Working America's Bad Boss Contest Official Rules

Sponsor: 

The Bad Boss Contest is sponsored by Working America, 815 16th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.  Working America is the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

Eligibility:

The Contest is open to residents of the United States who are 21 years of age or older at the time the Contest commences. Employees, officers, directors, agents, representatives and independent contractors (and their immediate family members and members of the same households, whether related or not) of Working America or the AFL-CIO are not eligible to participate. The Contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law or regulation. Participants agree to abide by the terms of these official rules and by the decisions of the Sponsor which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to the Contest. The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any participant that it determines, in its sole discretion, is ineligible to participate in the Contest.

Use of automated devices are not valid for entry. Electronic entries must include a valid e-mail address for the entrant. In the event of a dispute as to the identity or eligibility of a winner based on an e-mail address, the winning entry will be declared made by the "Authorized Account Holder" [defined as the natural person who is assigned to the email address by an Internet Access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.)] of the email address submitted at the time of the entry.

Summary:

In order to enter the Contest, you must enter your name, email address, and full mailing address in the designated window. By providing your name and email address, you become a member of Working America. Click here to read our privacy policy. To enter the contest, you must transmit a description of why your employer or supervisor qualifies as a Bad Boss. Working America's editorial staff will review and may edit all entries before posting. Entries deemed irrelevant, potentially libelous or inflammatory will not be posted. Entries must be based on your own personal experiences. There is a limit of one entry per participant. Once the contest has begun, entries will be posted within three working days of their receipt, following review by Working America's editorial staff. Submissions will be resubmitted automatically each week except for the top two stories that receive the most votes for that voting period (the "People's Choice" semi-final winners).

"People's Choice" semi-final winners will be selected by a vote of Working America members to be held over a seven-day period starting at 12:00PM on Tuesday of each week of the contest and ending at 11:59AM on the following Tuesday with the exception of the first selection of the semi-final winner, held over an 11-day period starting at 12:00PM on Thursday, July 10 and ending at 11:59AM Tuesday, July 22. The first round of voting will begin on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 12:00PM and end on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 11:59AM. Information concerning the number of votes received will be available at http://workingamerica.org/badboss on the Saturday following the end of each voting period. Results may also be obtained by sending a written request to Working America, 815 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006 Attn: "My Bad Boss" Contest. Semi-final winners will be notified by email and at http://www.workingamerica.org/badboss.

Semi-final winners will become eligible for the "People's Choice" Grand Prize contest to be conducted between 12:00PM, Tuesday, August 12, 2008 and 11:59AM, Tuesday, August 19, 2008. The winner of the "People's Choice" Grand Prize will be based solely on the votes cast during this period without consideration of votes cast during the semi-final contests. The winner of the "People's Choice" Grand Prize will be announced on the Working America website no later than August 31, 2008. The winner may also be obtained by sending a written request to Working America, 815 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C,. 20006, Attn: "My Bad Boss" Contest.

One additional entry will be selected by the Working America staff for a "Most Outrageous Story" Grand Prize. The "Most Outrageous Story" Grand Prize Winner will be selected based on the uniqueness, outrageousness, and quality of writing of the submission, as determined by the Working America staff. The winner of the "Most Outrageous Story" Grand Prize will be announced on the Working America website no later than August 31, 2008. Results may also be obtained by sending a written request to Working America, 815 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006 Attn: "My Bad Boss" Contest.

The decisions of the Sponsor are final. The winner of the "People's Choice" Grand Prize and the "Most Outrageous Story" Grand Prize will be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility, a release of any and all liability from any claims for damages, losses or injury against Sponsor and/or any of its agents or contractors arising from use of the prize, and such other forms as the Sponsor may require.

The full names of the participants and winners will not be made public by the Sponsor. All entries become the property of Working America and will not be returned. Entries may be used by Working America for any purpose without the permission of the participant or any consideration apart from participation in the Contest in accordance with these official rules. Working America may, but is under no obligation to, verify the information set forth in an entry prior to publication. Working American may edit each entry, whether or not selected as a winner, and may republish it on the Working America website and in any other form.

Prizes:

Each semi-final winner shall receive the following prize: a "Bad Boss Survival Kit" consisting of: a DVD with a bad boss theme; "The Very Best of Aretha Franklin" CD by Aretha Franklin (features the song "Respect"); "Know Your Rights in the Workplace", "Ten Tips for Dealing with Bad Bosses" and a guide to forming a workplace union from Working America; one set of earplugs, and a Working America T-shirt.

Two Grand Prizes shall be awarded, as set forth in these official rules - one to the "People's Choice" Grand Prize winner and one to the "Most Outrageous Story" Grand Prize Winner. The Grand Prize for the "People's Choice" winner will consist of a certificate worth a seven night stay in a vacation condominium provided by Union Privilege. The "People's Choice" Grand Prize winner may choose the location of the condo where the certificate will apply from the designated RCI website (http://www.rci.com/RCIW/); dates and locations are subject to availability. In addition, Working America will provide the "People's Choice" Grand Prize winner with a check for $1,000 toward airfare or other travel expenses. The retail value of the "People's Choice" Grand Prize is less than $2,500. The "People's Choice" Grand Prize must be claimed no later than August 30th, 2008 and must be used no later than August 30st, 2009. The Grand Prize for the "Most Outrageous Story" winner will consist of a certificate worth a seven night stay in a vacation condominium provided by Union Privilege. The "Most Outrageous Story" Grand Prize winner may choose the location of the condo where the certificate will apply from the designated RCI website (http://www.rci.com/RCIW/); dates and locations are subject to availability. In addition, Working America will provide the "Most Outrageous Story" Grand Prize winner with a check for $500 toward airfare or other travel expenses. The retail value of the "Most Outrageous Story" Grand Prize is less than $2,000. The "Most Outrageous Story" Grand Prize must be claimed no later than August 31st, 2009 and must be used no later than August 30th, 2009.
Semi-final prizes and the Grand Prizes are not redeemable for cash. Prizes are not transferable and no substitutions are allowed except by the Sponsor, who reserves the right to award a prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize is unavailable. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded. All taxes and other expenses related to any prize are the responsibility of the prize winners.

Cost:

There is not cost to participate in the Contest.  No purchase is necessary.

Rounds:

There will only be one round in this Contest for the Grand Prizes.

Dates:

The Contest will begin on Thursday, July 10, 2008 and will end no later than 12:00PM, Tuesday, August 19, 2008. Entries will be accepted on the Working America website beginning on Wednesday, July 9, 2008. Entries received prior to Thursday, July 10, 2008 will be posted, following review by Working America's editorial staff, on the first day of the Contest (July 10).

Limitation of Liability:

If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Contest, the Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the Contest, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. Sponsor is not responsible for problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers computer equipment, software, failure of any email to be received by the Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this Contest.

By participating in the Contest, each participant agrees to release and hold the Sponsor and the AFL-CIO harmless from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind in connection with or resulting from participation in the Contest and/or acceptance, possession, or use of any prize(s) including, without limitation, personal injuries, death, property damages and any claims by third parties or otherwise based on publicity rights, defamation, or invasion of privacy. Entrants acknowledge that Sponsor is not responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any Prize.

Jurisdiction:

Any dispute that may arise hereunder shall be brought solely in the appropriate state or federal court sitting in Washington, D.C., and participants consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such court.