Wounds to Bind Chapter 32 – 'Culture is about performance, and making people feel good about how they contribute to the whole.'– Tracy Streckenbach, New York Times
December 5 – APOV
"I'm sorry, Jerry and I didn't mean to interrupt your meeting. I'm just walking through the building. I wanted to thank everyone who attended the Grey Annex White Christmas Gala Saturday night." Ros explained her interruption to Elizabeth. Ros knew neither Friday's nor today's meeting were calendared to prevent interference in Anastasia Steele's wrongful termination.
"Ms. Bailey, this is one of our employees, Ana Steele," Mr. Roach introduced me to Ros Bailey. "She was a great help to us during the transition and move."
"Good morning, pleased to meet you," I extend my hand to shake hers, but I'm angry with Elizabeth and my hand trembles.
"Miss Steele, are you alright? You're shaking," Ros sat down at the conference table next to me. "Do you need water? Food? Air?" She asked solicitously.
"Please call me Ana. I'm fine, sorry…just aftereffects of an adrenalin rush." I knot my fingers in my lap to stop my shaking. "I just have an issue with my one-hundred-and-eighty-day employee evaluation."
Ros examined me and then Elizabeth. "We stumbled onto a situation, Jerry."
"Elizabeth?" He inquired.
"Ana is overreacting to her one-hundred-and-eighty-day employee evaluation. I warned you we don't give interns Exceeds Standards on their evaluations. The practice leads to situations when the intern receives a fair evaluation but the evaluation is not what they expected." Elizabeth explained in an imperious tone.
"I would not have a problem with a fair evaluation, Ms. Morgan," I assert. "I have a problem receiving a third UNFAIR and INAPPROPRIATE employeeevaluation. Ms. Morgan was just explaining I am terminated with cause, and my refusal to sign my employee evaluation will result in being blacklisted. Not only will I be unemployed, I will not receive a letter of recommendation to obtain another job."
"That is not what I said," Elizabeth argues…attempting to cover her ass.
"Shall I play the conversation back? I've been taping since I entered the room." I reach in my pocket for my phone and turn the screen toward Bailey and Roach. My phone indicates I have been taping the conversation."
Mr. Roach looked at me and then at Elizabeth Morgan with surprise. "Terminated?"
"Terminated," I verified. "As in Ms. Morgan just called downstairs for Grey Security to escort me to my desk and have me remove my personal things. She underestimated me, she didn't think I would demand a review by Grey House HR."
"Let me see Miss Steele's evaluation. I don't know Miss Steele, so I don't have skin in the game. I believe I can determine if she received a fair evaluation." Ros held out her hand expectantly. "Let's begin this conversation on equal footing - Ana, Ros, Jerry and Elizabeth." She pointed at each of us in return.
"You're not HR," Elizabeth protested. "Jerry isn't HR and he's overridden her last two evaluations. Her immediate supervisor, Jack Hyde, says she does not meet expectations and he demanded she be fired. I believe, since he works with her on a daily basis, HE is the most knowledgeable source about her work abilities."
"I am the Vice President of Operations for Grey Enterprises Holdings. I have an HR, business and scientific background. I assure you; I'm qualified to evaluate Ana's performance. Ana, if you don't agree with my assessment when this meeting ends – you are entitled to a review by an HR panel of five. The panel will include three HR representatives, one Grey House staff representative and one Grey Publishing staff representative. The staff representatives are employees who have the same job description as yourself."
"That could be an issue. I believe I'm the only Grey Publishing intern at this time. I have a prepared rebuttal and copies of my evaluation." I handed Ros both copies, ignoring Elizabeth's censorious look.
"Ana, please note you do not agree with the evaluation in the remarks, then sign and date the front page of the original evaluation. Otherwise, I cannot legally read your evaluation." Ros held out her hand expectantly for my printed evaluation. Ros indicated where I should sign.
I signed and dated on the appropriate line, disagreeing with and requesting a review of my one-hundred-and-eighty-day employee evaluation.
Ros settled herself comfortably and indicated the other chair. "Jerry, do take a seat…I need time to read and analyze. This does seem to be lengthy; I'd better take notes while reading so I don't forget anything." She accepted pen and paper from Jerry. She read a section of the review, the section of my rebuttal and then wrote notes. This continued for almost thirty minutes.
I cannot fidget or show nervousness. I must be calm. I will make lists in my head of things to do. My résumé needs updated if I go to work for Mr. Kavanagh. I worry about relying on favors from the Kavanagh family. I must discuss my concerns with Mary. I cannot use my phone to take notes. Calm…think about the upcoming party at the condo. Review the menu in your head…think of all the things to buy. Think of all the things to do. I stare out the window at the grey sky and think about Christian's grey eyes. Christian is flying home from New York this morning. I wonder how his weekend went…I wonder if he enjoyed the Cybercities conference.
"You claim this is an unfair evaluation?" Ros addressed me. "I have concerns but I want to hear your reasoning."
I handed Jerry and Elizabeth a copy of my rebuttal and began to explain my view of the situation. "Grey Publishing cannot claim both sides of the issue. Either I took unexcused leave and therefore should have been terminated immediately with cause, or my absences were excused which means no work performance standards for the days I was absent."
"I had a medical excuse for the four days of work I missed when I was mugged. However, I took my tablet home with me to Montesano. I read and reviewed fifteen books, which I uploaded to the server Friday before I returned." I slid another piece of paper which Jessica in IT printed. It verified my claim.
Ros indicated I should continue.
"On the Monday I returned to the office, I was accused of job seeking while I was injured. I was shocked, because I had been recuperating, not job seeking. I was appalled when I went to my cubicle. Four days of mail, phone messages and over sixty manuscripts had been untouched in my absence."
