Hi all!
How can I write a memo to staff saying that everybody must use the iPad to take the orders every single time, no matter how small it is? When the manager is not on the premises, we can still check from the video cameras who is not using it. Not respecting the rules will lead to dismissal without exception. If the iPad has some problem or is not working, the staff must inform the manager. The one who doesn't do it will face a fine.
Thank you.
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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1How can I write a memo to staff saying that everybody must use the iPad to take the orders every single time, no matter how small it is? When the manager is not on the premises, we can still check from the video cameras who is not using it. Not respecting the rules will lead to dismissal without exception. If the iPad has some problem or is not working, the staff must inform the manager. The one who doesn't do it will face a fine.
Thank you.
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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Dear Lilyana,
Please prepare the notice for disciplinary action regarding the mentioned misconduct concerning the iPad. Even if any staff member refuses to comply, take the necessary disciplinary action against them and ensure the details are circulated among the staff for the said disciplinary action. This will help maintain good control.
Regards,
Sachin Gaikwad
From India, Pune
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Please prepare the notice for disciplinary action regarding the mentioned misconduct concerning the iPad. Even if any staff member refuses to comply, take the necessary disciplinary action against them and ensure the details are circulated among the staff for the said disciplinary action. This will help maintain good control.
Regards,
Sachin Gaikwad
From India, Pune
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Dear Lilyana,
Though Sachin has supported your views, I have a slightly different take.
The iPad is only a means of noting down the instructions. The end result is the implementation of the instructions. Why is there so much focus on the means rather than the ends? What happens when staff do not note down the instructions on the iPad but instead use a diary or notebook? Why are the age-old methods considered useless? What savings (or losses) does the activity of noting down instructions on the iPad bring?
For implementing the instructions, you want to keep the staff under video surveillance? What is your focus on? Getting the best output from your people or policing them? If you issue a memo of this kind, will the staff get demotivated? Have you thought about it?
Leadership is the ability to influence people. To influence, business leaders have to use various powers. What you are talking about is exercising coercive or positional power. However, if you continue to use this power unchecked to make your subordinates compliant, it could backfire on you. Have you thought about it?
What you are trying to do is nothing but micro-management. But please remember, micro-management has always yielded micro results.
For non-compliance with these instructions, you want to terminate the staff? Is this not the height of coercion?
I request you to reconsider your decision before you send out the memo.
Thanks,
Dinesh V Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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Though Sachin has supported your views, I have a slightly different take.
The iPad is only a means of noting down the instructions. The end result is the implementation of the instructions. Why is there so much focus on the means rather than the ends? What happens when staff do not note down the instructions on the iPad but instead use a diary or notebook? Why are the age-old methods considered useless? What savings (or losses) does the activity of noting down instructions on the iPad bring?
For implementing the instructions, you want to keep the staff under video surveillance? What is your focus on? Getting the best output from your people or policing them? If you issue a memo of this kind, will the staff get demotivated? Have you thought about it?
Leadership is the ability to influence people. To influence, business leaders have to use various powers. What you are talking about is exercising coercive or positional power. However, if you continue to use this power unchecked to make your subordinates compliant, it could backfire on you. Have you thought about it?
What you are trying to do is nothing but micro-management. But please remember, micro-management has always yielded micro results.
For non-compliance with these instructions, you want to terminate the staff? Is this not the height of coercion?
I request you to reconsider your decision before you send out the memo.
Thanks,
Dinesh V Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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-Why it is mandatory for everybody or needs to use iPad only for noting down the orders?
-What benefits you are expecting by imposing such conditions?
-Is there anything which is not in favor of their work/ your business and facing losses because of not using iPad for noting down the orders?
Your query is making me feel like “A Teacher asking students for not using Pilot Pen, Gel Pens but Ball Pen only”
I completely agree with Mr Divekar and also would like to say, by imposing such conditions of "using iPad for noting down the order is mandatory”, and letting them know about your surveillance activity; you are actually working against their moral which can get you unwanted and negative results in regard to expected productivity by them.
Your prime motive must be to get maximum output by allowing them to work freely by using their style, skills and experience following the respective work system, not to get them distracted by this kind of obligatory actions and scaring them that one is keeping his eye on each and every action of them.
