Following the chain of command
As a person who had the luxury of being employed by the same company for 25 years, I have always been fully versed in what is known in the business world as the "open door policy." Any time you had a problem or question about your job or your boss, you had the ability to go to the next higher up person with no threat of losing your job. You could take it all the way to the corporate offices of The New York Times if you had to, and would never hear a word about it.
I am a great believer in going up the chain of command. The problem lies in following the chain and then losing your job. This will deter most employees from ever speaking up when wrongs are being committed. The wrongs are then committed over and over again and the door swings to the unemployment line quite frequently.
I also believe in utilizing what controls are in place to handle these issues. I have said before here, and will say again, if you are dealing with a not-for-profit, please address your issues to the executive director. If you can't get answers there, send letters to the board of directors, who are the executive director's bosses.
Unfortunately, many issues will be explained away as simply disgruntled employees and the real issues at hand will not be addressed. Fortunately, many people who write boards have money and power, and when they want answers, the do not want to be brushed off with the flick of a wrist. They will demand answers to their questions and then expect to receive those answers. If they don't, the money, donations and volunteers will dry up.
That is the way it works.
I am a great believer in going up the chain of command. The problem lies in following the chain and then losing your job. This will deter most employees from ever speaking up when wrongs are being committed. The wrongs are then committed over and over again and the door swings to the unemployment line quite frequently.
I also believe in utilizing what controls are in place to handle these issues. I have said before here, and will say again, if you are dealing with a not-for-profit, please address your issues to the executive director. If you can't get answers there, send letters to the board of directors, who are the executive director's bosses.
Unfortunately, many issues will be explained away as simply disgruntled employees and the real issues at hand will not be addressed. Fortunately, many people who write boards have money and power, and when they want answers, the do not want to be brushed off with the flick of a wrist. They will demand answers to their questions and then expect to receive those answers. If they don't, the money, donations and volunteers will dry up.
That is the way it works.
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