electrocuted or if someone on the ground touched the truck, they could be harmed.
Load More Replies... I've always said my dream job is to sit down in board rooms and raise my hand whenever I hear a dumbass idea. Like this one for example. They should have taken credit for company image, and privately tell him don't do it again please.
True, if they would not recorded he would be all good to go, as there was evidence of violation of security and propieties, he would be a nameless hero with no harm
Load More Replies... Here is a petition I made on German's behalf: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/608/348/480/verizon-reinstate-worker-who-rescued-stranded-cat/#published Please sign and share!
I abhor cats and would normally find a stuck cat pretty funny. Major props to this guy for doing what he could to help. It was a stroke of luck that not only was he nearby, he also had a cherry picker. I have a mental image of Verizon bosses sitting at a table in a conference room and every single one of them looks like Agent Smith from The Matrix. To work in a corporate company at that level, I'm convinced you're not allowed emotions.
Not all hero's wear capes - i am cancelling my 12 year Verizon plan. This could have been great Verizon.
You know why companies have to be so ridiculous about their rules like this?! Because everyone in this damn country is so litigious. Imagine if they accidentally took the power out on that street while doing that... people would have been freaking out because "why was he doing that? he shouldn't have been doing that." People wanting to sue over every thing is why companies are unable to give leniency. I disagree with the man getting punished, but I see why companies are forced to be this way.
All life is precious - and kudos to those who value tiny life - not so arrogant to presume something outweighs another - thank you just dismayed this cost you your job - who are we anymore?! :-(
Well I'm definitely canceling Verizon now!! Hey Verizon go f**k yourselves!!! If I ever see a Verizon executive in danger I'll say sorry I can't put myself and my community at risk your on your own bud, byeeeeeeeeee!!
Make sure if you cancel with Verizon you tell them this is the reason. Most companies would have commended him and used the free PR and told him quietly not to do it again. Let them know why you'll be spending your money elsewhere.
Verizon lost a good opportunity for some amazing press, no doubt. And handled this really badly: they should be commending the employee not punishing them. But this is also a good example of why everything doesn't need to be videotaped, recorded, televised, on social media, etc. How about just doing a good deed for the sake of doing a good deed vs hoping to get some kind of fame and glory from it (not saying this was the case with the Verizon worker, but one has to think that using your company's equipment for non company use may have some negative consequences, esp if said company is Verizon).
You know, every time something like this happens, I can't help but think - how stupid is their PR department? I mean, I get it they're callous, greedy corporate bastards, but it still makes good sense to pretend they cared, especially when a free, golden opportunity like this shows up... but nope, they managed to shoot themselves in the foot and show everyone their true colours. GG.
I think the security and osha is bigger than pr department
Load More Replies... Shame on Verizon. They deserve any bad reputation and loss of business they get because of their decision. They really shot themselves in the foot with this one. Could have been great for building a positive, family friendly image for free, instead of as an uncaring corporate overlord. Would they have responded the same way if he rescued a child from a tree? -- Yea! to the rescuer and the people who helped him w/ Go Fund Me. I'm glad the cat is safe.
I am done with Verizon. What an immoral unethical company. This man is a local hero. He saved a vulnerable animal from a horrible death and comforted and overjoyed the kitty's distraught human family. SHAME ON VERIZON!
maybe if Verizon had been paid for rescuing the cat the guy wouldn't have been suspended! With these companies it all about the MONEY! Which is really sick!
Well, they'll be losing a whole wastewater treatment plant's worth of money now thanks to their crappy attitude toward the saving of lives. I wonder what the CEO would have done to Maurice if it had been HIS cat up there and not a potential customer's pet
Load More Replies... This is why Citizen United is the most disgusting ruling ever made by our Supreme Court. Why does the Supreme Court give corporations the power of being a "human" without having to act like one?? Its because they are not humans . Corporations are never going to prioritize compassion over the bottom line. This corporation would NEVER decide the return on investment to save a cat was not worth it unless it helped them financially. A human being has an option. A corporation has no choice.
1. Citizens (pl.) United. 2. It protected free speech by the members of labor unions, & it was endorsed by the ACLU, but it was worse than the Dred Scott decision? 😬 A white citizen having ‘the right to traffic in’ slavery, but one of ‘his negroes’ being treated by the govt as ‘an ordinary article of merchandise and property’ is not THAT bad? (Those 3 phrases are actually in that ruling, from the same govt we remain under. 🙁) I suspect that you don’t mean what you say. 3. The word ‘human’ is not anywhere in the C.U. ruling. 4. A corporation can’t have ‘the power of being a “human”’; e.g. it cannot marry, or father or bear a child. That power is not in the power of any of us to give. It would be absurd. 5. The problem w/ Verizon is not that it ‘has no choice’ but to sacrifice compassion. A corporation is just a group of people, who have the same right of assembly that you do. 6. At least 1 of these people HAD the option, & sacrificed compassion, but we don’t know who.…
Load More Replies... This is Philadelphia. They’re probably overworked. It doesn’t say they refused, just that getting them was unsuccessful.