Your motive is still not clear. And If there is any organizational/ business software /application you are using/ pre- installed in issued iPAD to employees which can help them in their work, you and your business by direct entering order details anyhow, still can this issue be handled wisely but not by issuing memos for such a small thing which I won’t even say is an issue.
If you have allowed/ issued iPAD to your employees for their work, I believe it must be to get quick/fast and easily working like we issue Laptops to employee for their work at home (anytime work) if and whenever it required.
I second Mr Divekar, leadership is able to influence the people which is one of the characteristics of Superior Leaders. Quite often, employees need someone to look up to for direction, guidance, and motivation. There are times, when many employees need the boss to inspire them by word or action. Employees need someone to look up to, admire, and follow. Even when the production or delivery of services looks like "it is all going well," the leader may at times need to step in personally to offer a suggestion or encouragement to ensure that employees perform their jobs in an optimal manner but your determined action by referring such rule may go against the moral of your employees and put you in more difficult situations in the future. Please be aware of it.
From India, Gurgaon
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-What benefits you are expecting by imposing such conditions?
-Is there anything which is not in favor of their work/ your business and facing losses because of not using iPad for noting down the orders?
Your query is making me feel like “A Teacher asking students for not using Pilot Pen, Gel Pens but Ball Pen only”
I completely agree with Mr Divekar and also would like to say, by imposing such conditions of "using iPad for noting down the order is mandatory”, and letting them know about your surveillance activity; you are actually working against their moral which can get you unwanted and negative results in regard to expected productivity by them.
Your prime motive must be to get maximum output by allowing them to work freely by using their style, skills and experience following the respective work system, not to get them distracted by this kind of obligatory actions and scaring them that one is keeping his eye on each and every action of them.
Your motive is still not clear. And If there is any organizational/ business software /application you are using/ pre- installed in issued iPAD to employees which can help them in their work, you and your business by direct entering order details anyhow, still can this issue be handled wisely but not by issuing memos for such a small thing which I won’t even say is an issue.
If you have allowed/ issued iPAD to your employees for their work, I believe it must be to get quick/fast and easily working like we issue Laptops to employee for their work at home (anytime work) if and whenever it required.
I second Mr Divekar, leadership is able to influence the people which is one of the characteristics of Superior Leaders. Quite often, employees need someone to look up to for direction, guidance, and motivation. There are times, when many employees need the boss to inspire them by word or action. Employees need someone to look up to, admire, and follow. Even when the production or delivery of services looks like "it is all going well," the leader may at times need to step in personally to offer a suggestion or encouragement to ensure that employees perform their jobs in an optimal manner but your determined action by referring such rule may go against the moral of your employees and put you in more difficult situations in the future. Please be aware of it.
From India, Gurgaon
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Dear All, Before commenting, please understand the nature of job and business. There is not one solution for all problems. Regards,
From India, Pune
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From India, Pune
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Hi,
I assume you are referring to the use of the iPad for taking orders in a restaurant. In this case, you could issue a memo to be displayed on the notice board of the restaurant. Although I think that the dismissal for breaching the memo is too harsh a step. You could probably start by charging the staff who breach the memo an amount equivalent to the value of the order. This should help in developing a habit of using the device. Also, making them understand the importance of using the device during team briefings might help.
From India, Mumbai
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I assume you are referring to the use of the iPad for taking orders in a restaurant. In this case, you could issue a memo to be displayed on the notice board of the restaurant. Although I think that the dismissal for breaching the memo is too harsh a step. You could probably start by charging the staff who breach the memo an amount equivalent to the value of the order. This should help in developing a habit of using the device. Also, making them understand the importance of using the device during team briefings might help.
From India, Mumbai
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Hi Friends,
I do not see any problem here. If, as assumed in a previous post, the organization is a restaurant, then let there be no other means of taking an order except for the iPad.
If a person goes into a room to sleep and finds a bed, then why would that person sleep on the floor?
Why would someone not want to use the iPad? This question has not been asked, and the organization says "off with their heads." Well, that is the Middle East, I suppose - follow orders else get kicked in the butt.
Is it difficult to use?
Does it slow down the order process?
Have the staff been trained to use them?
Why do they not want to use the iPads?
These questions need to be examined before implementing it forcefully.
They do not need any management skills over there; there are millions waiting around to step in for a job there - one goes, there are 10 more waiting.
The same thing is happening in India; leadership skills and management skills have been thrown out of the window; now it's do or die.
