Watercooler gossip is a pillar of the workplace—about as unavoidable as the pointless memo. But in rural Hooksett, N.H., speaking a little too freely has cost four municipal workers their jobs. In a secret vote in April, the nine-member Hooksett council sacked town assessor Sandra Piper, 59, who has 27 years of service; building code enforcement officer Michelle Bonsteel, 55, and administrative assistants Joanne Drewniak, 47, and Jessica Skorupski, 30. The reason: They allegedly discussed an unfounded rumor that town administrator David Jodoin, a married father of two, was getting too cozy with an unnamed underling and giving her preferential treatment. Now the fired women are known as the Hooksett Four. "You could have cut my legs off and it would've been less painful," says Bonsteel. Adds Drewniak (cited for allegedly referring to Jodoin with an expletive behind his back): "They've ruined my life."
The four admittedly clashed with Jodoin for promoting the unnamed woman over the more experienced Skorupski. But no one disputes that they have fine work records and didn't start the rumor. They have strong local support, including a petition signed by more than 500 voters. Still, on May 23, the council rejected Skorupski and Drewniak's appeal and upheld the firings (the town had offered to reinstate Bonsteel and Piper, but with conditions the pair found unacceptably punitive). All four plan to sue.
The scandal broke in March after Jodoin told the council he'd suffered "physical symptoms of stress" over the rumors. In a May hearing, council lawyer Debra Weiss Ford called the alleged gossipers "insubordinate, dishonest and unsuitable," the only official comment so far. One thing is clear: If the town hoped to quiet wagging tongues, it failed. The affair has drawn Hooksett national publicity—and not in a good way. "They worried about a few hundred people knowing about this, and now millions know," Bonsteel says. "What have they accomplished?"
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