Load More Replies... Thanks for saving the kitty sir, I'm sure you'll get a better job than Verizon soon!!
I bet they can hear everyone now. Smh, they should have used that guy for a commercial and gave him a slap on the hand. Hmmm…maybe they should update their handbook. "No rescuing cats with the equipment please".
Yeah, call the fire department. -- Wait, that didn't work either.
Load More Replies... Read the comments on Verizon's facebook page. The hate is real. They seriously goofed.
A competitor needs to message him like “Saving cats is awesome!!We want to hire you!!”
I'm also a dog person and still think the boss was very wrong...
Load More Replies... How very American, i know rules are rules but for f***s sake, just be a human sometimes. If an engineer from my company had done this, we would be sending him e-mails from every department saying 'good job pal'. I'm a Brit so don't use this company but can any Americans reading this please leave them and go to a competitor instead, despicable behaviour.
Unbelievable that this guy looses his job for doing a good deed and saving that kitty!! "No good deed goes unpunished" VERIZON you are going to lose so many people as customers for this!! SHAME ON YOU!!
Verizon is the same company that throttled firefighters' cell phones for going over their GB limits during last year's disastrous California wildfires, leaving firefighters unable to communicate with each other and putting several in direct danger of getting cut off and killed. When the fire service called Verizon to complain, they tried to force them to switch to a plan that was twice as expensive as the one they had, saying they couldn't restore full service unless the fire service agreed. That's called extortion. Then they lied and swore they hadn't done it, but it was proven they had. There's a current lawsuit pending about it that Verizon looks set to lose. Wonderful company. I left their sorry service behind long ago and have never looked back. They are symbolic of everything that's wrong with the corporatocracy that America has become, chasing the almighty dollar while leaving every decent guiding principle behind. Shame on Verizon!
Wow Verizon. Wow. That's really sucky of you to suspend a man who thought helping an animal in need is important. I officially HATE Verizon. Screw you Verizon!!
Verizon, you should be ashamed of yourself. I ask people every where to not use you as a cell provider.
The guy I'd a decent human being. That Verizon reacted like that is incomprehensible. And inhuman.
Any updates on the guy? Would like to know whether Verizon went sorry for their b*tchy idea of suspending a Hero
Great opportunity for good publicity. Now they are losing a customer instead.
Good on you Maurice ! What you did was selfless and extremely kind. We have a rescue cat who is terrible at heights and we would be extremely desperate for anyone to rescue her if she was in trouble. It's hard to comprehend how any company could be so short sighted and narrow minded as to not have been proud that an employee of theirs did something so kind. Pet lovers around the world stand with you Maurice.
He used proper safety gear, harness, hat, gloves, glasses to rescue the animal. I can't see where he created a danger.
Isn’t this the same company with that guy who helped that mum by cuddling her crying son?
Yes, except the guy that did that was a contracted employee that actually worked for a different company for Verizon. I think that is part of the difference.
Load More Replies... oh boy -Verizon says that the reason they suspended him was because: "For safety reasons, our trucks and related equipment are not intended to be used in the area in which he was operating, specifically around electrical wires," a company spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch by email. However, having worked on and around telephone poles for Verizon for 27 years - The pole only had phone and cable tv wires - not electrical???? See how stupid Verizon thinks the public is?
Thanks for clarifying the details, Nick. I didn't know what kind of cables those are. This makes Verizon's reps look even worse. Its a stretch, but maybe they didn't know what type of cables were on that pole either.
Load More Replies... MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM WAT DO I TINK??????????????? I TINK DAT IM SWITCHING TO SPRINT!
In Verizon's defense, his cherry picker was over extended and he was in danger of tipping over. Saving the cat's great, but he should have taken a bit more time and made sure he was working safely.
He is a trained adult, i'm sure he knew what he was doing.
Load More Replies... Verizon doesn’t care. Besides $2,400 that was raised is nothing to a global corporation like that! As for the “unsubscribers” you will be replaced with new lines before you finish reading this article.
Ew WTF Verizon, I kinda want to get rid of them now, i have verizon and i'm a HUGE animal lover. THis really made me mad and rubbed me the wrong way. F you Verizon. What kind of company punishes their employee for doing the right thing and saving a life!?!?!?
I was at my computer when I read this story and I immediately called Verizon to cancel my account. The woman on the phone told me it was just a hoax, and I told her to CANCEL it. Just in case Verizon is reading this, Verizon's confirmation number of my cancellation is PA 114 600 098 46. I have never liked Verizon!!!
