Follow the Damn Directions

Apparently, there are people in the world who have not experienced the little Follow Directions Worksheet that I received in fifth grade. This lesson taught the importance of reading the documents you are given, in full, and then actually doing what they tell you to do, the way they tell you to do it.

I am amazed at how few people follow directions. Everyone thinks he is a rebel, but I am here to tell you that not paying attention is not rebellious, it’s stupid. And if, by some weird chance, this is your way of being rebellious, then accept the consequences of your behavior.

Case Number One: An employee wanted Direct Deposit. I gave him the form, which is a simple one page affair, and what I got back was hideous. Besides not filling in the required information (he wrote his routing number and account number on a scrap of paper the size of a matchbook and submitted that to me) he had actually scribbled on it. He scribbled where he should have signed. I mean really. And he had also failed to give me a voided check or bank letter. I gave him back a clean, blank form. I high-lighted in many different colors the pertinent instructions (he obviously is a video game baby), I wrote additional instructions and gave him back his previous submissions. I got all of the papers back, the only change being that he signed the new form. He left for vacation to Vegas. I called him on his cell phone to tell him that his Direct Deposit would not be going through. He told me it was absolutely necessary that it go through as he had written checks and mailed them based on his paycheck being automatically deposited this week. I told him it couldn’t be done as he did not follow instructions. He said he didn’t know he had to follow the instructions. I asked him why he would think the instructions were unimportant, as I even highlighted them. He said he didn’t have to do any of this at his old job. Oh, and this person is in college. I am sad for our future brain trust.

Case Number Two: We fired our newest office clerk today. We fired her because every time she was asked to do something, she copped an attitude. I wrote a detailed job description for her position. I gave her the job description and went over it with her. The things she was being asked to do were on the job description. And the person with whom she got the most attitudes with the most often was the person who signed her paycheck. DUH!

Case Number Three: Another employee, long-term, called out the day after the 4th of July holiday. When she came in on Thursday, I reminded her that she would not receive the holiday pay as she did not work her scheduled day after the holiday. She had a fit (with yelling and screaming and slamming things.) This policy has been in force for over ten years. She has received numerous employee manuals where the policy is clearly written. She is still trying to get me to pay her, her excuse: she didn’t read the manual.

Not reading: not an excuse. Thinking something doesn’t apply to you: priceless.