Professional Documents
Culture Documents
WATS lines were installed three years ago to give all employees easier
telephone access to our customers and suppliers in other parts of the country. In
fact, our company's growth rate has increased since then, and we attribute at
least part of that growth to the new telephone system.
As sales have increased, so have our telephone bills. But, over the past few
months, those bills have been growing faster than sales. It seems that a few
people have been using the long-distance lines to make personal calls. Such
misuse of the WATS lines reduces our profits (and thus the amount available for
profit sharing by all employees), and it ties up lines that are needed for business
calls.
Please do your part to keep our company profitable and healthy. If you absolutely
must make a personal long-distance call during business hours, please charge it
to your home phone. Your colleagues will appreciate your consideration.
________________________________________________________________
Lincoln Financial
Attention:
In spite of our recent switch to purchasing plastic Attracts
products in bulk, our costs for these containers that we use reader’s
at company meetings are still high. In my January 5 memo, I attention to
included all the figures showing our excessive costs. problem
Interest:
In January, I suggested we purchase plastic containers during Highlights
winter months when petroleum prices tend to be lower. ways of
Because you approved that suggestion, we should realize a reducing
10 percent savings this year. A recycling program offered by costs
the city could easily lead to additional savings. Desire:
Points out
In addition to the cost in dollars is the cost in image. Many of solution of an
our employees have complained about our lack of a recycling associated
program for plastic containers. problem
Action:
I have attached a detailed report of the costs involved. Our net
Motivates by
savings in the first year should run about $500. The recycling
specifying
plan will help build our public image while improving our
savings and
bottom line. If you agree, let’s meet next week. Please call me
requests
at ext. 2356 if you have any questions.
specific
action
Date: Mon, 22 September 2008
From: Susannah Beech, Human Resources Administrator
To: Metro Power Employees
Subject: Coping tactics for technical failures
Recently, three Metro employees were fired because of violent outbursts after an
equipment failure. One woman was kicking her printer and screaming
obscenities. A man threw his keyboard across the room when he couldn’t get on
the Intranet, and a third employee put a fist through his computer screen after the
system failed. We try to avoid firing people, but these employees frightened co-
workers, so we had no choice.
We will do the same to anyone who screams at their computers or kicks their
printers in the future. You can laugh, but it’s not funny. This is akin to workplace
terrorism.
Computers should be turned off at night, cleaned with cleaning cloths, and food
and drink products avoided. There are many ways to combat rising tempers.
Walks around the building are a good tactic for calming down.
Technology glitches are not some unholy terror. They are commonplace. Let’s
behave like adults in the future, shall we?
Susannah Beech
Human Resources Administrator
Date: Mon, 22 September 2008
From: Susannah Beech
To: Metro Power Employees
Subject: Coping Tactics for Technical Failures
We all know the stress of racing toward a deadline and suddenly having your
equipment fail. Here are a few suggestions to help you stave off—and cope with
—technical equipment and systems failures when they do occur:
Stay cool. Tech failures are commonplace in business; your bosses and
co-workers will understand.
Practice preventive maintenance. Use cleaning cloths and sprays
regularly, keep liquids and foods away from sensitive keyboards and
printers, and make sure systems are shut down when you leave at night.
For faster repair assistance, promptly report computer failures to Bart
Stone, assistant director of information services, ext. 2238.
If you suspect an equipment problem may be developing, don’t wait until
the crucial moment to call for assistance.
Take a walk to calm down if a last-minute technical failure threatens your
composure.
The last suggestion is perhaps the most important to keep your career on track.
Lost tempers, violent outbursts, and rude language are threatening to co-
workers, and could result in reprimands or other disciplinary action. So stay calm
and make good use of technical support hotlines and assistance. Help is always
available.
Ask your supervisor for a list of support numbers to keep handy. The next time
you experience a technology glitch, you’ll be able to handle it as just another
aspect of your business routine.
Susannah Beech
Human Resources Administrator
We need to start making some budget cuts in our travel expenditures. These include
staying in cheaper hotels, arranging flights for cheaper times, and renting more
reasonable cars.
The company needs to cut travel expenses by 25 percent. This means you’ll no longer
stay in fancy hotels and make last minute, costly changes to your travel plans.
Never return a rental car with an empty tank! That causes the rental agency to charge us a
premium price for the gas they sell when they fill it up upon your return.
You’ll be expected to make these changes in your travel habits immediately. Travel
allowances will reflect the 25% reduction. In the future, any expenses beyond the
allowance will come out of your own pockets.
________________________________________________________________________
1. Travel and airfare are huge expenses. Please book flights no less than three weeks
prior to the event. You may also consider taking advantage of Southwest’s “ding”
or other discounted tickets.
2. When renting a car, remember that carpooling and renting fuel-friendly economy
cars will save lots of money. As you all know, the price of gas is a major factor in
travel expenses, so cutting down on gas usage is vital. Also take the time to refuel
the vehicle before returning it so that we can avoid the company surcharge on gas.
3. Please book hotel rooms in advance to qualify for lower rates. If at all possible,
consider sharing a room with one of your coworkers.
If you apply these money saving tactics to your travel plans, travel expenses can be cut
by 25%. In the future, any money spent above the allowed amount will be your personal
responsibility. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Date: 2-10-2009
To: All employees
From: Julia Wake
Subject: Protecting Webcor in the blogosphere
Our companys reputation is vital to our success. Our public image plays a key roll in our
relationships with current and potential customers, suppliers, lenders, government
agencies, and community groups. In addition, our strategic plans, financial plans, and
other confidential information need to be protected for not only legal but competitive
reasons as well. These two factors along with the need to ensure that company networks
are not used to transmit inappropriate materials lead to the company’s decision to begin
monitoring employee e-mail messages in 2002 and instant messages in 2004.
Trying to protect the company’s important resources, monitoring of employee blogs will
also begin on April 1. As with e-mail and IM, the intent here is not to “spy” on anyone or
discourage their conversations in the online community but rather to ensure that Webcor
maintains a positive culture internally and a positive reputation externally.
We also do not want to squelch legitimate and constructive criticism within the company.
If you do have a question or concern; I encourage you to speak with your immediate
supervisor. If that conversation does not yield satisfactory answers, please take advantage
of our “open-door” tradition to speak with any member of senior management.
If you have any questions about the blog monitoring effort, please fell free to e-mail me
or call me at extension 254.
My new partners, Steve McArthur and Jay Rosen both have 25 years of experience as
Advisors and are focused in the same areas as I have focused on with you for many years.
Steve’s experience includes working as a Branch Manager in Orange County and Jay was
a Complex Manager running much of of Orange County as well as all of Riverside
County at UBS Financial Services. They both hold degrees in economics from the
University of Southern California. We all believe in the same time tested principals of
building solid stocks and bonds in quality enterprises.
We look forward to continuing to serve you here at Madison & Cowden in the years’
ahead. Steve and Jay will be making contact to introduce them selves to you over the
coming weeks.
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