"Wait," Jerry frowned. "We had a new protocol for manuscripts starting November first."
"I didn't know about the new protocol until after three o'clock on the Monday I returned. I called IT to have them retrieve the sixty manuscripts I entered in the database. Jessica came for them and informed me of the change in protocol. I worked through lunch and managed to enter the sixty manuscripts in three hours, with interruptions." I passed IT verification of my entry of the sixty manuscripts to Ros.
"Everyone in editorial was notified by email of the protocol change. I verified you received that email." Elizabeth stated.
"Jessica, the IT support staff, said IT tags broadcast company emails to see when they are viewed. IT sent the broadcast email on Tuesday, November first at eight o'clock. The email sent to me was viewed on Tuesday, November first, from inside GP at ten o'clock. The protocol email was deleted five minutes after it was opened. At ten o'clock on November first, I had been released from Northwest Hospital and was on my way to Montesano with my father."
"Are you claiming someone hacked your email and removed the one email which contained a new procedure?" Elizabeth scoffed. "I find that highly improbable."
"I asked IT for proof when the email was sent, accessed, read and deleted." I laid a piece of paper on the table. "Unless IT recalled the email and failed to resend, I have no explanation how this one solitary email was deleted. I asked Jessica to resend the email to me to add to the procedures manual. I apologize for wasting work time entering those sixty manuscripts in the database erroneously. I read six manuscripts at home on my own time. I completed the synopses and uploaded them into the manuscript server first thing Tuesday morning when I came to work." I laid another piece of paper on the table.
Ros reviewed my three pages from IT.
"I stayed after hours on Monday and completed printing, copying, mailing and filing eighty author letters. This paper proves I had a Grey Annex Security guard with me while I worked and verifies when I left the building. Normally, I do not take three hours to process author letters. However, no one handled Jack Hyde's author mail while I was out for four days." I handed Ros another piece of paper.
"The clerical trainee did not pick up the slack while you were absent with a medical excuse?" Ros inquired.
I shook my head no. "I do not fault Lauren; she was in training her first week. However, someone should have been aware of the work piling up on my desk. Perhaps if someone was, sixty manuscripts would not waited for me to erroneously enter them in the database. Someone would have collected the fifty-eight manuscripts which aged out, noted their expiration date in the database and sent them to archive. Someone would have printed, copied, mailed and filed the eighty author letters."
"I agree, but please continue," Ros directed.
"I needed to take a leave day in October. I completed my week's work in four days," I point out. "Although I needed an unexpected personal leave day, not a medically excused leave, no one complained about my work that week. I didn't know there was a question of my not meeting standards until this evaluation. No one has discussed my workload with me since my ninety-day employee evaluation."
"Will you tell me why you needed a personal leave day?" Ros queried.
"She took leave on October 18," Elizabeth can't hide the smugness in her voice.
"Ah, I understand. You were supporting your roommate Katherine Kavanagh and the Grey family?" Ros addressed me, while ignoring Elizabeth.
"Yes," I admit. Part of me wondered how she knew I lived with Kate. Part of me wondered how she knew Kate was involved with the Greys. Is she a stalker like Christian or does she have access to his stalker files? Or has he mentioned me to her? I can't ponder these questions, not with this employee evaluation issue on the table.
"Are there any instances of Miss Steele not completing work other than the four-day medical absence?" Ros asked.
"No," Elizabeth answered.
"Your evaluation states you don't work well with colleagues?" Ros noted.
"I am having issues with our new clerical trainee who is great at volunteering for everyone in the company but me." I answered honestly.
"I've discussed this with Lauren. She says you never ask for help. She gets Mr. Hyde's coffee for you, but she complained you haven't utilized her efforts in any other capacity." Elizabeth stated.
"Lauren gets Mr. Hyde's coffee for Mr. Hyde as part of her work performance standards. I have reminded Lauren to copy and file on Fridays when I'm completing the tracking project on manuscripts, but she…"
"She's been busy with other staff who plan their workload better," Elizabeth interrupted.
"I don't plan my workload. I follow an extremely specific schedule given to me when I started here. The set schedule lists filing for the week on Friday afternoon at three p.m. I remind Lauren first thing each Monday morning about Mr. Hyde's copying and filing on Friday afternoon. She says sure…but when Friday afternoon rolls around, she's too busy to complete Mr. Hyde's copy and file projects."
"We had two Friday holidays in November," Ros said. "How did you handle copying and filing then?"
"I copied and filed midweek without any complaints or issues with my workload. I have read and analyzed fifteen manuscripts per week, even during short weeks, since my work performance standards changed at my thirty-day employee evaluation." I laid another paper on the table. "Once I was aware of the protocol change, I requested my new work performance standards on Tuesday after I returned. Track Manuscripts has no standards or tasks delineated. I use the Track Manuscripts protocols from the Procedures Manual. Additionally, my schedule was never updated with the changes in work performance standards at my thirty- or ninety-day employee evaluation."
"I would like to see that schedule," Ros said.
"A copy should be in her personnel jacket," Jerry opined. "We keep copies of everything our employees sign."
Ros held out her hand to Elizabeth who hesitated before handing over my personnel jacket. Ros undid the clasp, pulled the papers from the file, laid them face down on the table and started with the top of the inverse pile. "Nice résumé," Ros complimented me. "Summa Cum Laude, and you worked at a hardware store twenty to thirty hours a week. Why a hardware store? " Ros looked at me expectantly.
"My father, Raymond Steele, owns Steele Woodworks in Montesano. I know different kinds of nails, screws, tools, woods, and finishes. The Claytons were good employers. I enjoyed working for them." My unspoken comment is I don't enjoy working at Grey Publishing.
