Creative Writing Assignment for Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Carolyn Morris

My assignment was Exercise # 13 as follows:

Write a real life memory of a time you had a conflict with someone else. This might have been you with one of your parents, or you with a boss, or any other conflict that comes to mind.

Write the same scene again, but this time from the point of view of the other person.

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My Point of View:

One of the greatest conflicts that I have faced occurred a few years ago and resulted in the loss of employment. After 15 years with the company, I accepted an early retirement package and continued to perform the same duties via a temporary employment service. When the company was sold , the new owners asked me to stay with the understanding that I would be offered a position within the reorganized company.

I continued to work as a contractor, and not an employee of the company, throughout the reorganization process and when the announcement came that all staff would be in place by April 1, I still had not been offered a position. Though not particularly fond of this arrogant character that now occupies the position of controller, I had thought that I could enjoy a tolerant if not quite amiable working relationship, but now the doubts are mounting. I expressed these doubts to my husband after a couple of discussions with the controller and I am convinced that the company does not intend to hire me at the same or higher salary. So it was with some trepidation that I locked my office door and headed home on that last Friday in March. Upon my arrival at home, my husband’s first word was a question, “Well?” I responded with an exasperated palms up motion and said, “I don’t know if I’m expected to work on Monday or not. I have not heard from the arrogant SOB. I packed my travel case so that I can complete the entries while we are out of town -- just in case they decide to make me a decent offer.” I had just begun putting our dinner on the table, when the phone rang. I seethed as “Wonder Boy“, himself presented the company’s offer of the position of accountant with a salary of $5,500/yr. less than my current salary. Of course, as I had indicated my agreement earlier, I would be driving 100 miles per day while absorbing the impact of this reduction in salary.

Obviously, there was a conflict. The unknowing observer might have detected smoke rolling out my ears and nostrils when I told him that the offer was absolutely absurd. Because I was employed by a temp agency and not quite certain of my obligation to them, I agreed to think about it while out of town the next week. He told me to go ahead and take two weeks to give him an answer. “Of course,“ my mind screamed, “ I’ll finish closing the books for you and happily collect my measly pittance! -- NOT!“

Carolyn Morris - page 2

On Monday morning, I contacted my agent at the temp agency and asked what my obligation was to the agency. He responded that I was under no obligation to the agency, so I told him, “Good. I want out right now.” Then I called the controller and left a message on his answering machine. “It doesn’t take two weeks for me to feel the impact when I’ve been slapped in the face. I don’t need two weeks to think about it. I am out the door as of this minute.” God, that felt good!

SAME CONFLICT FROM THE CONTROLLER’S VIEWPOINT:

When I accepted the position of controller in a newly acquired natural gas segment of a large energy company, I accepted the responsibility to develop an accounting department that is independent of the larger company from which this segment was purchased. This included selection and purchase of an accounting system, hiring of personnel and implementing the transition from the former parent company accounting department. It is imperative that all this be accomplished with a minimum investment from the new owners.

Progress has been slow, but steady and this is my greatest challenge in the process of staffing the accounting department. The woman who has held the position of gas accountant for the past 10 years is now performing that function as an employee of a temporary personnel agency and has been promised a position with the newly formed company. She has remained in this position throughout the transition period and needs to be assigned to the company payroll effective April 1.

The problem is simple: she is currently drawing a higher salary than the company is willing to pay. The solution is not as that simple. Although she has indicated a willingness to work at the main office location rather than from the remote office where she is currently located, the general consensus is that she may not be willing to accept a lower salary. Since today is the last Friday in March, I can delay no longer, so I make the call. As anticipated, her response to my offer is somewhat less than exuberant, as diplomatically as possible, I explain that is the best that the company can do and agreed to allow her two weeks to think about it. Within that two weeks, she will complete the process of closing the books and, hopefully, we can have a replacement in place prior to the next monthly close. I really hope the over-confident witch decides to leave; otherwise, I am reasonably certain that I will acquire a disgruntled employee who will likely need to be terminated at some point.

With my strategy in place, I meet my family in Florida for a much needed vacation. However, when I check my phone messages, I am confronted with an angry message from the witch stating that she has declined the company’s offer with no indication of a willingness to renegotiate. The smug sense of satisfaction soon gave way to anger as I begin to think of the workload that has just been dumped in my lap two weeks earlier than I had planned. Forget about relaxation: I have to get the books closed! I hope she starves!