Q. I’m an Accounts Receivable clerk, writing this from under my desk, where I have been for three days. I don’t know why I went under here. I think I just wanted to see what it felt like – away from Charlene Larrington demanding that I have the multiple variations of Report 455 completed by 5 PM every day, and from Melanie Dawkins, who continually shakes her head at me for no reason. I have found that being under my desk has calmed my nerves, so I’ve just stayed here. When Carla Nexton from Account Payable discovered me a couple days ago I believe she contacted Human Resources – because since then there have been people coming in, looking at me, taking notes, and leaving. Some of them I’ve never seen before. Nobody has asked me what I’m doing here, or when I plan to come out. When should I plan to come out?
A. You should have written after three hours, not three days. Now that HR is involved, there is no telling what is going on back in their offices. Your situation has probably become a big thing to them. They likely don’t encounter it often and want to handle it right. They know that simply pulling you out might trigger some reaction they don’t want – so they’ve undoubtedly contacted experts, maybe even flown some in, which explains the people you’ve never seen. They’re spending time and money, which means that someone in Finance is getting concerned. The CEO probably knows and is asking questions. Reports are being prepared – more time and money. Meanwhile, I assume you’re still getting paid. I don’t know what to tell you except to stay for now, and let’s re-visit the situation, maybe in another three days.
Dr. Miles Miller, holds a PhD in managerial logistics from Fordham University, where he has served on the faculty since 1978, specializing in pre-conceptual trending.
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