"Okay, back to the pile." Ros glanced over the signed copies of the orientation pages from Day 1. She reads my beginning WPS and the micro-management schedule. "Copy the schedule please, I want the copy for reference, but not disturb your filing system." Ros continued through the pile once she had the copy of the schedule. She flipped over a document and read. She removed the top sheet and handed the other pages to Elizabeth. "Shred those. In situations like this, you keep the original cover sheet, noting she refused to sign. You do not keep the original evaluation." Subsequently, Ros turned the next set of pages over and noted the cover sheet, a one-page evaluation, and the individual ratings given to my work performance standards. She read the evaluation. "Where is the form Ana submitted requesting a review of her evaluation?"
"Ana used an improper form and submitted the form to Grey Enterprises Holdings HR, not to Grey Publishing HR. I never received the form for her personnel jacket." Elizabeth's prim voice indicated I failed to follow procedures.
"Why didn't you use the correct form?" Ros inquired.
I passed Ros a list of the GP HR forms on the server. "Grey Publishing did not/does not have the form I required. Since Grey Publishing is a subsidiary of Grey House…I used their form." I gave Ros a list of the Grey House HR forms on their server, along with the form's printed directions and my copy of the completed form.
Ros reviewed the printed pages. "Please make a copy of this," she passed the stack to Elizabeth. Once she had copies, she returned my copies to me, and filed the copies. She noted the lack of form to discuss later.
"This is not a GP HR issue," Ros removed the Grey Annex Security notification of my parking space win. "This is a Grey Annex Security issue. Please shred."
Ros read my ninety-day employee evaluation followed by the accompanying WPS. She raised an eyebrow at the lack of tasks under Track Manuscripts and the lack of an updated schedule. She read the form granting me a bonus of a week's leave, and a 2.5 percent raise for my Exceeds Standards rating.
The following entry in my personnel folder is my email requesting leave for October eighteenth. I utilized one of the leave days granted to me by Mr. Grey for working during the transition/move of SIP/GP. The next page was the excuse from Dr. Bayer for my long lunch appointment. The next page was Grey Annex Security verification I worked in the building until seven that evening to make up for my long lunch. Next was a fax from the doctor with my medical excuse when I was mugged. The following page was the written directive from GEH HR to use my remaining four days of leave accrued during the move to cover my absence.
The subsequent entry was the updated WPS since Lauren's arrival with the manuscripts' protocols. Ros raised an eyebrow again. The WPS should have been dated November first. They were printed and dated November eighth. Again, she noted the lack of directives under Track Manuscripts and the lack of an updated micromanagement schedule. The next set was the original evaluation from this round. "There," Ros observes the thickness of my work folder. "That's more appropriate." She examined my three reviews. "You didn't request a review of the ninety-day evaluation?"
"The thirty-day evaluation was rated does not met expectations. I felt the evaluation was not accurate. I used the GEH HR form to request a review. The ninety-day evaluation was rated standard, meets expectations. Jerry was present, and he felt the evaluation was less than I deserved. He made changes, Elizabeth printed a new review form, and I signed." I explained.
Ros read the first and second evaluations. She consulted the schedule. "Do you micro-manage all your staff like this?" Ros addressed Elizabeth.
"We've had difficulty with previous interns who have never worked before. The schedule makes interns more effective. Since Ana's expertise was in a hardware store and not in an office, Jack Hyde felt SIP should provide her with a schedule." Elizabeth explained.
"Hum," Ros tapped her pen on paper. "Prudent, yet you never upgraded the schedule to match her work performance standards."
I handed her a copy of my copy of the schedule. I crossed out items which had been deleted, added new tasks, and wrote in the margins what to do during unencumbered blocks of time. "Amber, the senior editorial assistant, revised the list to appropriately reflect the work which needed to be completed." I explained. Ros compared both lists.
"Let's continue with my list. Before I examined your schedule, we discussed issues with coworkers. I didn't see any written complaints in her file." Ros consulted her notes. "Ana's past evaluation stated editors and coworkers spoke highly of her work ethics and abilities."
"Lauren isn't the only staff member having issues with Ana," Elizabeth haughtily informed Ros. "She was rude to her immediate supervisor, Jack Hyde, when she returned from her medically excused absence."
"Ana?" Ros inquired.
"When I returned from being mugged, Jack asserted I was absent from work because I partied too hearty. Blood alcohol and drug tests were taken when I was admitted to the hospital. I was neither drunk nor on drugs. I was mugged. A witness called for an ambulance and SPD." I produced a copy of the police report and hospital tests. "I warned Jack I'd file a defamation of character lawsuit if he wrongfully accused me of being drunk and irresponsible in front of my coworkers again."
"Does anyone, other than Lauren Hudson or Jack Hyde have problems with Ana? Do you have any of those complaints in writing?" Ros observed Elizabeth again.
"No," Elizabeth barely contained her temper as Ros crossed through that part of the evaluation.
"Your review states you dress inappropriately. You seem well groomed today. Elizabeth: can you tell me when Ana was dressed inappropriately?" Ros instructed Elizabeth.
Elizabeth handed over a list of all the Tuesdays when I attended editorial meetings. "She wore a red pin-up girl angora sweater to an editor's meeting." Elizabeth commented. "There have been complaints about her designer clothes."
"There were none listed in her file. Did anyone ever discuss your wardrobe with you?" Ros looked at me.
"I'm not the support staff responsible for the appropriate work wardrobe memo." I reached for a folder holding printed copies of selfies I took. "Here are pictures of 12 separate outfits which I wore to work. I take selfies and email them to my mother and roommate for their approval and suggestions. I'll be the first to admit dressing professionally for the office is not an easy task, since I spent four years in jeans and flannel shirts at Clayton's Hardware. My designer clothes are gifts from my mother, my roommate or from shopping consignment. I shop consignment with my coworkers. Are they being counseled for their designer purchases?" I pause. "I don't think a vintage sweater qualifies as pin-up. I wore the vintage sweater on a cool day with a pencil skirt." I tapped the picture.
