I work for a large Canadian government department. I often think that our senior management uses Dilbert as a management “best practices” reference, but every now and again they get something absolutely right.
The front desk security in our main headquarters building is provided by the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires , a non-profit organization of ex-servicemen and women who have been providing similar security for government buildings since 1925. The Commissionaires check passes for everyone entering the building and deal with visitors, and have been doing this since our building opened some 25 years ago.
One of the Commissionaires is a gentleman whom I will call “Bert”. Bert is a slight, elderly man, probably well into his seventies, who is on front desk duty every second week. He has a cheerful greeting for everyone coming in, apparently knows most of our several thousand employees by name, and generally spreads good cheer to everyone who meets him. I always feel just a bit better after meeting Bert in the morning.
Some time after the events of September 9, 2001, our departmental security people decided that we should have better security (although we’d probably be the last choice for any terrorist attacks), and that it should be provided by somebody other than the Commissionaires. They put together a presentation and met with our senior management committee. Everything was going smoothly, until one of the managers suddenly said, “Hey, wait a minute. Does this mean we get rid of Bert?”
Now THAT is the best thing I’ve heard all day. Just when you think most members of the human race (especially the idiot manager variety) are beyond redemption, SOMEBODY goes and thinks about someone else for a change. I wanna hug the guy who worried about losing Bert.
That’s awesome that Bert was saved. I hate it when forced retirement or “new” procedures sweep those thoughtful and wonderful people under the rug. Some days it feels like they’re the only ones who care.
Oh, and for those who didn’t know, Canada had a major event on Sept 9th, 2001, two days before the events in New York and Washington.
Just kidding, **bookkeeper[b/], I totally understand why you made that mistake.
As an aside, are you an accountant as your username would imply? I’m an accountant in Ottawa too!
Great story! But … what happened on September 9, 2001? I suppose the events that happened two days later kind of overwhelmed my memory of anything that happened on the 9th.
:smack: September 11th (damned backwards American dates - I keep seeing 9/11 and thinking 9th of November??)
And heater2000ca I’m a government finance officer (although that’s coming closer to being a real accountant since we started moving to accrual accounting). My username was chosen for this and for the 3000+ volumes on my bookshelves at home.
