FWD: Lack of self-awareness in a writer...what to do

[Ned Bedinger]

TECHWR-L Administrator wrote:
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> 
> As the engineering writer, he wrote (?)
> technical material that went on the support site and did other
> writing. Reading his work from both times, I suspect strongly he
> gathered what others wrote and put it all together into one place.

You sound like you're stuck with the guy.  Is he the boss's nephew or 
something?

But, I think it needs saying that even if he is aggregating the work of 
others, it doesn't bother me much in theory, because let's face it, it 
is possible to be correct and complete without writing or rewriting even 
2% of the source material, or winning an STC prize.

What you still need for this air-tight case against continuing to employ 
Tom is to discuss his work with the roles/people who use it for support. 
It is a long shot, but maybe he has learned a lot, in ten years with the 
company, about the company and what works. And maybe he's right that 
your process is a silly bunch of whirly-twirly make-work. Unless you can 
make the case against him in these terms, you haven't really finished 
him off, IMHO.  Most managers would not agree with me about this, however.

But honestly, I do want to say "Congratulations" on the description of 
the worst employee in the world.  The guy is so-o-o busted. How is it 
that you don't know that?!

Anyway, I'm sure the advice others have given, about taking your problem 
to your Human Resources department, will get you all of the official 
support you need.

HTH,

Ned Bedinger
doc at edwordsmith.com