"Angora…"
I nodded.
"Consignment…"
I nodded again.
"The sweater is fabulous. I can't wear red, but I'd buy a vintage purple angora sweater in a heartbeat." Ros continues to examine my selfies.
"I wear pants on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I wear dresses or skirts on Tuesday and Thursday because I have more pants than I do dresses and skirts. However, none of my work skirts or dresses are shorter than four inches above my knee, as evidenced by the selfies. The list of editorial meetings where I dressed inappropriately is…a great work of fiction." I'm not about to relate I rotate my wardrobe because Hyde keeps leering at parts of my body.
"I saw what she wore to the open house and to the company party. From what I have seen and these pictures, Ana appears to dress appropriately for the office," Ros noted.
"Her Halloween costume made Mr. Grey stop at her desk and talk to her." Elizabeth's voice was disparaging.
Ros looked at me and raised an eyebrow.
"I wore a black retro style fit and flare dress, with pumps." I accessed my Breakfast at Tiffany's picture posted in the Seattle Times. "Elizabeth believes my inappropriate dress led to my mugging which is why I missed work."
"She modeled her outfit for Mr. Grey." Elizabeth continued her argument. "I suggested if she wasn't dressed like a hooker, she might have been safer."
Ros looked at me. "From what I remember of the film Breakfast at Tiffany's, Holly Go-Lightly's character is not a hooker or a call girl, but a young woman who dates wealthy men. Did you go out with Mr. Grey while wearing that costume?"
"Mr. Grey didn't stop by my desk because of my costume. I was seated; he could not have seen me as he approached. He stopped at my desk to ask me to go to Grey Calendars on my lunch hour for the grand opening for Mia's company. He felt I might be a calming influence. My lunch hour is 12:30 to 1:30. I adjusted my lunch hour to cover the ten minutes I spent talking to Mr. Grey. Luke Sawyer, who works for Grey Security, escorted me to Grey Calendars. He can verify I left my cubicle at 12:35 and returned at 1:25."
"Did anyone else wear costumes to work that day?" Ros asked.
"Lauren Hudson was dressed as a showgirl," I commented.
"She was dressed as a Radio City Rockette," Elizabeth corrected me. "Halloween was Lauren's first day at work; she did not know about the strict costume mandate."
"Security made some people remove their masks so they could identify them as employees. I think this is a matter of perspective - hooker versus movie character, show girl versus Radio City Rockette." Jerry valiantly tried to defuse the animosity growing between Elizabeth and me.
"Your review says you are uncommunicative," Ros noted.
"I do not believe I am uncommunicative because I will not engage in gossip. I don't discuss my personal or social life. I don't discuss the personal or social life of my friends and family. I don't discuss proprietary information which I overheard in proximity to friends or at social events. I cannot answer intrusive questions about my mugging…which occurred on my personal time...because the mugging is an SPD ongoing case." I stated emphatically. Plus, I mentally crossed my fingers. Please don't pry! "I'm friends with the three support staff I work with the most."
Ros crossed through the part where I wore inappropriate clothes and was incommunicative. "The days you used were days granted by Mr. Grey to cover the move?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Mr. Grey granted that leave time at will which does not require reason or advance notice." Ros crossed through the entire page regarding my unexcused absences. "Since the absences are excused, Ana cannot be held accountable for meeting work performance standards while she was absent." Ros considered my work performance standards before speaking. "Jerry, what do you think of Ana's manuscript synopses?"
"The ones I've read have been insightful. She provided excellent reasons for recommending or denying future steps for the manuscript," Jerry replied.
"Are the manuscripts chosen for you to read, or do you choose them? If you chose them, what is your criteria? Ros asked me.
"I pick unsolicited, unread manuscripts about to age out. If a manuscript is archived after ninety days, the manuscript will probably not be read. I operate on the J.K. Rowling theory – you never know what treasure you will find in the UUMs. I've tried to eliminate some of the backlog of UUMs. In the last six months I've read just over two hundred manuscripts."
"Jerry, do you have a protocol for reading manuscripts?" Ros continued to cross through parts of my evaluation.
"No," He admitted. "Ana's method seems to be geared toward giving everyone a possible chance."
"Jerry, I'd like to see a printout of three samples of Ana's synopses and then I'd like to see one example of three other staff." Ros wrote cryptic notes to herself.
Jerry used Elizabeth's computer to print synopses for Ros. When the printer finished, he handed her six crosshatched documents.
Ros reviewed the synopses. "Ana, tell me your thought process when you review a manuscript."
"I was taught a literary review is not a plot summary or an unsupported opinion of whether I liked or didn't like the manuscript. I try to include information about the key elements of the book: title, setting, plot and characters. Sometimes I read more than one chapter to get a feel for the manuscript. Sometimes I read the climax and resolution in addition to the first chapter. I read for sentence structure and length, and for paragraph length and development. Then I write an opinion about how well the author succeeded in using those elements. Only then do I express an opinion if they wrote an effective story."
"Jerry, read those synopses and then read Ana's." Ros passed the six examples to him.
He read them and handed them back. "As I said, her reviews are insightful."
"Insightful because she evaluates the manuscripts, not just offering a blanket approval or disapproval." Ros observed. "Jerry, how many editors do you have?"
"One chief editor which is me. The seven other editors were assigned to genres but now they are assigned by tasks – acquisition, development, copy editor, etc. We have one on-call beta reader for each genre." He explained.
