The Stand-Up Guy
Memorandum
Employees found to have inappropriate or excessive Internet and e-mail activity will be subject to counseling or, in some cases, disciplinary action. All employees are expected to comply with agency policy.
Mark McGuire was nervous. Even though he’d been working in the office without any problems for more than six years, the Internet had proven a difficult temptation to resist. In addition to corresponding with his wife and his brother every morning, Mark had also taken to watching his stock investments throughout the day. With a reasoned defensiveness, Mark knew that even though he checked in on the Internet every day, he hadn’t neglected his work, and that he was continuing to perform his responsibilities as well as he ever had. In some ways, he also reasoned, he’d become even more productive, as the Internet provided him with the critical resources and data he needed to finish his reports. Still, he didn’t relish the idea of sitting down with management and being chastised. Maybe, he wondered, they’d even want to seek my termination.
His Notice of Interrogation came in just few days. His colleagues Dorothy, Jamal, and Sarah also got summoned for individual interrogations.
At the coffeepot in the kitchenette, Mark confided his fears to Dorothy. “I just don’t want to get in the interrogation and start sweating. I’m not saying I shouldn’t cut back on my email, but Mr. Lake makes me so uncomfortable that I always feel tongue-tied and say things I shouldn’t.”
“I think we’re all nervous, Mark. I mean, it’s the new millennium. Email and Internet stuff are just part of the fabric of everyday life. Sort of like having a radio in the background at the dentist’s office.” Dorothy poured herself a cup of coffee. “I don’t think anybody makes the argument that the radio distracts the dentist. . . “
“I guess I hadn’t thought of that.”
“I talked it over with Todd. He has a lot of ideas about computers in the workplace.” Todd Sorenson was the steward in the office.
“What makes him so knowledgeable?”
“You know, I guess he talks to other stewards at those meetings he goes to. Anyway, he’s been putting together some discussion sheets that help talk about the Internet issues in the office. He even said he would go to my ‘interrogation’ with me and talk me through the types of questions that would likely be asked by management.”
“He can do that?”
“It’s in our contract. You’re allowed to have your union rep with you whenever management wants to interrogate you. I’m sure he’d go with you, too.”
“That’s awesome. How do I get one of those discussion sheets?”
