The Wild Rover
03-21-07, 04:55 AM
A few years ago, I was faced with a dilema when a certain project manager and electrical super on an overseas government project both wanted me to install high dollar equipment in an unappropriate manner for which the product, project specifications, and equipment manufacturers instructions was not intended. (Project specifications are always important, remember that!) I refused to install the application requested, and the backlash shook the project from the foundations to the home office. I have enjoyed a long overseas career, and that company has gone by the way of the Dodo...extinct, andalthough the employees that agreed to install the equipment are still employed by various contractors today, I have to admit they looked ridiculous removing the incorrectly installed equipment after a well worded letter on my attorneys' stationary mysteriously found it's way to the Govt. DC office, with a CC to the employers home office, detailing the entire fiasco. Needless to say, I was not popular with the Project manager or the Electrical super for the remainder of the project, or to this day for that matter, and I finished that project in a professional and workmanlike manner. The Super has been on several overseas projects with me since, and good men let bygones be bygones and get on with their LIVES...but during the ordeal, I was asked to sign a letter, from the company, explaining my side of the story. I agreed to a set time frame for a meeting, and immediately contacted my attorney. It was the best thing I could have done. They were hogtied as to letting me go for lack of work or a firing, as I was performing my job according to my contract job description...although suddenly I got all the dirty work. I survived, and with my good reputation intact. I would like to repeat what my lawyer told me...and man, did it chap their asses as to the way I did it...
" If any representative of your employer/contractor (foremen too!) or general contractor ever asks you to sign a document that accuses you of having done something inappropriate or against company policy, do not sign it. Your employer's representative may tell you that your signature on the document only indicates that he talked with you and it does not mean you agree with what it says. He may even point to a clause on the document that states something to this effect, "Your signature is an acknowledgement that you have received this document, not that you agree with it." Whether that statement is in fine print or bold print, do not sign. Instead, make a note on that document, in ink, worded like this:
"Note: Please see the employee's attached response to the (Name of Contractor Here) Company accusations ."
But do not sign, anywhere, even after you write that note. Hand the letter back to your contractors/employer’s representative and tells him that you would like a copy, and that you will provide a letter for him to attach to this document. Your boss's letter will become part of your permanent employee file whether you sign it or not. Your boss will just write on it, "Employee refused to sign." If this happens, there will be no indication in your file that you challenged the accusation. Your note on that document will be the only indication that anyone investigating the situation must look for additional information. Make sure you ask for a copy, better yet, ask for the original, for your lawyer. You don't need to have a lawyer, just the threat shakes them up sometimes...
After the meeting, write your own version of what happened, clearly, or, if nothing happened, write a letter that states you are being falsely accused. If there are witnesses, name them. Make sure you state in your letter that you want it to become part of your permanent record as an attachment to your boss's letter dated ___ (fill in the date). Also state that your employers letter has been annotated with the statement: "Note: Please see the employee's attached response to the (Name of Contractor Here) Company accusations ," or whatever words you wrote, so that he cannot simply reproduce another copy without your note on it and substitute that copy in your file. Two weeks later, ask to see the records in your permanent file and verify that your note is on your boss's letter and that your letter is attached to it. If not, write a letter to your boss explaining what you found and ask for the records to be updated; copy your boss's boss and/or a human resources manager, and attorney on this letter. "
When you are asked to sign a document like this, you can be sure that your employer is building a case to terminate you, or hurt your career, and possibly damage your reputation and PROTECT their own. Believe me, there are vindictive, revengeful, hurtful people out there that will try to hurt you later on down the road, or in life, any way they can. Just update your resume and begin a job search. Move on with your life, never let hurtful people stress you out, and impact your life. They are small, selfish people and will eventually hang themselves. You can bargain this much...you were looking for a job when you came here, you'll be looking for one when you leave. Always consider what an old timer told me 20 some years ago...Construction is the only industry that continually works itself out of a job.:cheers
" If any representative of your employer/contractor (foremen too!) or general contractor ever asks you to sign a document that accuses you of having done something inappropriate or against company policy, do not sign it. Your employer's representative may tell you that your signature on the document only indicates that he talked with you and it does not mean you agree with what it says. He may even point to a clause on the document that states something to this effect, "Your signature is an acknowledgement that you have received this document, not that you agree with it." Whether that statement is in fine print or bold print, do not sign. Instead, make a note on that document, in ink, worded like this:
"Note: Please see the employee's attached response to the (Name of Contractor Here) Company accusations ."
But do not sign, anywhere, even after you write that note. Hand the letter back to your contractors/employer’s representative and tells him that you would like a copy, and that you will provide a letter for him to attach to this document. Your boss's letter will become part of your permanent employee file whether you sign it or not. Your boss will just write on it, "Employee refused to sign." If this happens, there will be no indication in your file that you challenged the accusation. Your note on that document will be the only indication that anyone investigating the situation must look for additional information. Make sure you ask for a copy, better yet, ask for the original, for your lawyer. You don't need to have a lawyer, just the threat shakes them up sometimes...
After the meeting, write your own version of what happened, clearly, or, if nothing happened, write a letter that states you are being falsely accused. If there are witnesses, name them. Make sure you state in your letter that you want it to become part of your permanent record as an attachment to your boss's letter dated ___ (fill in the date). Also state that your employers letter has been annotated with the statement: "Note: Please see the employee's attached response to the (Name of Contractor Here) Company accusations ," or whatever words you wrote, so that he cannot simply reproduce another copy without your note on it and substitute that copy in your file. Two weeks later, ask to see the records in your permanent file and verify that your note is on your boss's letter and that your letter is attached to it. If not, write a letter to your boss explaining what you found and ask for the records to be updated; copy your boss's boss and/or a human resources manager, and attorney on this letter. "
When you are asked to sign a document like this, you can be sure that your employer is building a case to terminate you, or hurt your career, and possibly damage your reputation and PROTECT their own. Believe me, there are vindictive, revengeful, hurtful people out there that will try to hurt you later on down the road, or in life, any way they can. Just update your resume and begin a job search. Move on with your life, never let hurtful people stress you out, and impact your life. They are small, selfish people and will eventually hang themselves. You can bargain this much...you were looking for a job when you came here, you'll be looking for one when you leave. Always consider what an old timer told me 20 some years ago...Construction is the only industry that continually works itself out of a job.:cheers