"So basically, eight editors when you used to have thirteen. Those editors are busy and have not had time to concentrate on reading new manuscripts?" Ros clarified. "Do the beta readers read any unsolicited manuscripts?"
"No," Jerry does not know where she's going with this, but I foresee this plot development.
"I'd like to see Lauren Hudson's work performance standards," Ros requested.
"Discussing Lauren's work performance standards with Ana present is against HR rules." Elizabeth practically spits out the words.
"We're reviewing the standards, not reviewing Lauren's work. I believe Lauren's WPS can be tweaked to aid all the editorial support staff." Ros insisted.
Elizabeth printed Lauren's WPS for Ros.
"Ana, do you want to pursue publishing as a career?" Ros watched my face.
"Yes," I admitted. "I love books."
"I apologize, everyone, I need a few minutes for a web search." She accessed Elizabeth's computer. Within ten minutes, she brought printed pages back to the table.
"Because of the increased workload, editors don't have time to evaluate manuscripts. Their support staff do not analyze as in depth as Ana does. There are almost one thousand unread, unsolicited manuscripts listed in the manuscript database and additional manuscripts arrive daily. In order to properly utilize Ana's talents and abilities, I suggest she be assigned to reading and evaluating manuscripts ninety percent of the time. Ana's work performance standards could utilize her as a beta reader if your contract reader is unable to work."
"What are we doing about support staff for Jack Hyde?" Jerry appeared uneasy.
"Lauren feels she's not being utilized enough. Assign her as support staff for Jack Hyde. Not intern… editorial support staff. Hyde is the only editor who uses interns. Grey Publishing will cease the intern classification. Having all editorial support staff in the same work classification will facilitate coverage when someone is absent, like Ana was for those four days. Since Ana is taking the manuscript synopsis component from every editorial support position, they are free to do their own copying and filing. Additionally, they can alphabetically rotate prepping for and taking minutes for editorial meetings. We need updated work performance standards created and signed by the editorial support staff."
Ros explained her changes to my current evaluation. "I recommend Meets Standards for every task except manuscript synopses. I rate that section Exceeds Standards. In the section regarding future actions, I recommend you be promoted, with raise, to the position of Editorial Reader. Elizabeth, reformat Ana's evaluation, leaving out the parts I've deleted. There is no evidence in her file to support those conclusions." Ros passed the evaluation back to Elizabeth.
"I'm not comfortable doing that," Elizabeth announced. "This review is based on input from her supervisor, Jack Hyde. Removing his input negates his effectiveness as her supervisor."
"Is Hyde present?" Ros innocently asked. "I'd like to know if he has written proof of anything he's alleged in Ana's evaluation. Without evidence, this is a wrongful termination lawsuit waiting to happen. I don't know if you are aware, but a wrongful termination suit can cost Grey Publishing anywhere from $50,000 to a few million, depending on which federal labor laws are broken in the employee evaluation."
"Hyde is out of the office this morning, working with two authors who have recently combined their efforts to write a series of books." Elizabeth explained.
"Did you know that?" Ros asked me.
"I have not had time to review our calendars for the day," I explained. "I was told to report to HR first thing this morning, which I did. Jack Hyde has never been present for any of my evaluations."
"If Hyde has an issue with Ana's evaluation, he is cordially invited to file a request for review. We'll schedule a meeting with Grey House HR, Grey Publishing HR, Mr. Hyde, Miss Steele, Mr. Roach, me and the HR legal team Grey House uses for consultations. Having the supervisor present during employee evaluations is standard practice."
Elizabeth rose, taking my current three-page evaluation from Ros. She settled in at her desk with a decided frown on her face as she looked at parts Ros removed.
"I need to see a set of work performance standards for your beta readers," Ros requested. Once Mr. Roach gave Ros a set, she began working on establishing new standards for me using their standards and information she printed from various websites. She had the copy of my current WPS.
Ros continued. "I believe an arbitrary number of manuscripts to read per day does not work. You need flexibility to handle day-to-day work issues. Is a minimum of thirty manuscripts per month acceptable?"
"I would agree to thirty for a meets standards rating. I propose increasing amounts for higher ratings. Copying and filing as I see the need, not adhering to a schedule?" I cast an eye at the micro-management schedule.
"No, you proved you can schedule your work load. Lauren's training should be conducted by the senior editorial support staff, since she will be support staff and not an intern." Ros finalized my new work performance standards. "Review those, make changes as needed. Thirty manuscripts per month is rated Meets Standards. Forty-five manuscripts are rated Exceeds Standards. Sixty manuscripts or more is rated Outstanding Efforts."
"Acceptable, I'll sign off on those." I agreed.
Elizabeth printed and handed a new one-page evaluation to me. The recommended plan of action states I am to be promoted to the position of Editorial Reader, with a raise in pay. After me, Elizabeth and Jerry signed, Ros initialed the additional reviewer section. Elizabeth made a copy for me and put the original in my much thinner personnel jacket.
"Jerry, do we have an empty office in editorial?" Ros consults her notes.
"Yes, beta readers use the empty office if they come into Grey Publishing." Jerry consulted a seating chart provided by Elizabeth.
"Assign that office to Ana. She should have quiet to read and analyze manuscripts. The beta readers can use one of the smaller conference rooms or one of the visitor workstations if they appear at GP. Ana, effective immediately you are no longer an intern for Grey Publishing. You are an Editorial Reader. I've created new work performance standards for the position. Eighty-five percent of your time will be reading and analyzing manuscripts. Entire manuscripts, not one or two chapters. If the manuscript is impossible to finish, note it in the literary review with an example of the reason why." Ros shared the WPS she created with me.