Engineers, MBAs, or any other certified people are a dime a dozen. There is still some semblance of sanity in the ERP market. Those with ERP skills are still treated properly as there are very few of them to go around.
Just remember, if there are lots of something to go around, then it loses its value.
Regards
From India, Hyderabad
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I do not see any problem here. If, as assumed in a previous post, the organization is a restaurant, then let there be no other means of taking an order except for the iPad.
If a person goes into a room to sleep and finds a bed, then why would that person sleep on the floor?
Why would someone not want to use the iPad? This question has not been asked, and the organization says "off with their heads." Well, that is the Middle East, I suppose - follow orders else get kicked in the butt.
Is it difficult to use?
Does it slow down the order process?
Have the staff been trained to use them?
Why do they not want to use the iPads?
These questions need to be examined before implementing it forcefully.
They do not need any management skills over there; there are millions waiting around to step in for a job there - one goes, there are 10 more waiting.
The same thing is happening in India; leadership skills and management skills have been thrown out of the window; now it's do or die.
Engineers, MBAs, or any other certified people are a dime a dozen. There is still some semblance of sanity in the ERP market. Those with ERP skills are still treated properly as there are very few of them to go around.
Just remember, if there are lots of something to go around, then it loses its value.
Regards
From India, Hyderabad
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You can issue the meme only if the iPad is issued by the company to its staff & those people already know how to use it. It is something strange & worthless.
From Saudi+Arabia, Dammam
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From Saudi+Arabia, Dammam
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Better you may appoint private detective that person may find who is ?.
From India, Chennai
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From India, Chennai
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Dear Members
Many of the members have ventures in writing essay without understanding the problem and help the person is seeking from the forum.
She wants a format (draft) to communicate about the compulsory usage of the ipad--without sounding it an offensive or threatening. It is that company’s policy about the ipad..she hasnt asked weather thje policy is right or wrong.
Regards
Shailesh Parikh
Vadodara, Gujarat
99 98 97 10 65
From India, Mumbai
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Many of the members have ventures in writing essay without understanding the problem and help the person is seeking from the forum.
She wants a format (draft) to communicate about the compulsory usage of the ipad--without sounding it an offensive or threatening. It is that company’s policy about the ipad..she hasnt asked weather thje policy is right or wrong.
Regards
Shailesh Parikh
Vadodara, Gujarat
99 98 97 10 65
From India, Mumbai
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Lilyana,
Your concern is highly appreciated, and responses have poured in.
1. With no slight meant at all, we often set the mood and the tone and so the responses come, and then the moods start gaining momentum much like a storm till eventually it comes down like a "cloud burst."
2. It's not in this case, but it happens in most postings, there isn't enough data shared to make our points in clearly trying to address the issue.
Without going into much details, I'd like to give this a little twist... please read this story of which I'm not sure of the source, but was collected from the 'internet.'
THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER WAY
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by will see the new words.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?”
The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a way.”
What he had written was: "Today is a day and I cannot see it."
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
But the first sign simply told people to help by putting some money in the hat.
The second sign told people that they were able to enjoy the beauty of the day, but the boy could not enjoy it because he was blind.
Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
There are at least two lessons we can learn from this simple story.
The first is, “Be thankful for what you have. Someone else has less. Help where you can.”
The second is, “Be. Be Present. Think. THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER WAY!”
I'm trying to see if the is 'value' in trying to educate people with you to be future conscious, by elaborating of the role of connectedness and hope.
Can't see the wood for the trees. Sometimes when we concentrate on the minute details of a problem, we can lose sight of the overall picture; in other words, all you can see is one tree but there is actually a whole bunch of them in front of you. It may mean concentrating on the smaller specifics and in the process losing out on the larger perspective. Trees are part of the forest. While one may be enjoying the beauty of the trees individually but at the same time he is losing out the beauty of nature as is evident in the complete forest.
Serving a 'memo' will be a 'transaction' I tried opening you out to a 'transformation,' choices are entirely yours.
Best wishes.
From India, Hyderabad
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Your concern is highly appreciated, and responses have poured in.
1. With no slight meant at all, we often set the mood and the tone and so the responses come, and then the moods start gaining momentum much like a storm till eventually it comes down like a "cloud burst."
2. It's not in this case, but it happens in most postings, there isn't enough data shared to make our points in clearly trying to address the issue.
