The Brush Off

Well, I finally got the final “Go Away� from my employer in regards to my request to head down to the gulf coast to help with the clean up.

I’d like to say that I’m disappointed in their refusal to send me down there because I really am, but my company is based out of that area and is going whole-hog with donating money, housing people and working 25 hours a day 8 days a week to get things back to normal, so that is about the only part of their response I’m disappointed in.

I spent the past two weeks calling and emailing anyone who I though had any clout in the company, basically begging to get flown to wherever I’m needed and be worked like a rented mule. Last week I got all the way up to the CEO (who wasn’t happy to hear from me, BTW) and I think that is when I finally got an actual response instead of some wishy-washy “Let me look into it�.

In the phone call I got that ended my search for a way down there I was told what I knew to be true, but I failed to care about until someone told me to knock it off. Basically, ‘there were plenty of people down there who would need jobs and that shipping some bozo from the other corner of the country to train them would just be confusing, but thank you for being so annoying enthusiastic about it. Now Goodbye’

Below the fold is the company email that was sent out yesterday, summarizing the company’s response in the gulf area. Since I really shouldn’t be putting this thing out over the internet, I have changed the company’s name to “TCIDNNLIGF� (The Company I Dare Not Name, Lest I Get Fired), part of which I stole from the Grouchy Old Cripple.

Make sure to read the italicized portion in the parenthesis when they talk of folks getting called up for Reserve/NG duty and you’ll see one of the reasons why I like working for these guys.

Below that I have posted one of my request letters that I though was particularly good.

Have a good day all.

————————————
The comany’s email letter:

September 12th, 2005

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, TCIDNNLIBF has faced a number of logistical and operational challenges, which our employees have gone to great lengths to overcome. The following is an overview of the company’s relief efforts.

Employee Assistance:

Throughout this ordeal, our top priority has been and will be helping our employees. Many had to evacuate and their homes were damaged or destroyed. We are making temporary housing arrangements for many employees and their families in the affected areas. Temporary work at other locations is being provided for some employees until they can return home.

We have established the Hurricane Katrina Employee Assistance Fund to benefit those employees impacted by the storm. Employees can make tax-deductible donations to the fund, which will be matched by the company.

The company has made temporary modifications to the healthcare benefits for employees in the affected areas. In-Network benefits will apply for those unable to access participating physicians, hospitals or other providers. Employees can also obtain emergency supplies from a retail pharmacy and be reimbursed.

TCIDNNLIBF is also assisting displaced employees with employment opportunities that exist with the company in other parts of the country.

For employees that are reservists and have been called to active duty to assist in the impacted areas, the company is bridging the gap between reservist pay and their usual salary (they did this for National Guard and Reservists sent to Iraq and Afghanistan as well).

Operations:

Most of the affected operations are up and running except for those that were hardest hit. Most of our operations in Mississippi are providing some level of service. The eight landfills in the region have been operating since last Wednesday.

It is not currently known when operations can resume in the city of New Orleans, since much of it is inaccessible and uninhabitable. Our East Bank facility in New Orleans has sustained water damage and flooding. The West Bank facility is operational but difficult to access.

Additional Relief Efforts:

The company made a $100,000 donation to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, which will serve as an umbrella organization for the three special funds established by the Governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and will focus on collecting donations to assist in the long-term recovery plan for the states affected by the hurricane.

An expanded update on TCIDNNLIBF’s relief efforts will appear in the September edition of the (company newsletter name here).

——————————————

My letter:

To (regional head’s name here)

I am volunteering my services to help the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

I currently function in a cartographer/dispatcher/scale house operator position in the Seattle District and while it is a necessary position there, I believe that my ability to memorize maps along with my knowledge of this companies various systems and operating procedures would be better used in the devastated gulf coast areas.

I have already secured a place to stay in Baton Rouge, LA as well as a secondary location in Galveston, TX and am willing to cover the cost of a rental car myself.

While I am glad that TCIDNNLIBF has set up a way to donate funds, I have already done so privately. That, and it will be people and machines that clean up and rebuild Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Since I already work unsupervised ten-hour minimum shifts, I do not see myself having a problem working twelve to fourteen-hour shifts if sent to help. I can work six or seven-day workweeks and am able to be gone for up to three months.

I ask that you consider sending me to help even if it just to serve as a trainer to help the newly unemployed population learn how to make TCIDNNLIBF tick.

For a couple years now I have been told that I am the Service Machine. I ask that you let me show the people who need me to be exactly that how TCIDNNLIBF works.

Regards,
(My name here)