A Delusional World

As the end of January fast approaches, it seems that Ed Fanning, Nick Jevic, and Tom Hennings seem to be living in a delusional world of denial. The corporate entity known as Phoenix Building Solutions; once produced modular Homes, Apartments, and Condominiums has sat cold, dark, and dormant at 630 Hay Avenue and 600 Albert Road in Brookville, Ohio since January 5. The lights are off, the heat is gone and the only activity in the facility is the screeching cries of fighting raccoons. The flame of the Phoenix has been extinguished.

In the fantasy world inside the delusional heads of three Cincinnati, Ohio men, Phoenix still burns bright and productive. This fantasy is very evident by the three’s total lack of the concept of reality, as they refuse to acknowledge their failures in life and in business. Total Denial, is an appropriate term. The website for Phoenix Building Solutions continues to be live, without any indications to public that company is no longer doing business. The phone numbers and email addresses on the website are listed for inquiries, but not a single person works at the facility to answer those inquiries. After not compensating the employees for two weeks of employment before being layoff, the employees were told verbally without any written record as Ed Fanning termed the phrase they were “temporarily” discharged.

In a matter that makes this curious case of delusion even more interesting is the simple fact that Phoenix Building Solutions’ third party Human Resource Company, PAYCHEX, which handled payroll, 401k, and W-2 tax filings, has not been informed of the situation at Phoenix by Edward J. Fanning. When employees place a call to PAYCHEX to find out information regarding W-2 filing, the employees are told they are not authorized to receive this information. When requesting information on accessing the employees 401k account, the employees is told the plan is still “Active” and there has not been a triggering event. Furthermore the person that has the ability to access and cancel the account with PAYCHEX is Edward J. Fanning, and the account administrator. Apparently Ed Fanning believes he is still operating an ACTIVE corporation. This one major headache for all the employees can be cured by Edward J. Fanning contacting PAYCHEX, terminating the account and having W-2 Form sent the former employees. Instead of Edward Fanning choosing use morals and do what is ultimately right, he chooses stay in his home office and play Modular Home Builder with his Lincoln Logs and Lego’s.

By keeping this account with PAYCHEX active, Edward J. Fanning had done nothing more than anger and push his former employees even more towards the breaking point. Coupled with the loss of their employment, vacation compensation, 2 weeks compensation, locked 401k benefits, flex spending accounts, and with-holding IRS W-2 forms; the drive to survive in tough economic times become even harder. What would make Edward Fanning, Nick Jevic or Tom Hennings think any employee would even comprehend working for these men ever again? It must be pure delusion.