Without going into much details, I'd like to give this a little twist... please read this story of which I'm not sure of the source, but was collected from the 'internet.'
THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER WAY
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by will see the new words.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?”
The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a way.”
What he had written was: "Today is a day and I cannot see it."
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
But the first sign simply told people to help by putting some money in the hat.
The second sign told people that they were able to enjoy the beauty of the day, but the boy could not enjoy it because he was blind.
Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
There are at least two lessons we can learn from this simple story.
The first is, “Be thankful for what you have. Someone else has less. Help where you can.”
The second is, “Be. Be Present. Think. THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER WAY!”
I'm trying to see if the is 'value' in trying to educate people with you to be future conscious, by elaborating of the role of connectedness and hope.
Can't see the wood for the trees. Sometimes when we concentrate on the minute details of a problem, we can lose sight of the overall picture; in other words, all you can see is one tree but there is actually a whole bunch of them in front of you. It may mean concentrating on the smaller specifics and in the process losing out on the larger perspective. Trees are part of the forest. While one may be enjoying the beauty of the trees individually but at the same time he is losing out the beauty of nature as is evident in the complete forest.
Serving a 'memo' will be a 'transaction' I tried opening you out to a 'transformation,' choices are entirely yours.
Best wishes.
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear Shailesh Ji,
I agree with you that she has asked for a format for communication, but our respected forum members have gone through the insight of the problem, presenting various turns this small act could take. Anybody can find a format in Google, but it's the knowledge and experience our members share that makes us post our problems/requirements on the forum. I am sure even Lilyana Ji will agree with me.
From India, Mumbai
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I agree with you that she has asked for a format for communication, but our respected forum members have gone through the insight of the problem, presenting various turns this small act could take. Anybody can find a format in Google, but it's the knowledge and experience our members share that makes us post our problems/requirements on the forum. I am sure even Lilyana Ji will agree with me.
From India, Mumbai
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Dear Manoj and Shailesh,
Members of this forum are not poster's obedient subordinates. Neither are they paid consultants. When someone raises some query in open forum you are bound to get the diverse opinions. Members have every right to scrutinize the intention of the memo. Originator has written that those who do not comply with the instruction could be dismissed. Is this not height of the coercion? Can we jump directly to this punishment? Is this how we expect our employee to get motivated or engaged?
Diversity in replies is a result of lack in clarity of the original post. So many days passed since the query was raised. So many posts have appeared but then the originator of the post did not deem it fit to come up with clarification. She has chosen to remain as cool as cucumber! In my previous post, I also have asked so many questions but then where are the replies? This speaks of the attitude of the originator of the post. Rather than chiding at her stolidity, why are you questioning the respondents?
In fact there is no such provision to debar member who just hit the question and run away. That is the real problem is.
Dinesh V Divekar
Dear Shailesh Ji,
I agree with you that she has asked for a format for communication. but our respected forum members have gone through the insight of the problem presenting various turns this small act could take. Anybody can find a format in google but its the knowledge and experience our members share makes us post or problems/requirements at the forum. I am sure even Lilyana Ji will agree with me.
Dear Members
Many of the members have ventures in writing essay without understanding the problem and help the person is seeking from the forum.
She wants a format (draft) to communicate about the compulsory usage of the ipad--without sounding it an offensive or threatening. It is that company’s policy about the ipad..she hasnt asked weather thje policy is right or wrong.
Regards
Shailesh Parikh
Vadodara, Gujarat
99 98 97 10 65
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Members of this forum are not poster's obedient subordinates. Neither are they paid consultants. When someone raises some query in open forum you are bound to get the diverse opinions. Members have every right to scrutinize the intention of the memo. Originator has written that those who do not comply with the instruction could be dismissed. Is this not height of the coercion? Can we jump directly to this punishment? Is this how we expect our employee to get motivated or engaged?
Diversity in replies is a result of lack in clarity of the original post. So many days passed since the query was raised. So many posts have appeared but then the originator of the post did not deem it fit to come up with clarification. She has chosen to remain as cool as cucumber! In my previous post, I also have asked so many questions but then where are the replies? This speaks of the attitude of the originator of the post. Rather than chiding at her stolidity, why are you questioning the respondents?
In fact there is no such provision to debar member who just hit the question and run away. That is the real problem is.
