Re: FWD: Ethical Problem

[Charlene Hirschi <hirschi -at- DIGITALPLA -dot- NET>]

I would pursue the apology.  Hang the consequences.   Char

Eric J. Ray wrote:

> Name withheld upon request. Please reply on list.
>
> *************************************************
>
> Greetings!
>
> I'm in sort of an ethical dilemma RIGHT NOW; need your advice ASAP.
> Here's what has happened:
>
> I'm the "senior writer" in a small group of writers for a major service
> industry employer. For our group, I've been given the responsibilities
> of "project lead" and editor, so I catch it coming and gpoing, so to
> speak. In other words, nothing gets past me to our customers, either
> way.
>
> What has happened is that one of our "staff" writers, with my help of
> course, just released a 2-volume (1k pp) set of P&P manuals for our
> internat'l customers. This was her FIRST major project for the Company.
> The writer took the project from cradle to grave: she not only revised
> the manuals, but also did a major re-org of all content, applied a new,
> more usable style template, designed the covers (art), and handled the
> print coordination (all of which no other person in our group has done
> heretofore) -- all on time and within budget.
>
> I told the boss that I'm proud to have my name on th manuals.
>
> OK, great success story, right? Well, it's also our Company's style of
> rewarding these "small" internal successes, usually with a
> "Atta-Boy/Girl" letter and a nice little bonus check -- which, my name
> as editor also being on the manuals, we both got this week, in a little
> ceremony in our manager's office with all the group present.
>
> That was right before lunch this Monday. Right AFTER lunch, the writer
> and I were called back into our manager's office, whereupon he informed
> us that the "MANUALS WERE A DISASTER" --it seems he discovered that a
> few pages of (obscure) tabulated information from one manual somehow
> didn't make it through the "translation" -- and he promptly demanded our
> congratulatory letters back and then TORE THEM INTO SHREDS IN OUR
> PRESENCE.
>
> My reaction was to calmly tell the boss that he was overacting
> ("disasters" are when people die), which he refused to acknowledge. By
> then, I was beginning to lose my cool, so I simply said "we'll have to
> 'agree to disagree' on this one" and walked out.
>
> Well, people, I can tell you that I have survived 7 years of the USMC
> and 3 ex-wives (3 kids, 1 each), and my ego will survive this one, too!
>
> But as you might imagine, our young staff writer is devastated, and told
> me she's looking for a new job.
>
> Yesterday, we were called back in to our manager's office (expecting an
> apology?); however, he gaves us a PHOTOCOPY of the citations, with a
> handwritten note from our Director (his boss), adding his congrats...
>
> SO, having had some time to further process this, I've decided that
> today I'm going back in to the boss...for a one-on-one. What I will say
> is to explain how his behavior has damaged the ego of our talented, but
> impressionable young team member, and that I EXPECT HIM TO MAKE AMENDS
> TO HER ASAP ( maybe a new letter and a heart-felt apology?).
>
> IF he refuses, I plan to take it to the Director.
>
> Should I start polishing up my resume?
>
> Please advise.
>
> name withheld by request.
>
> From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000==

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