Verizon done f****d up. You'd think they would've learned a thing or two from the backlash against Ulta. Instead of being grateful that Shane Dawson's video gave them a s**t ton of free advertising that was pretty much guaranteed to be seen by his 20 MILLION subscribers but nope, they fired her instead for a couple of silly non-offensive jokes she made in the video. The backlash was friggin CRAZY but Ulta deserved it. Then they tried to lie and say it was just a misunderstanding (b******t) and she still had a job there. Carol called em out on it and they just made their image look worse than it already did. Then they tried to get her to come back by giving her a paid week to decide if she wanted to or not. That's the power of the internet. The more people calling Verizon out online, the better his chances will be of getting his job back so with that being said, go tweet or whatever you do and ask Verizon why they're being such huge d***s about this. Do it right now so you won't forget
Sorry for the long a*s comment. I just get fired up when I see s**t like this happening to what seems like a pretty decent person. Once I really get going, it's hard for me to stop when I'm pissed. But I would like to add one more thing about this situation and them I'm done, I pinky promise. The video is not a very good quality at all so it's hard to see the details but from what I can see, he looks to be following all the safety procedures he'd be following if he while working on his actual jobs. He's correctly using his PPE like he should and he's being pretty careful so them saying that he was putting himself and others in some kinda danger is nothing but a bunch b******t excuses. He does jobs day after day where he would be using this exact equipment in the exact same way so why is it not dangerous then? So it's not dangerous when he's up there working on something but it somehow becomes dangerous when he does it to save a poor stuck kitty instead? Bullshitbullshitbullshit
Load More Replies... Did Verizon Wireless Throttle a Fire Department’s Data Service During a Wildfire? Firefighters in Santa Clara, California, revealed that they were forced to buy a more expensive service package due to a company "mistake." Verizon Wireless limited the Santa Clara County Fire Department's data access by "throttling" their service in the midst of a wildfire. True
Appalled at action of the company. If I was a customer of theirs I would no longer be so! Being punished for helping out someone or some cat in trouble ....would they have said the same if a human life had been saved?...or praised him if he had failed to act to save someone because of company policy...’no, I didn’t save the ***,. He died? That sucks. But it’s company policy.’
I wouldn't have expected anything less of Verizon, or any of out other big money-oriented companies. They're not in business to provide telephone service or rescue living things - they're in business to make money for executive bonuses primarily. It used to be that stockholders came in there somewhere but they're peripheral. It won't be long before the bonuses are the only thing that matters and heaven help the employee, customer or anybody else that jeopardizes that. Think I'm kidding? You flunked history if you do.
Btw I just posted this on Xfinity's Insta if everyone does maybe they will give Maurice a job
@comcastcares you should hire this guy and one up Verizon...as you always do! #xfinity give Maurice a job
I’m not surprised one bit - crappy response from a crappy company - i canned them years ago -
Verizon missed a golden opportunity to advertise their wonderful customer service, even for cats!
And yet nobody asks the important question: HOW the HELL did the poor kitty get up there!?
Thank you Sir, for helping the Cat. From one animal lover to another x
Instead of disciplining the employee, Verizon needs to discipline the head of their public relations department. This is Freshman PR 101. Let’s see how this works out for you, Verizon.
Verizon obviously don't appreciate good publicity. This man should be praised by his company, not fired. As we say here in Australia. good onya mate! :D
Verizon Marketing team must be a bunch of morons! This was a great chance for the best free Brand Awareness!
I get they don't want anyone using their equipment to do anything outside of the job description. Then that will lead to others using the equipment for other lesser tasks. That could actually put others in danger. Not all people have common sense and they do things because they use the card well "German did it to save a cat" then they have a preferential grievance on their plate . I know it's not fair but the should've got permission first. Then he'd be the hero and still have a job. Maybe a warning would've been suffice but we don't know his history with the Company either. Remember there are always 3 sides to a story their side , his side and the truth. JS
I'm just really pissed off now. I'm turning off my phone and watching a cartoon or something on my extremely overpriced WiFi from Spectrum. In the dark because of overcharging SDG&E who promised to actually read meters from now on. Argh. Guy does good, Verizon does bad and my evening just went in the crapper. Janky mofos.
Bite me Verizon. They would have left someone holding a cat up there too. Not cost effective. Hope the guy and the kitty are at least roomies now. We should inundate Verizon with email. But finding their email address would take one of these overpriced buckets that an entire fleet gets factored into our ridiculous bills. I'm thinking of bringing back the smoke signal or drumming or Morse code.
I can learn Morse code if you do. Smoke signals would be an interesting class, but we would reprimanded by Smokey the Bear.
Load More Replies... They suspended him using his own equipment? I bet he wishes he didn't work so high up in the air now!
the management of verizon are idiots... they show no humanity.... I think their handling of this event will cost them a lot. Customers will leave and join other service providers who show that they have a heart. No other service provider would react to this event, as they have a heart..