"Ten percent of your time will be clerical office work such as filing and copying, and updates to the manuscript database. You will attend the editorial staff meetings on Tuesdays, not to take minutes and make coffee, but to discuss manuscripts with editors. You will create a list of the manuscripts you reviewed during the previous week and your recommendations. You will present that information at editorial meetings. You will be responsible for adding that information to the editorial agenda on Monday before the meeting. Five percent covers work place safety and dealing with the public." Ros covered the major tasks and percentages.
"Your position will be paid the same as an entry level beta reader with a 5% merit raise at the end of one year. You will have a thirty-, sixty-, ninety- and one-hundred-and-eighty-day evaluation. Today, before two o'clock, please relocate to the empty editorial office. Elizabeth, here are Ana's new work performance standards. Please word process for her signature, your signature and Jerry's signature." Ros gave the paperwork to Elizabeth to update and print. "She needs a new personnel action form with her rate of pay, and the rate which she earns sick leave and annual leave. Complete and print one for Ana to sign. Please arrange for new business cards and a nameplate for Ana. Please arrange for her insurance to become effective immediately. Please update the seating chart for the office including the move for Ana and Lauren and distribute to staff before the end of the day." Ros passed a list of tasks to Elizabeth.
Ros called IT and explained I was moving from my cubicle to the beta reader office in the editorial section before two o'clock. She asked I be given access to the manuscript server, the archive manuscript server and HR files for employees. She requested my calendar be separated from support staff and added to editorial staff with preview rights assigned to Mr. Roach and reception. She explained Lauren Hudson was moving from the front desk next to Claire to my previous cubicle after two o'clock. Lauren's calendar needed to be linked to Jack Hyde's calendar. She listed the server access which Lauren needed.
"Ana, as your first task after you move, I'd like you to update the synopsis form. Your literary review process is better than the generic form which is being used. I'd like Jerry to proof your completed form by the end of the day tomorrow. When the form is proofed, I need you to write procedures. You have an appointment on Friday morning, nine a.m. at Grey House with Robb Loeder to create a procedures manual for an Editorial Reader position at GP. Robb will help you polish the procedures manual and will give IT the authority to upload the new synopsis form and procedures to the server by the end of the week."
"Is there a reason I'm being excluded from this process?" Elizabeth's tongue might have become as pointed as her question.
"We'll discuss when we finish with Ana," Ros stated.
Elizabeth printed my new personnel action form and work performance standards. I signed, Elizabeth signed and Mr. Roach signed. Elizabeth made copies and gave them to me. The originals were filed in my personnel folder.
"Since you are no longer an intern, you will report to Jerry. He is your direct supervisor." Ros indicated. "If we're done, I'd like to speak with Ana for a minute. When I return, we will have a discussion before we speak to Lauren. Elizabeth, please create new WPS for Lauren, along with a personnel action form. All tasks will have objectives and evaluation standards. Jerry, if you could take this short break to write down what knowledge, skills and abilities you require from an Electronic Publishing Editor, your list will jump start the process for us."
Ros walked me to my future office and closed the door. "Thank you for your concern and prayers for Grey and myself. I don't know if you heard, but Charlie Tango was sabotaged. We are lucky to be alive. That information is embargoed. You cannot discuss the topic with Katherine Kavanagh, Kavanagh Media or Elliot Grey."
"Sabotaged?" I gasped.
"Sabotaged," she confirmed. "On another topic, I observed the way Hyde interacted with you Saturday night. I don't approve of staff drinking to excess and harassing their staff. I have one more question for you…and I want an honest answer. Has he ever been drunk at work?"
"Hyde has been buzzed a few times – mostly after lunches with authors on Wednesdays." I answered honestly.
"Did he make you uncomfortable during those times?"
"He asks me to give him a ride home since he lives near me. But my father taught me well, I don't get into cars with drunks." I admitted.
"Excellent training. So how did you handle the situation?"
"I had or invented a reason to refuse. He asked Elizabeth to provide transportation." I replied.
"The next time Hyde is buzzed after lunch, I want you to contact Grey Annex Security immediately. Grey House does not tolerate drug or alcohol abusers. We don't tolerate people who harass their staff, create a hostile work environment or behave unprofessionally at company events. I interpreted your comments about your wardrobe as an issue with how you dress." Ros waited patiently for me to talk.
"I can't address that," I prevaricate. "Grey Publishing is different; I don't wear jeans and flannel shirts. I don't know how to interpret my boss staring at body parts. Additionally, wearing clothes my mom bought or my roommate donated or that I bought on consignment earns me an inappropriate attire comment."
"Saturday night, that man leered at you, Katherine Kavanagh and Mia Grey. I was sincerely glad the three of you had men with you to keep him at bay." Ros reached in her pocket and handed me a card. "Ana…if there are any issues or backlash from your review today, or from your new position assignment, I want you to contact me. I believe your talents were seriously underused at Grey Publishing. If you need more of a challenge than being an editorial reader, I would be thrilled to have you in any of our divisions at Grey House – media and public relations would benefit with someone who has your work ethics and abilities. I would hate to lose you to Seattle Times or Kavanagh Media because you had issues with Jack Hyde."
"Thank you, Ms. Bailey," I offered to shake hands.
"My name is Ros and this is an order…get your purse and take a break in the cafeteria until one o'clock. Eat, drink and recharge your systems before you move into your new office. Do not access manuscripts or work emails during your lunch hour. That will give IT plenty of time to complete your relocation. I gave IT orders to change your password and user name. I believe someone accessed your email to delete an important message. I don't like someone having access to your email. Call Janitorial if you want to rearrange your office." Ros handed me a chit for the Grey House or Grey Annex cafeteria. She smiled and shook my hand before we exited the conference room.
