CEO: HRD?
HRD: CEO....I live to serve.....
CEO: Funny. Where are we with that thing, that situation?
HRD: Swine flu?
CEO: No the naughty people
HRD: Interesting you should mention that. I'm just writing the outcome of the disciplinary now, drafting the letter.
CEO: Can I see it before it goes? You know, I have known all the parties involved for a very long time.
HRD........uhhhh......yep.......s'pose so
CEO: Excellent. Next five minutes? Bye.
HRD: Crap.....
Ten minutes later after aforementioned letter has been sent.
CEO: HRD? Ummm I mean....this.....ummm....this letter
HRD: Which letter?
CEO: Which letter! The one you just sent me!
HRD: Ohhh.....that one....
CEO: Yessss that one. Well, I mean.....its a bit formal...
HRD:.....it is a disciplinary warning....
CEO:I know....its just....ummm....well he really won't like it...
HRD: .....it is a disciplinary warning....
CEO: I mean, can't we tone it down.....make it more ambiguous?
HRD: .......an ambiguous disciplinary warning?
CEO: Well if we send this he will be seriously pissed off!
HRD:....its a.........
CEO: ....disciplinary warning....I know....you keep on saying....I just thought maybe I could reword it, soften it down, make it look like he's not at fault.....
HRD: Thats a really good idea, I think blame should be kept out of disciplinary situations...
CEO: Look I know you won't like it but, can't we just keep this informal, light touch, between us.....
HRD: Ummm....I think we went past that point when we sat down in the hearing.....
CEO: I mean tell me if you think I'm mad?
HRD: You're mad
CEO: Really?
HRD: Yep
CEO: Well OK, how about this. I mean, if he gets this from his manager all fucking hell is going to break loose. So I thought....how about it comes from........
HRD: Nope!
CEO: How about.......it comes from...
HRD: No!
CEO:....you?
HRD: Its not happening.
CEO: Really?
HRD: Really.
CEO: I thought you'd say that. Ok well, I'll take the letter home, rewrite it and send it back to you tomorrow. OK? Ciao
***Clunk***
8 comments:
What's he so scared of?
The pen is mightier than the sword.
There's something about putting it in black & white that scares the crap out of people both the receiver and the giver. Everything is okay as long as we "talk it out".
I hear you. Oh how I hear you.
@Theo - Thanks for your comment. That is a very intuitive question Theo. What are they afraid of? Thoughts?
@Corporate Daycare - Thanks for coming back. Yes there does seem to be some aversion to making it real. Of course, as you would expect, I won the day!
I love your CEO exchanges! Keep 'em comin.
@HR Good_Witch - Thank you, thats kind. The funny thing is they are all absolutely real!
LOL! oh wow- story of my HR career life- every time i write a disciplinary letter i'm told to 'tone it down' and 'it's too harsh'- i swear- EVERY time....thank you so much for sharing this- now I know now i'm not insane.
@Anonymous - Thanks for your comment. You're not insane. Its them out there that are!!
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