Seriously? This guy is a hero. Shame on you Verizon. Fabulous work, Maurice🐆
Verizon didn't handle this in a good way. But that "telephone pole" had power lines on it and that truck is not intended to work near energized lines. We can't know any of the details around their policies. What the man did was a great kindness. What got him in trouble was the publicity. He likely would have been happy to do the kindness without the fanfare.
Shame on you, Verizon!!! This is NOT the way "to make friends and influence people."
This idiot company verizon...well.. what else is new??? thay only allow this to happen IF THIS WILL BRING THEM MONEY AND PROFITS......THESE MORONS JUST DONT GIVE A DAMN TO A POOR ANIMAL LIFE!!! GRRRR!!!👹👺👹👺👹👺
This man is a hero. The poor cat needed to be rescued. He should not have be en suspended. Shame on Verizon.
That is a terrible way to treat a good, kind man. That just goes to show you how getting to the top of the food chain can make people cold and unfeeling suckers.
So if your cat gets stuck like that, who are you supposed to call? I can't believe no one would help that should have been able to help.
How about this. If soneone is misusimg companys propierty, violating safety codes and regulations in order to get you a personal favor,, do F*****G NOT expose them with viral b******t. Just because you want a F*****G millions of views in your page, doesnt mean he does it for the same reason. Please put the f*****g phone down and acept the illegal geasture. At the end you got your favor but he fets fire.
It's understood on the safety issue, first of all ,the man that rescued the cat has a good heart, second , the people called all the options , they had no luck, the boss should have given just a warning, thanks for the rescue, with the extra money donated, give it to a rescue shelter, just a thought !!!
And this will be why Verizon will lose millions of customers.This man is a good person in a world with so many selfish people in it. By the Verizon, my cell carrier is now Sprint
Yea verizon does have "the first to get to 5G" but why do we need like a gigabyte per second download speeds when you really can't download much on a tablet or phone.
"For safety reasons, our trucks and related equipment are not intended to be used in the area in which he was operating, specifically around electrical wires," a Verizon spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch. "While our actions may not be popular, he potentially put his life and those around him in jeopardy."
Not surprising. They throttled the firefighters during the wildfires for more money and lied about it. What do you expect? I will never be a customer of theirs.
How was he a danger to anyone including himself? Is he not professionally trained to be able to deal with the pole in the first place? They are greed and evil. They try to screw over the firefighters in California last year. They would not have changed that if it was not for the public attack they got. Rightly so. I have been needing to change phone companies, just not sure what ones have good deals with phones. But now, I must make this a priority. How do these people get paid so much to be so stupid!
Wow, Verizon just wow. That's heartless and ridiculous, I have Verizon now but will start searching for a new service provider. Just stupid they are.
That was a sweet thing to do, but the guy who fired the hero is just a salty pickle!
That cat could have gotten down by himself. Don't let the desperate meows fool you . If the cat can get himself up there , he can get himself down. Put cat food at the base of the pole. He'll climb down eventually. At the same time, it was wrong to fire this guy. And Verizon's reason for doing so is BS !!!!!!! I'm glad I use AT&T.
I know I'm going to get down-voted for this, but here it goes. Verizon is a corporation. The rules for corporations don't vary, don't take into account extenuating circumstances or 'feel good' stories. They have rules that encompass every worker, and they are pretty hard rules, too. They have too many employees and locations to bend the rules for anyone. This is the unfortunate results of growing into a large company. I understand their stance on this. Do I agree with it? No. But, I understand it. I work for a corporation. The rules of what I'm allowed to do, say and act are so different from smaller companies it borders on the ridiculous. But, still, I understand why. They cannot make allowances for behavior that is off the standard. They are much too large to look at each case independently and decide if it is a punishable offense or not. I'm sure his immediate supervisors (even if they applauded his actions) had others above them dictating this guys punishment.
While it's good that this guy got the cat, doing so was very foolish. He was using a non insulated aerial device while in proximity to energized conductor. He put himself at risk. If he wanted to help he should have alerted the electrical distributor from the area so linemen with proper equipment and training could get the cat.
he is a telephone employee get a cat off a telephone pole. I'm sure he had training before he was given the job. notice he did survive.
Load More Replies... I was a firefighter for20 years and the dispatcher got a call from a women the a cat was up in a tree could the FD come and get it down the dispatcher asked the women did you ever see a cat skeleton in a tree it will come down on its own lol
Firemen probably don't have training with electricity.
Load More Replies... I think Verizon can afford it. What they can't afford is bad publicity. Verizon execs should've just sucked it up, patted the guy on the back, then let it be. Instead they decided to punish someone for having a heart. what goes around comes around. Karma is a b***h. I'm talking to you, Verizon.
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