XXX – Ros POV
So, he's Christian when Ana talks to Kate Kavanagh and Mr. Grey when she talks to office staff. Now I understand. Christian called out Anastasia's name in his sleep when we were stranded. He tried not to be disappointed when our families greeted us. He must have hoped she would be there. I can't believe they've been photographed together twice since they got together. She's obviously trying to keep their relationship quiet. I can respect that. Sometimes you don't want the world to know everything personal about you. I knew something was up when he disappeared to Portland for a week in May. Before I leave here today, I'm pulling CCTV tapes for Halloween. I want to see Grey's reaction to her full Audrey Hepburn ensemble. I'm asking Robb Loeder to keep an eye on the Lauren Hudson/Jack Hyde situation. I also need an in-depth background check on Hyde. I want to know his actions with the other interns. Jerry and I will discuss how inappropriate Hyde was with the Grey women on Saturday night. I'm including Ana in the Grey women group. Hyde is a fool if he thinks he's firing Ana. If I have a say in the matter, he will be fired just to keep us from having a sexual harassment lawsuit on our hands.
XXX
"Grey Publishing received directives to create a new procedure manual for all positions before the end of July. That task has not been completed." Ros held up her hand to stop Elizabeth's protests. "I'm aware you believe the delay is because you were short staffed. However, six months is an excessive timeline. Consequently, Robb Loeder, from Grey House HR, is helping with the Editorial Reader procedures manual. Starting next Monday, he will be here, working out of one of the small conference rooms with his support staff from Grey House. Before the end of next week, the procedures manual for all positions will be evaluated, updated, loaded on the server with physical copies provided to all staff."
"Loeder will examine Work Performance Standards for all positions to ensure they are current, signed and filed. There will be no blank spaces in Work Performance Standards. Loeder's next task is to ensure Grey Publishing has all the employee forms loaded on the server. Then he will develop a position announcement for an Electronic Publishing Editor. He will be involved in all steps of the hiring process. Grey wanted the position established and filled before the end of December. Time has slipped away, but Loeder will ensure we have someone before February first. Your position, Ms. Morgan, will report to Grey House HR, not Jerry, as of today. Loeder will ensure the reporting change is reflected in your updated work performance standards – which will dovetail in title and compensation with Grey House HR staff."
"Will my salary and benefits change?" Elizabeth was understandably upset.
"I don't know; the outcome will depend on what Grey House HR determines. I want to see a random dozen evaluations. I want to see the thirty-day evaluation for Lauren Hudson." Ros commanded. When she finished reading, she handed evaluations to Jerry Roach. "Can you tell me two glaring differences between Ana Steele's original one-hundred-and-eighty-day evaluation and these two evaluations?"
Jerry read them and gave Ros a shrug. "I'm sorry, I don't see what seems to be so obvious to you."
"One, Ana's original evaluation was three pages long. Each of these evaluations is one-page long. These two evaluations contain positive reinforcement and positive suggestions towards better employee productivity. Ana didn't receive any positive reinforcement or positive suggestions in her original evaluation. I believe Ana's review was written with termination, not continuation, in mind." Ros tempered the glare she shot at Elizabeth Morgan.
"You didn't express thanks or admiration for the outstanding job Ana has done with manuscript synopses. Her efforts in that area have not diminished since her last review. You have no procedures for the task, other than complete a form for manuscript synopsis. Several staff, who evaluate manuscripts, barely write more than one sentence for each section. Additionally, from the dates of their forms, they don't read regularly like Ana. Nor is their reading process logical like hers. They pull the first manuscript off the database, which is arranged by author's last name, not the date the manuscript ages out. I want to review Ana's evaluation for January third to ensure she's meeting the new work performance standards established today and to ensure she is receiving positive reinforcement and suggestions."
"Ms. Morgan, before you complete another evaluation, you will attend a refresher course on writing evaluations. You will attend a refresher course on retaining personnel records. Grey Publishing will pay all fees associated with upgrading your skills. I will forward a letter on Grey House letterhead giving you this directive. Loeder will receive a copy to add to your personnel file. If someone needs an evaluation before you take the courses, you will notify Loeder to conduct the evaluation. Written evaluations will not reference clothing, attitudes, communication, or failure to meet standards, etc. without a dated and signed complaint document in the employee's work folder. Additionally, each of those forms will be signed and dated by the employee ensuring the situation was discussed with them. Grey House will not be involved in a wrongful termination suit."
"I've seen Grey baiting for several years now from both men and women. Ana Steele could work at Grey House right now because her personal grooming aligns with the standards set at Grey House. Lauren Hudson is a walking wardrobe malfunction waiting for an inopportune time to embarrass the company. One open button on a shirt is acceptable. Two, where I can see her cleavage, is too much. Her wardrobe is NOT the image we want projected at a Grey House subsidiary. Yet, her wardrobe choices were not referenced in her thirty-day evaluation. They should have been, considering the Halloween costume, and the company wide dress code reminder."
"Before the end of the week, you will implement the acceptable wardrobe protocols you received when SIP became GP. I know Grey reiterated those protocols the week of Halloween. I know GP received a copy of the Halloween Costumes Protocols in July. We do not allow staff to dress like pimps and whores, or tarts/wenches/vixens. Nor do we allow sexually suggestive costumes such as French maids, human centipedes, known pedophiles or show girls. Nor do we allow staff to dress in politically incorrect costumes such as blackface, Native Americans in buckskins and feather headdresses, Hitler or other notorious dictators." Ros paused.
"In that case, Miss Steele's Holly Go-Lightly costume was, indeed, incorrect." Elizabeth argued.
