How to Write a Letter of Appeal when your Organization is not following Due Process

I have been unable to write for the longest time. I finally had an opportunity to do so and do a piece about something based on my personal experience. I have previously helped a lot of friends who needed to write letters in response to NTEs from their companies and employers, but never did I imagine that a similar form of document will be needed by someone who joined a non-profit volunteer organization. Due to my character of not being able to remain mum while acts of inequity are being committed, I will be sharing with you a sample letter I made for my self to appeal an outrageously blatant disregard for due process and common sensibilities. To put it bluntly I will never allow myself to fall victim to any actions made devoid of normal native intelligence.  

June 17, 2015

Rolando Roberto

President

Rotary Club of Orani

Dear Sir,

It has come to my attention that a complaint letter against me was submitted with the recommendation for my termination as a member of this club. Additionally, there was also a meeting organized by a few members with the inclusion of the person who initiated the complaint and the said meeting’s agenda was to discuss the reason for my termination facilitated by the complainant.

I would like to inform you that I will not acknowledge any complaint letter which is not in accordance to the Constitution and By Laws of the Rotary Club of Orani. There are provisions in the constitution that dictates what the due process is in the event in which the membership of a person can and may be terminated under Article 12 Duration of Membership, Section 5 -- Termination -- Other Causes. Attached to this letter is a copy of the said item in our constitution for your reference and adherence.

I would like to express that the act of conducting a meeting wherein only a select few were invited by the complainant and where she was allowed to sway and manipulate the opinion of those who attended and in the end made a complaint letter pretending as if it represents a complaint of the whole club against my person, is not fair and does not conform with our constitution. Not only is this not the appropriate way of handling our member’s grievance it is also biased as the complainant was free to present her case while the other party was not present and was unable to defend their selves against any of the accusations raised. This meeting is unfairly prejudiced as only one case in an argument was heard.

This not only insults the integrity of our organization but also the intellect of its members. I request that the proper procedure be followed in handling the complaint of one of our members and that the people who were in attendance on the meeting in question be informed that any document created from that meeting is null and void due to it being adverse to what was stipulated in our constitution which are the fundamental and entrenched rules governing the conduct of our club.

Yours Truly,

Sood V. Ali Jr.

Director of Public Relations

Mean Quotes Vol.1

We sometimes have to vent out when altercations brings us much frustration. Social Media is often a channel used by many to accomplish this and there is much debate as to whether its appropriate or not. I sometimes am guilty of pouring my heart out and posting status updates regarding how I feel either to ingratiate, allude or downright call out someone who has gotten me aggravated. Often I would try to look for quotes to cite on the web but fail to find anything that would cursorily express what I wanted to convey. Being a person who wishes to communicate my anger as articulately as I can, I would often craft my status updates as eloquently succinct and nefarious as possible. 

Here are a few of them:

"Don't count other people's money, it only shows how far below the social strata you came from.''

''I don't want friendships with people who makes me feel like I'm playing a chess match with Garry Kasparov, life is too short to squander on the inane.''

''I wish you distal limited necrosis on your most treasured parts.''

"Your facebook wall is riddled with bible verses and yet you blatantly parade your adulterous ways for everyone to see... talk about contradictions."

''Cross me and you'll be in dire need of a Kevlar vest.'' 

''Is so tempted to pull an Uma Thurman and samurai your scalp off.''

"There is only a finite number of times one can piss me off before I cross them out of the list of people I pay attention to."

                                           

How To Answer A Notice To Explain

Employment is a means of achieving the capacity to provide for you and your family, it secures one’s social status and it’s the only way for me to buy SHOES! Regular employment from the respective companies we report to have been attained through blood, sweat and tears. It’s the culmination of one’s educational attainment and various acquired life experiences. It’s the patiently falling in line in an endless queue on a job fair; the barrage of tests that needs to be passed; the stern dissection of your whole being in the final interview and the occasional drama of locating the company’s office for the geographically challenged. Simply put, we worked are arse off in securing our employment and when a threat of losing it arises we must by all means do what is necessary to fight for it.