Dinesh V Divekar
Dear Shailesh Ji,
I agree with you that she has asked for a format for communication. but our respected forum members have gone through the insight of the problem presenting various turns this small act could take. Anybody can find a format in google but its the knowledge and experience our members share makes us post or problems/requirements at the forum. I am sure even Lilyana Ji will agree with me.
Dear Members
Many of the members have ventures in writing essay without understanding the problem and help the person is seeking from the forum.
She wants a format (draft) to communicate about the compulsory usage of the ipad--without sounding it an offensive or threatening. It is that company’s policy about the ipad..she hasnt asked weather thje policy is right or wrong.
Regards
Shailesh Parikh
Vadodara, Gujarat
99 98 97 10 65
From India, Bangalore
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Dear fellow members,
I fully endorse Mr. Dinesh V Divekar on his last posting.
I would only like to add a little more to that, and here is an example:
Assume you've got a severe headache and you do not know why, and you go to a doctor - these could be the possibilities.
He will ask you questions like: since when, is it in the morning or through the day or at night, is it to the left-hand side or the right-hand side and can take a course of action based on the inputs, but supposing you do not give the right response it's guesswork.
1. He can give you some medicines, however, might recommend you for some diagnostic tests.
2. He could refer you to an Ophthalmologist.
3. He could ask you to consult a Dentist.
4. He could refer you to a Neurologist.
There is another option too... you go crying in pain to the doctor and ask him to prescribe any medicine that can relieve you of this headache.
A professional will not, I believe, do a thing like that and will add that he will investigate through diagnosis, and then decide the next course of treatment.
Here we are neither doctors nor patients, but one thing is evident we seem to be losing our "patience."
Things that I have been experiencing are the same. We perhaps do not know anyone except on this network, we may not have seen each other, we may not have spoken to each other, therefore we may not even know what things are like outside our "zones," yet with the experience we all carry, we share our thoughts. I think we are entitled to as much as we take everything coming our way as a learning. I'd suggest, let's please relax, let's enjoy the journey, let's enjoy the experiences, let's change our perceptions, let's learn to respond and not to react.
Thanks, and let's hope this brings back the discussion to the originator.
From India, Hyderabad
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I fully endorse Mr. Dinesh V Divekar on his last posting.
I would only like to add a little more to that, and here is an example:
Assume you've got a severe headache and you do not know why, and you go to a doctor - these could be the possibilities.
He will ask you questions like: since when, is it in the morning or through the day or at night, is it to the left-hand side or the right-hand side and can take a course of action based on the inputs, but supposing you do not give the right response it's guesswork.
1. He can give you some medicines, however, might recommend you for some diagnostic tests.
2. He could refer you to an Ophthalmologist.
3. He could ask you to consult a Dentist.
4. He could refer you to a Neurologist.
There is another option too... you go crying in pain to the doctor and ask him to prescribe any medicine that can relieve you of this headache.
A professional will not, I believe, do a thing like that and will add that he will investigate through diagnosis, and then decide the next course of treatment.
Here we are neither doctors nor patients, but one thing is evident we seem to be losing our "patience."
Things that I have been experiencing are the same. We perhaps do not know anyone except on this network, we may not have seen each other, we may not have spoken to each other, therefore we may not even know what things are like outside our "zones," yet with the experience we all carry, we share our thoughts. I think we are entitled to as much as we take everything coming our way as a learning. I'd suggest, let's please relax, let's enjoy the journey, let's enjoy the experiences, let's change our perceptions, let's learn to respond and not to react.
Thanks, and let's hope this brings back the discussion to the originator.
From India, Hyderabad
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I do not want to add any more mumbo jumbo to this post. But just look at the last but one line in the post by TSK Raman. "Learn to respond and not to react." If everyone just adheres to this interpersonal adage, life would be much better. "Carry on, Jeeves," as P.G. Wodehouse says.
From India, Hyderabad
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From India, Hyderabad
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Hi friends,
I recently came across a post by Naomi Simson which talked about the troubles faced by employees in their companies. This happened in the US and Australia. We are not the only ones to suffer from terrible bosses. I have attached a copy of her post just so you know.
Regards
From India, Hyderabad
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I recently came across a post by Naomi Simson which talked about the troubles faced by employees in their companies. This happened in the US and Australia. We are not the only ones to suffer from terrible bosses. I have attached a copy of her post just so you know.
Regards
From India, Hyderabad
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Employee reference policy.doc