"Miss Steele was dressed as a movie character, not a whore. She wore a little black cocktail dress, not a bandage dress. She worked Safe Streets with other volunteers who were dressed as movie characters like the Mummy or James Bond. Her costume is not up for discussion again. Every employee will read and sign professional dress guidelines with copies retained in personnel files. From this day forward, everyone dressed inappropriately will receive a verbal warning, followed by a written reprimand. All warnings and reprimands will be accompanied by a photo of the ensemble they wore on the day they received the warning or reprimand. Additionally, the errant staff member will be sent home to change clothes, with that time deducted from their work day. They can use leave to cover the time, or work afterhours to make up for the time they missed. When inappropriate dress happens a third time – termination paperwork will be prepared."
"I believe you can ask Hudson to button up when you have the position change discussion. I believe Hudson has been dressing inappropriately since she began working here a month ago. Today she receives verbal notice of her inappropriate dress. The notice will be included in her personnel jacket, with a picture of her flaunting her cleavage. She will read and sign the wardrobe protocols, the original placed in her personnel jacket and a copy for her to use when dressing for work."
"If you believe Ana was dressed as a hooker at Halloween, you need to drive to Westlake Plaza and educate yourself. Suggesting her attire was the reason she was mugged was inappropriate. If the police solve her mugging and if she is called to court to testify, Ana will be paid civil leave, like voting, jury duty, etc. She will not be required to present advance notice of her absence. Additionally, if she needs counseling to recover from the mugging, paid leave time will be granted by Grey Publishing as part of her compensation package. I want her notified of her health benefits in writing today."
"Ms. Morgan, this is your verbal warning to manage your opinions and words better. Should I hear of another incident, a written reprimand will be included in your personnel jacket. I have entered this situation in my action notes, and have indicated Jerry Roach was present for your verbal reprimand. Additionally, I don't know why this meeting with Ana was not calendared. Consider this your verbal warning. All upper-level employees are ordered to calendar meetings, conferences, leave time, appointments, etc. If I discover you are bypassing the system to conduct secret meetings, you will be fired with cause. Additionally, all supervisors will be present for employee reviews, evaluations, or notices." Ros let the threat sink in before continuing. "You will add attending HR meetings with subordinates to Amber's work performance standards."
"Ms. Morgan, I believe you and Amber can counsel Hudson on dressing appropriately, promote Hudson, and obtain her signature on her personnel action form and work performance standards for an entry level editorial support staff position. Micro-management schedules will cease. Hudson can relocate this afternoon, at two o'clock to the cubicle outside Hyde's office." Ros rose, and shook Elizabeth's hand goodbye. "Jerry, I would like a private conversation."
Ros and Jerry returned to his office. "Let's discuss the company Christmas party on Saturday evening. I have concerns…"
XXX
Email from Ros to Gwen: Have I told you how much I like my job today? Ros Bailey, Chief of Operations, Grey House: 3, Snarky Bitch: 0, Asshole Employee: 0, Trashy Tart Employee: 0. I'm on a roll...I wonder who else's life I can change today. LOL
XXX – APOV
I had a wonderful lunch thanks to Ros. While eating my grilled three-cheese medley with spinach on sourdough bread and a cup of tomato basil bisque, I text Kate, Dad, Mom and José about my promotion. No more intern, I'm a bona fide employee of Grey Publishing. I told Kate, no more reporting to Hyde. I report directly to Mr. Roach. I don't announce my raise is 15% more than I was making, which will help me pay for Mary's counseling sessions.
IT helped me rearrange my office so the layout is more cohesive and work friendly. When I see Hyde approaching my office, I reach for my smart phone and turn on the conversation app and lay the phone on the desk.
"Well, well…" Hyde sauntered into my new office. "Six months and you have a new job and are besties with the Grey family and Ros Bailey. The rumors about Grey being gay must be true since she bats for the other team."
"Your point?" I smile serenely. "I have work to do, since I don't have support staff to fetch coffee for me."
"You were almost fired for your inability to perform your job. Don't get comfortable here. I've got my eye on you." He smirked.
"Which part are you eying today? My legs, my ass or my assets?" I sat up straight, flipping my hair over my shoulders, making sure the girls perk up. "By the way," I picked up my smart phone. "I've been recording our conversation. When you whine about my attitude to Ms. Morgan, I have electronic proof you threatened me. I also have Ros Bailey's email address and I would be glad to let her know how much disdain you display at her batting for the other team. In the future, I would appreciate you knocking before you enter my office. You are no longer my supervisor; you don't come and go as you please from my work area."
Hyde stormed out; I hear him snap at Lauren to fetch coffee. I wonder how soon she will lose her giggly, flirty demeanor when she has to work with his drunken ass. She glares at me each time she walks past my office, but I noticed her blouse is buttoned and her rude lips are zipped. Thank you, Ros!
I ignore the world, create the new review form, write procedures and email both to Robb Loeder, Mr. Roach and Ros Bailey. I'm not taking chances with emails being fucked with again. I write down the various tasks of my job and which ones need a procedure included in a manual. I start reading a manuscript, taking copious notes.
XXX
Kate ditched Elliot tonight so we can celebrate my new job. I played back the conversation with Hyde and Kate can't quit laughing. We ordered in pizza, popped the cork on a bottle of the champagne intended for our Christmas party. I told Kate about Ros appearing as my goddess in shining armor. I blushed a lot when I said I could just kiss her! That comment sent Kate off into another round of giggles.
I told Kate about Ros removing and Elizabeth shredding documents out of my personnel jacket, and the removal of negative comments from my evaluation. Kate laughed and told me she passed her evaluations with Meets Standards. She received a rubric cube for her one-hundred-and-eighty-day evaluation due at the end of January. She gets to decide if she's working for Meets Standards, Above Standards, or Exceeds Standards by what she does for her job. We both laugh and clink our glasses to toast our total lack of standards tonight.
