Family and Work

I have mentioned that Bern and I are in the Freight Industry, one that seems to hook you and you are destined to work in this industry till the day you die as you will not see retirement age with all the stress that comes with the job. (Only half kidding)

As fate would have it, my children have also become involved in this industry. They started as Temporary workers with the companies we worked for and later became permanent staff. The same can be said for Bern’s niece and nephew as their father Michael owned a courier company.

Cait and Sarah and Bern’s Niece Leanne (not her real name) were working in the Customer Services Department two Christmases ago. There was the normal chaos that follows with it being the Festive Season and everyone’s nerves were shattered, but what added to this year’s stress was the fact a freight company had closed and overnight the distribution had doubled.

The hours the girls were working was grueling. Up at 4.00am and off to work to work until midnight. Everyone’s energy levels were at its lowest. Tears flowed and outburst was the order of the day.

One day Cait was having a full out argument with Bern who was her Operations and Customer Services Manager and she was adamant she was right and would not listen to reason. Bern pointed out that this was not open for negotiation and that Cait would just have to follow up on the parcel and advise the client what the outcome was.

Cait was by now fuming and stamping her foot like a three year old throwing a tantrum. She threw down her query book. Stood with her hands on her hips and shouted in a high pitched voice filled with frustration:-

“BUT MOM!” well that was the end of the conversation as Bern turned around and said with a big smile on her face.

“Don’t Call me Mom; I am Bern or Ma’am to you.

Well Cait was finished her anger deflated like a balloon that had been popped. She just threw her hands up in defeat and said

“Damit Bern, how can I fight with you when you make me laugh and that is not Fair because I am still very cross. “

In all the years Bern has been my partner the children have never called her mom. I think Cait was saying to herself; “Just you wait Bern, I am going to report you to MOM and then you will be in trouble!” But she got stuck on the mom but in her head!

The whole office joined in on the teasing and Cait has been reminded of this when she back chats Bern.
Sarah has also put her foot in it quite a few times but one time that stick in my mind, Bern was hanging up washing in the laundry area and she wanted to get Bern’s attention to ask her a question so she said;

“Babe?”and then there was this stunned silence.
Bern’s reply was

“Yes Sweetie”

end of Sarah’s question. Sarah ran to tell me about her blooper and every now and then she gets that grin on her face and stands with her hands on her hips and looks at Bern and says “Babe!”

One of duties for all the girls in the Customer Services Department was to answer the telephone and direct the call to where it was needed. Well Sarah answered the phone and listened and then asked the client to hold the line as she transferred; and Click she put the phone down. She got all panicky and did the panic action with her hands, waving them around and then scrunching her fist up to her face with that OH NO what have a done look on her face.

The phone dutifully rang once again and she answered politely, and asked the holder to hold while she transferred the call and CLICK; she did it again. She put the phone down before transferring the call. Bern shouted from her office; “Sarah, you did it again!”
Sarah sat there stunned and refused to answer the phone again.

Leanne was helping me with Credit Card bookings and she was getting very frustrated with the clients who were shouting at her and could not understand why we could not give them a definitive time for delivery. She was very polite and explained that the drivers had routes planned and we need at least a three hour window to do the delivery.

One client became quite agitate as he wanted the credit card to go and have his hair cut. Leanne explained that our driver could not be there at a specific time, and the client went off at her like a raging bull. She got all upset and told him;

“Sir you either make yourself available for the delivery of your credit card, or I will cut it up into little pieces and send it back to the Bank!”

The client was not impressed and asked to speak to her Manager, so she sweetly smiled and used a half sweet voice and half sarcastic voice. “No problem sir, I will put you through to my Manager who is also my AUNT", so then he blustered and said “Well then put me through to owner or MD of the company” to which she added

“Absolutely Sir that will be my DAD!”

The client was not impressed and insisted that someone in management who was not family phone him. That would be me; I telephoned and listened to his side of the story and sympathized with him until he accused Leanne of swearing at him. The hairs on the back on my neck bristled and I said

“I Beg your Pardon, you are now lying and as I share an office with Leanne I do not appreciate your attitude. Either be at the delivery address between 9 h00 and 12h00 tomorrow or I will return it to your bank as unclaimed. Let’s see how well you do with that Hair Cut Now!”

Morale of the story is :Dont Take on our Family, you will lose.