What causes you the most stress?

[Bungleau]

Better to show up armed for bear and only need a peashooter...

...than to show up with a peashooter and be faced with a bear.

Just 'cause you *have* lots of weapons doesn't mean you have to *use* them.

Good luck, amigo...

[Cerek]

Originally Posted by Bungleau Better to show up armed for bear and only need a peashooter... ...than to show up with a peashooter and be faced with a bear. Just 'cause you *have* lots of weapons doesn't mean you have to *use* them. Good luck, amigo...

This is very true. A lawyer once showed my dad a trick they use. Dad had filed a grievance against the local school board because of an incident that occurred at my school. The lawyer told my dad to bring a file folder full of paper to the meeting. He said the folder should be thick enough to be very noticeable (about 1/2" or so). During the actual meeting with the school board and their attorney, dad sat at the table with his hand resting on the folder. After the meeting was over, the principal (who was a friend of dad's) came up and asked curiously "What is in that folder?" Dad said "More evidence we had, but didn't need".

The folder was full of blank paper.

But just seeing that they supposedly had that much extra information and documentation played a psychological trick on the school board members.


The point is that your dept mgr and the HR rep probably don't expect you to show up with very much documentation to back up your position. In fact, the HR person did their best to ensure you wouldn't bring anything. So show up with everything you can hold, carry and pull.

Bung has given you several very good avenues of approach with which to challenge their case. I would focus especially on exactly what they mean by fraudulent and put the burden on them to prove fraudulence occurred. Also challenge their idea of a "period". Make them say exactly how long this "period" would be and justify docking your commission for that entire period over one minor indisgression.

Your best strategy will be to point out the weakness in their attack and to challenge those points. Make them give specific answers and back them up. When they realize they can't just bully and bluster, they will likely be much more willing to compromise and reduce (or maybe even eliminate) the warning when you concede that "perhaps you could have done better".

Good luck, my friend.

[Bungleau]

Sneaky, Cerek... I like that

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

Many thanks again everyone!
I am planning to have a big file on hand anyway. I only asked HR that question, to see what she would say.

Ultimetly though, I leave it with The Lord through prayer, and others are praying for me as well. I know that He is in control and I have to have faith in that.

[Bungleau]

Rest assured that He is in control... but don't assume that He is going to do everything.

Came across this:

Apart from salvation, there is perhaps a way that the concept "God helps those who help themselves" is correct. As an example, if you asked me to help you move a piece of furniture, but then just watched me as I moved the furniture for you, I was not actually helping you. I would be doing the work for you. Many Christians fall into the trap of inactivity. Many Christians ask God for help, but then expect God to do everything Himself. They excuse this by pointing to the fact that God will provide according to His will and in His timing. However, this is not a reason for inactivity. As a specific example, if you are in need of a job, ask the Lord to help you find a job - but then be active in actually looking for a job. While it is in His power to do so, it is highly unlikely that God will cause employers to come looking for you! - gotquestions.org

He will do things... but the more *you* do in the process, the easier it is for *Him* to help you out.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

In the phone meeting with her, she asked why I didn't disposition the call as a "voicemail checkin". This is also used to indicate that you sent an email, because they may not have voicemail. This is generally reserved for the 3rd attempt, when we are able to leave a voicemail, or send an email.

Either way, it's still a contact, the same as if I disposition a "checkin". I'm hoping she will ask me this question again because, it is a contact just the same, AND, the system will not allow me to use this disposition, unless I have attempted them twice already.

If she does ask, I will come back with something like, "oh, so if I had used that disposition, everything would have been fine?". If she says "yes", I can follow up with the about. If she says "no", the question has no relevance.

If she really wants to defend her position, she'll try to send me down a bunch of rabbit holes. I will avoid letting her do that to me.
If I can keep it positive and make these points, I'm almost positive that she will recant. That is one quality that I feel she does have.

I still have several options after, like the email, or letter (gotta watch those emails ) to the managers in Framingham, and of course Labour Relations and maybe Human Rights. Naturally, I hope it will not get to that.

[Cerek]

Originally Posted by Bungleau Rest assured that He is in control... but don't assume that He is going to do everything. He will do things... but the more *you* do in the process, the easier it is for *Him* to help you out.

You're right that God expects us to do our share of the work or duty. He will provide for our needs, but that doesn't mean we can just sit around on the sofa waiting for it to happen. God gave us the tools, skills and abilities we need to do things ourselves and He expects us to use those.

While I firmly believe God is sovereign over this situation (and all situations), He would still expect Variol to do his part in preparing for the meeting as well. This is the case throughout the Bible. God never told Abraham or Noah or David or anyone else "You just sit back and relax. I'll take care of this". Instead, God said "I will take care of this, but here are the tasks I expect you to do for it to happen."

Variol - I definitely recommend using at least 3 different folders for your presentation. Separate your documentation by categories.
Folder 1 (Offense) - Policy provided to you by the company regarding this issue. This should be the policy you were given before this incident occurred. Definitions of "fraudulent", information about the call system used by the company, etc.
Also keep ALL communications with the company over this issue in this folder.
Folder 2 (Defense) - A list of all customers who request contact by email as well as your work logs from the time in question showing ALL the contacts made during the "period" they want to penalize you for. Anything else that supports your position.
Folder 3 (Trick Play) - Blank paper. But make sure it is at least as thick as the other folders and perhaps just a tad thicker.

The "blank" folder trick is only effective if you DON'T actually take anything out of it. If you have everything in one folder, the extra paper will have no effect. The idea is to imply "I had all this OTHER stuff as well, but I decided I didn't need it - at this time."

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

Ok, folders are padded. ..good to have all those deacons notes! ..oops, i must have grabbed the file file; silly me!

..maybe I'll thank them for the extra time, so that I could do "all" this research..

[Bungleau]

That's exactly the point I was trying to make, Cerek... thanks for being more eloquent

I liken it to my brother counting on his angels to help him pass a test in school. After the test was over and he *didn't* pass, he was informed that had he studied, there would have been something to help him with...

[Cerek]

Originally Posted by Bungleau That's exactly the point I was trying to make, Cerek... thanks for being more eloquent I liken it to my brother counting on his angels to help him pass a test in school. After the test was over and he *didn't* pass, he was informed that had he studied, there would have been something to help him with...

There is a very familiar joke about this too. A man was caught in a flood and climbed to the roof of his house. A boat comes by to rescue the man. He says "God will save me" and sends them away. The water rises higher and another boat comes by. He says "God will save me" and sends them away. The water covers the house and rises to his waist. A helicopter flies over and drops a ladder. He says "God will save me" and sends them away. The water continues to rise and the man drowns. He gets to Heaven and wants to talk to God. He enters the Throne Room and says "God - I trusted you. I had faith you would save me and you let me drown. WHY didn't you save me?"

God said "I tried. I sent you two boats and a helicopter, but you wouldn't use them."