Are we so busy that we can’t look out for one another?
An L.A. County employee apparently died while working in her cubicle on Friday, but no one noticed for quite some time.
51-year-old Rebecca Wells was found by a security guard on Saturday afternoon.
She was slumped over on her desk in the L.A. County Department of Internal Services.
“I came in Saturday to do a little work, and I saw them when they were taking her out,” co-worker Hattie Robertson told KTLA.
The exact time of death is not clear, but detectives say that, at worst, she had been dead for a day before her body was discovered.
The last time a co-worker saw her alive was Friday morning around 9:00 a.m., according to Downy police detectives.
via Dead at Desk: L.A. County Employee Found Dead in Cubicle a Day Later – ktla.com.
February 16, 2011 at 8:43 pm
OMG that’s horrible, nobody noticed?? Disgusting, self absorbed bastards.
February 16, 2011 at 9:04 pm
It is so sad Somebody. Is this what we have to look forward from our self absorbed culture?
February 16, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Somebody is just right: it’s horrible. Maybe the isolation typiied by cubicle work-stations symbolizes the feeling of estrangement that reaults in people’s addiction to cell phones.
February 16, 2011 at 11:14 pm
I was not surprised by this story. While so many people are vilifying those of us who work in the public sector (if that is what a city, county, or state employee is) as people who do nothing and collect big salaries and great benefits, this lady and so many of us work hard and are almost isolated in our jobs. I have known people who literally worked in their state job until the day they died. One was only found – dead in her apartment – after she did not show up for work one day. She was dressed and ready to go back to work when she died. She was another state employee who today would be looked down upon – just as the governor of Wisconsin is doing – for doing her job.
I am not so convinced that her colleagues were so self absorbed they didn’t notice her. Maybe they were. But maybe they were so effing tired from doing their own jobs, they figured she was taking a nap so she could finish up before going home for the weekend.
I might add that while the governor of Wisconsin condemns the unions that protect his employees from abusive work situations, he will retire from his job to collect a large pension and contacts that will likely garner him additional $$. Those state civil servants will not.
I apologize for going OT a little.
February 17, 2011 at 12:09 am
A riveting, eye-opening comment, Leslie.
February 17, 2011 at 6:53 am
I understand working past the eight leslie. I also worked for the government in a cubicle at one time. I could have done anything but work. No one would have noticed. I have to wonder if anyone said “goodbye” or “how was lunch?” to her. A small courtesy, but something none the less. I feel that the people around her must not have paid too much attention to her because this took place in LA. Perhaps, she was not liked? I don’t know.
February 17, 2011 at 6:54 am
Hey, let the rant continue. Those of us who work funky hours certainly can relate.
February 17, 2011 at 6:58 am
Okay then.
Your work has certainly not dampened your humorous side!
February 17, 2011 at 5:02 pm
and thank goddess for that (humor). otherwise I’d be picketing and getting fired from my state job.