- Report: #1302349
Complaint Review: Stonewall Jackson Inn - Harrisonburg Virginia - Harrisonburg Virginia
Reported By:
John -
168 Park Bolton Place, California, USA
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Stonewall Jackson Inn - Harrisonburg Virginia
547 E Market St Harrisonburg, 22801 Virginia, USA
Phone:
(540) 433-8233
Web:
http://www.stonewalljacksoninn.com
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Stonewall Jackson Inn - Harrisonburg, Virginia Working CouplesWayne Engel Professor Emeritus (Clinical Psychology) Clinical Psychologist, Psychopath, Sociopath, Narcissist Harrisonburg Virginia
I found the Stonewall Jackson advertisement for assistant inn keepers on the working couples website (www.workingcouples.com).
After interviewing with Dr. Wayne Engel (the owner of Stonewall Jackson Inn), my wife and I decided to work for Engel. He was very friendly during the interview - almost like a fatherly figure. Engel has a nice smile, is highly intelligent and appeared to be completely trustworthy. I didn't ask for a contract and am I sorry because my only legal recourse against Engel is now a civil court.
The background:
My wife and I were staying in Wisconsin and needed to find a place to live and work. I called Engel to see if the position was still available and then promised to send him my resume and tell him a little more about me. We interviewed a couple of times on Skype and talked by phone. Engel even came to airport to fetch us and gave us a warm welcome hug after which he took us to the apartment we were to live in at the Inn.
Day 1:
The experienced inn keeper couple arrived the same day as us to work at the Inn. They spent a lot of money buying food and other necessities for the coming week. They had just arrived by car from California.
Day 2:
I experience a serious health issue and Dr. Engel is very kind to take me to the ER and fetch me after a long 6 hour wait without being seeing by a doctor. On arrival back at the apartment, my wife breaks the news that the experienced innkeepers had resigned and planned to leave on Wednesday or Thursday. I asked my wife why and she iinformed they had communication issues with Engel. Apparently he was rude and obnoxious to them. I found this hard to believe as he was very nice to us.
Day 3:
Engel takes me to the ER again and this time I get treatment and prepare myself to work the following day.
Later in the day, Engel walked into our apartment and informed me that I needed to wear sneakers. I explained that my feet hurt and since the inn was not officially opening (and no guests) until May 1st, I would continue to wear sandals/slippers. He continued to harass me about the issue and that's when I became very angry at him. Engel is devoid of compassion as is the case with any psychopath or sociopath.
Day 4: I figured out how to use the reservation software as my wife needed to use it and she, as well as the experienced inn keepers had not been properly trained by a technician hired by Engel. She caught up the backlog and we managed to complete many other tasks in the inn and the surrounding gardens. It was during this time that the darker side of Engel started to show. Engel began to treat us both in a very rude and condescending manner. He refused to answer questions directly and tried to control us through humiliation, trepidation and disrespect. Engel frequently played mind-games with us. He called a meeting in which he was going to let us go because he had found another two replacement couples. We talked about 2 hours and convinced Engel we would not let him down. Turns out the experienced couple did not take Engel's offer the next day, and so he had only the inexperienced couple which was to move into the apartment today.
My wife and I spent $800 getting to the Stonewall Jackson Inn and we had been under a lot of stress given my health issues and lack of work opportunities. This was the make or break point for us. This morning he called the police and we had to vacate the property even though we had a verbal contract to stay for 2 weeks. The police informed us there was nothing that could be done without a written contract. Were we sorry that we did not insist on a written contract before we travelled to the Stonewall Jackson Inn! Police informed us that we would have to take it up in the civil courts. So we left this morning after a nightmarish experience.
Interactions with Engel:
Engel expects direct answers to questions he asks but reserves the right not to answer your questions directly. He will try to make you look incompetent and stupid. He is a very condescending individual. His manner can be very abrupt and rude, disregarding the feelings of those with whom he communicates - especially those whom he employs.
Engel doesn't feel there is a need to lock one's door so there are no keys to the apartments or anywhere else, except his room which is in the attic of the inn. He can't understand (even though he practised as a clinical psychologist and professor at JMU) that people feel safer sleeping behind locked doors.
Engel has only one way of doing things - his way. This would be fine except that you have to guess what way he wants you to do things as he does not have time to tell you (in fact, he has plenty of time, but likes to play mind-games). Often, he would treat us like children and be rude when we did not complete his little tasks/tests as he expected. He would then blame us for not doing the job correctly. He was quick to criticise and judge us, calling us impatient and inexperienced in a very rude and condescending tone.
He hugs a lot and talks in a peevish tone, treating you as if your life's worth is less than scum. He smiles wryly and sarcasm is a permanent feature in his speech. Engel is devoid of human compassion. He is a psychopathic liar and controlling freak.
Conclusion:
Think twice before you accept an offer of employment from Engel and insist on a written contract, as he cannot be trusted. My advice is to run for your life. The guy has a Jekyll and Hyde personality. He is impatient and often projects his thoughts onto others. The staff turnover at Stonewall Inn is exceptionally high. Engel gets free labour by insisting on a 2 week non-paid trial period. In out case, we weren't even allowed to stay until the end of the trial period.
Don't be fooled by Engel's smooth talking voice and grandpa behaviour. He is a very unpleasant man with a mean nature and even though he appears to be kind and good, he has ulterior motives including the understanding one must accept to be treated like scum whilst in his employ.
It was too good to be true when my wife and I were offered the opportunity. Engel was huggy one moment and extremely rude the next. Typical sociopath behaviour.
A horrible experience which I don't wish on any other couple. You have been warned!
