In brief, our project is suffering from non-existant morale and everything that comes with it. recently, I (agent) sent this memo to our new site director. She appreciated my concerns but not some of my comments. What do you think?
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RE: Management's failure to notice.
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Hi *****,

I am tendering the following information to demonstrate that I wish to be part of the solutions and not merely one of the problems.

I should like to direct your attention to the main access corridor from the security entrance to the production floor. There you will find a number of notice boards which have not been updated. While this may seem a trivial matter, consider the impact upon staff and potential employees who are touring the building.

The issue is not merely the lack of updates, but the fact that these boards present old and expired notices. Several have not been updated in months, one for over a year. If there is no current information for these boards, far better that they sit blank, presenting the image that information may be forthcoming. By continuing, month after month, to present the last posting, these boards simply become monuments to neglect and symbols of the disregard management has for staff.

This is a small but significant example of managers shirking duties, failing to recognize issues, and failing to take ownership. The age of the displays reveals the disregard the management team has for their work. If no manager is capable of assuming responsibility for taking down an outdated notice when they are passing by, how can any manager be trusted with a more serious concern?

I have attached a list of the relevant notices, accompanied by what the neglect of each implies. I suggest that this issue be raised to the operations team, as an excellent example of the neglect agents experience regularly and the lack of professionalism inflicted upon them. This simple and trivial matter is indicative massive failures, as it clearly and concisely demonstrates a total avoidance of responsibility and lack of respect for the workplace.

I humbly suggest that these notice boards be cleared or updated before the next Open House, lest visitors seeing such determine that we are a less than professional organization.

Kindest Regards,
Jeff Rose-Martland


P.S. I should also like to mention the fading 4m long derelict cruise liner.


1 - Anniversary Board
- Purpose: to acknowledge employees who have achieved annual milestones in employment, to be updated monthly
- Last update in July
- Implications: either no one has ever been hired in August or September, or management just stopped caring that they were.

2 - Quality Recognition Board
- Purpose: to recognize agents for achieving high quality, to be updated weekly.
- Last Update: 7 July
- Implications: either no agents have provided good customer service in the past 10 weeks, or quality is no longer important, or agents contributions are irrelevant

3 - Attendance Recognition Board
- Purpose: to recognize those employees who achieve perfect attendance, to be updated monthly and quarterly
- Last Update: early July, for 2nd quarter and June
- Implications: either no employee has achieved perfect attendance, or we no longer care if they do or do not.

5 - Employee Opinion Survey Board
- Purpose: to announce results of Employee Opinion Surveys, that staff may feel that their concerns have been communicated and are being addressed.
- Last updated Autumn 2007
- Implications: We aren't really all that interested in your opinion, we just put this up so you'd be quiet.

4 - Employee Management Team Board
- Purpose: to communicate to agents that their concerns are heard, scheduled update: Unknown.
- Board refers agents to several individuals who are no longer with the company,including a former senior operations manager. Notices are yellow and fading
- Last update in Autumn 2007.
- Implications: you spoke, we Listened... What else did you want?

First, whenever you start a letter with 'I am tendering...' you put people in a less than open frame of mind, since it's usually followed by 'my resignation.'

I think it's commendable that you noticed the board and brought it forward. However your letter was written in the tone of 'Y'all stink and I don't care if you fire me.'

Also you are noting this problem as being a symbol of a large problem--poor management. Unfortunately, just like you need two points to make a line and show direction... you need at least two seperate issues to show that management is going in the wrong direction. With just one problem discussed, it can be disregarded as someone making a mountain out of a molehill.

Please note: This is just my honest opinion and I'm not even a manager anymore. LOL

'Y'all stink and I don't care if you fire me.' - lol, great way to express exactly what I've been feeling!

Thanks for the constructive feedback. You're absolutely correct about needing two points. I should have caught that myself; I'm usually better at this sort of thing. Consider your feedback well accepted!

On a positive note, within 36 hours of receipt of this memo, the displays were cleaned up, including the cardboard cruise ship.

Glad to hear you got them moving. Hopefully it'll start a trend. Good Luck!

Pre-client visit this week, the aforementioned site leader was circulating the building inspecting all displays and assigning people to update them immediatly.

Which vindicts me. As I have often said about my writing: you may agree or disagree, but you'll never be able to ignore me. ;)

QUOTEJeff Rose-MartlandPre-client visit this week, the aforementioned site leader was circulating the building inspecting all displays and assigning people to update them immediatly.

Which vindicts me. As I have often said about my writing: you may agree or disagree, but you'll never be able to ignore me. ;)


Sure...but did you come off as a whining complainer or someone offering a genuince solution. Perhaps a more upbeat

"Hello Boss! I noticed the boards were out of date and thought that many people could find this an issue, do I have your permission to go and update them with the following information...."

Sadly, things at that centre have disintegrated badly and are getting worse. At the time that was written, the only way to get anything addressed was to jump and scream. As for me taking ownership of the problem: I would not have been permitted. As an agent, I was basically shackled to my desk serving the eternal queue.

I have since fired the company from their position as my employer.

Sorry and Happy to hear that Jeff, I didn't see a post from you on it nor did I notice your update in info.

I find that 100% of people land in a better off position once they leave and I do hope that you find something that is more suitable. Keep us updated on what you are doing.

Thanks Justin,

Thanks to some encouragement, I am turning my 3.25 years in the trenches into research and going freelance with my writing. With any luck, you'll be seeing me in the trades as well as here.