In situations where in an alleged violation is committed by an employee and an impending dismissal is at bay, every person is entitled to the Twin Requirements of Due Process, Substantive and Procedural.  The Twin Requirement of Notice and Hearing is essential to be present since if any crucial step is missed out or if you’re being simply bullied by a superior who’s coping with childhood issues of being picked-on due to her weight, one can file a complaint to The National Labor and Regulations Commission (NLRC). This writing focuses on pointers in writing a reply to a notice to explain:

1. Answer all points raised. Some superiors have NTEs in templates and ready to be issued as soon as they find someone to pick on which may result to a person having an NTE with multiple allegation against company policies that may not have relation to the actual misdemeanor.
2. Enumerate the pertinent allegations that you were accused of and rebut every single one.
3. Explain it clearly. Promotion is not always based on skill and intelligence, the person who maybe the one who will read and decide on your faith may not have the common sense to understand your side right away.
4. Recount what transpired
5. Include specifics like the date the NTE was issued and when the infraction was committed etc.
6. A clear conscience alone will not suffice, werk it…werk!
7. Include names of people who can vouch for you, if there are people who can attest to your innocence include their names so the panel can validate with them the veracity of your defense. You may want to hold off including people who wouldn’t mind not seeing you around in the workplace.
8. Be humble. It may be extremely tempting to cuss out on everyone’s hypocrisy but you can keep that to yourself in the meantime. Let karma deal with them.
9. Apologize for whatever mistakes you may have committed.
10. Sight your plan on improving or correcting your shortcomings in order to be an impeccable employee, you don’t really have to do it in the end but it’s the thought that counts.

Sample of a reply to an NTE;

This is in answer to the alleged violation of the Code of Discipline issued to me on January X, 20XX. I understand the impact to our customers and to the business as a whole, the severity of the violations alleged in my Notice to Explain. In regards to the customers concern, she was calling about an old number that she wanted to use on her account. The customer was frustrated due to a misinformation provided to her by a representative on a previous call she made to customer care. She used to belong to a different account where she was an authorized user and having activated a new account of her own, she now requested for the temporary number on her current account to be replaced by the old number on her previous account. She was informed that her previous number can be used on her account by a representative and a ticket was even submitted on her behalf. The said request was in turn declined by the XXXXXXXXXXXX. I provided the correct information to the customer by informing her that the number that she was requesting to be used in her current account cannot be replaced until her temporary number has been active for more than 60 days. I am not guilty of providing inaccurate statements and I have remained compliant with the policies stipulated in XXXXXXXXXXXX in order to provide the correct information to the customer. (see XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX). I understand the importance of providing a supervisor to the customer as soon as they ask for one but unfortunately at the time of the call there was no one available to take my call. My immediate supervisor was unavailable as well for me to endorse my call to him which left me unable to transfer the customer to anyone. The customer asked which department handles Number Transfers which I provided the information to her accordingly. The Customer then asked to be transferred to that specific department and the call ended. Moving forward I will work on improving my tone so as not to come across as condescending. I maintain that I do not intend to be rude to the customer. I will further work on improving my call handling skills in order to be in line with the company’s goals. I have exhausted all of my tools and resources to provide quality service to the customer and it is just unfortunate that no one was available for me to endorse the escalation to and the customer asked to be transferred to a different department anyway.I will strive to make every customer interaction the best possible experience to them since it reflects the type of service and value XXXXXXX gives to their customers. Being a frontline representative I understand that I represent the client and I promise to work hard in order to provide exceptional service in every call I receive. I will continue to acknowledge the customer's problem and work with the tools I’m provided to provide resolution. My aim is to overcome customer objections, build rapport and take ownership.

How to Fight Back

Some people just can't fight back. In situations wherein your face to face with someone you had a disagreement with or if you're forced to be constantly with them, here are things you could do to show them you're not to be taken lightly;

Never draw first blood. Irritate them and if a fight ensues at least your not the one who started it.

a. Display your most sinister smile when you walk pass them.b. Keep your eyebrows raised, but maintain an expression of disdain rather than look affected.c. Stare them down and utilize a gamut of facial expressions from disgust (clench your teeth and wrinkle your nose), mocking (draw eyebrows closer and part open your mouth), indifference (keep expression stoic and stiff) or disgust (draw eyebrows close together, wrinkle lips and put strain on your cheeks). 

Play the Victim Card. Defame the person by relating your side of the story of what caused you to have issues with them to anyone who'd care to listen, try to do this before they do. More often than not a person would believe the first story they hear (do make your version as close to the truth as possible). 

Do a 'Shoulder-Joust'. Slam your shoulder hard against them and casually look back projecting an apologetic face that clearly spells-out you meant it. 

Intimidate with numbers. Always be seen with a large group of friends (this requires you to have a posse). 

Profanity is key. Pretend to cuss at something loudly to draw-in attention and when they look at you raise an eyebrow and scoff. 

Do not get caught. Break their favorite mug, throw their school project in the bin, scrape the paint out of their car but never ever get caught red handed.

LGBT Pride Month

The month of June was chosen for LGBT Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots in June 1969. Let's celebrate life, love and equality.