Well, I spoke to my manager today and declined the promotion. I told her it wasn't that I felt I couldn't do the job - I knew I could - but it was the other non-job related demands that would be placed on me that I couldn't physically perform and that I felt it was in the best interest for all concerned if I continued to do my current job and they looked for a replacement for the manager's position. Thanks everyone for your support - it helped me to feel not so guilty about not fighting back for the very first time in my life. I *always* fight back at injustice and unfairness. This is a first, and hopefully the last.

My manager wanted me to take over for her but her big roadblock - and mine too - was the boss. She told me she was afraid I couldn't work directly for him and I told her she was probably right. This guy really treats women like doo and he'll come in some days just looking for a fight. Frankly, I think he gets off on yelling and berating women who can't or won't fight back to make himself feel better. I told my manager I was married to someone just like him at one time and it's the reason I got a divorce and I sure as hell wouldn't put up with someone taking out their anger and frustration at who knows what on me because I happened to be the first person he saw when he walked in the door. Basically, the manager knows I'm outspoken and fight back and wouldn't take his crap in silence like she does.

She spoke to the boss today and I was not included. I do know that he was acting strange towards me when he left for lunch, almost like he didn't know what to say or that he was hurt or sad. Personally, I think he wanted me to take the position as well, but while I like him on his good days, I just can't subject myself to his Jeckyl/Hyde persona.

We also have a problem employee that the boss will not allow us to do anything about - she's his favorite and can do no wrong. He would not allow us to fire her and if I took the manager's position it's the first thing I'd want to do. She has drug and alcohol problems, is always late, misses a lot of work, screws up when she is at work - heck I sat and watched her mix an alcoholic beverage at her desk one day and she was just sent home two hours early. Any of the rest of us had done that we'd have been fired on the spot. See, it's the fairness thing again, not to mention she broke a company policy. While it will kill me to sit back and watch her continue to screw up and be rewarded for it, at least it won't be *my* problem, but the new manager's and I feel sorry for her.