I was written up at work but the letter is not all true. What can I do?

Question

I work as a leasing coordinator for a rent to own/ rent to rent corporate company. This all started when I approached my manager about an idea to distribute an 800 line throughout the leasing coordinators to minimize my work load and to get those calls answered in a timely manner. Instead of considering this as an option I was told this was my duty that's been given to me. What started out as a simple question/idea grew into a heated argument with her stating maybe this job's not cut out for me and that she would meet with me next week. But the meeting came much sooner, I received an email from my manager that same day that she will meet with me @ 3:30. Unbeknownst to me I've just been written up. She begins to go over this letter of incidence that took place between me and my clients stating that I've been unprofessional, these clients have threaten to pull their business and I'm the reason we could lose 1 million dollars in business. At this time I've only been aware of one problem I had where a client of 4 months continued to call me Amy and I ask she stop calling me Amy and to use my correct name and if she couldn't use the correct name to not use any name at all. This was brought to my attention that there was a list of problems within our department that this client is threatening to pull the plug and this incident was added to the list. As for these others incidents I was never notified there was any problems or such threats were ever made. I was thinking to myself, "isn't these types of incidents immediately recognized and why is this just being brought to my attention. The only thing I could come up with is I did something, I don't know what but I did something to my manager that morning which brought this whole written up about. I did recognize these incidents that she'd mentioned but the impact in her letter stating that I am the reason these companies are threatening to pull the plug seems a bit extreme. Now when I talk of the incidents they are very minor for example:

Now keep in mind these situations are between me and housing coordinators who are no different than me as far as job description/level.

1) I was called the wrong name on several occasions by our biggest client and after the 4th time correcting my name I expressed please use my correct name or don't use any name at all. This is the cause of a 356,000 a year business to pull the plug.

2) A housing coordinator would continue to send the email telling to get this done, why wasn't this delivered and fix it, whatever just get it done type of stuff. I asked please don't speak to me this way. It happened again so I forwarded on an email to their boss of this talk and first stated how I enjoyed working with this person but these emails must stop, to please recognize and not let this go unnoticed.

3)Again with our biggest client, a housing coordinator who I've worked with for 6 months continues to send the pick up request and again and again I would forward them on to the correct person as well as explaining these emails go to this person and to please send these to her. This became a repeatitive thing so when I received another email I simply stated I would no longer be responsible for forwarding on these emails and to please send to the correct coordinator in hopes this lessons everyones work load with the back and forth emails stating the same thing.

Are these reasonable problems and enough to be written up for? And is it allowable for the letter to be half untrue?

The whole time in the meeting she kept saying this is to better me with my professionalism. I'm asking myself, "Then why am I being written up instead of being coached." This to me is something that will effect me when it comes to promotions, reviews, transfers etc. . .

This letter states heavy, heavy impact to losing business and I'm the reason. I'm finding this hard to believe and to except.


Remember this all started with a suggestion an idea to better help the department. And now I ask myself, "Every time I come to her with a solution, problem, concerns, ideas etc . . am I going to be written up for something completely different?"

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your responses, advice and comments.

Amanda

Answer 1

Disregarding the situation with clients, you should not have allowed yourself to argue with your manager.



It's time you looked for another job. Perhaps you should avoid work that puts you in a stressful situation with clients/colleagues/management.

Answer 2

Well, Amanda, you sound like a person who likes to do things in the correct manner, and your idea for making things more efficient is a good suggestion. Perhaps your manager or staff feels threatened by a worker who can come up with a good idea. Most firms welcome that kind of input from an employee, and even if they don't follow through with it, they appreciate that forward thinking. I feel you might be in the wrong employment, and if this sort of thing continues on their part, you could ostensibly lose your job. You have the choice right now to remain in that job and run the risk of being fired for some inconsequential thing, or you can start looking for another job, where people are open to suggestions, and do not get ballistic when you suggest that they forward information to the right person. As long as you treat clients in a polite and friendly manner, I see no reason why the company would lose business. Just to be on the safe side, you might want to document these things and present them to someone who is higher up in the company than your manager. I personally would feel stifled in such an organization. Good luck!

Answer 3

It sounds like your biggest problem is that you allow yourself to get angry. It isn't wise to argue with your superiors or clients. Even if you feel sure you're right, sometimes it's better to back down and walk away than to escalate it into an argument. No matter how annoyed you get with a client, you should always remain tactful and polite. It's perfectly acceptable to suggest to a client that he could save time by contacting another department directly, but bluntly saying you will no longer forward e-mails sounds too confrontational.

Answer 4

These things fall into the category of "personality issues".



While you may literally have been "in the right" to reply as you did, it is not "politically correct" to do so. That is where Professionalism comes in. It is important to Please.... and especially Not to Displease an important client. so while you have frustrations.... apparently you are not in a position to voice them to the client.



Here is the (possible) solution. Swallow a big dose of humility. Recognize that "The client is always right". Thank your boss for her input..... and try to take these new ideas onboard.



Or, look for another job.