as someone who works with less than desirable sections of the public on a daily basis, i am far from sensitive, nor do i call a blackboard a chalkboard or talk about the rights of LGB&TG people over the mainstream
its not about political correctness, its simply about good manners, maturity and having some adult discretion in the language used
the natural selection evident in pubs, warrants speaking with some courtesy
Bear certainly didn't act in a "delicate flower" way, he acted (as the reports would suggest) in a manner that made Rays comments reflect badly on one person, himself
btw, as an (ex)union official, i can tell you that a constructive dismissal case in this country is very difficult to win, despite what the Daily Fail would have people believe
I was referring to those unable to take criticism, I knew nothing about you but now we know that you serve the public and were a union official which is much the same as myself, 42 year in public service and elected to NALGO local branch office. But this is irrelevant.
If you haven't read about cases in our "The City" and in New York of big claims made by ex-employees of financial institutions of very successful people who felt slighted or might not have got the promotion they, in their own mind, deserved, then you can't be reading your non Daily Fail closely enough. I was not referring to the "normal" constructive dismissal cases.
But to return to the topic there is no reason that Mears should not have given an answer, presumably honest, about Grylls performances. Circumlocution makes poor television.
I remember a management course where the scenario we had to work through was that of telling an employee that he smelt and should wash. Terribly difficult but the message was that honesty was best, done discretely but the message to X had to be "you smell and must do something about it". I did actually have to do this, not to an employee, but to occasional users of the library where I worked. Beating about the bush never worked and was no kindness, straight talking did work because you were talking to them as an adult not treating them as some kind of half-wit.
I think this thread has probably run its course. I hope everyone agrees, if not drop me a PM.
If you think it's appropriate, please feel free to start a new 'merit's of constructive dismissal' thread in the 'Employment Law' section.
Martin
Last edited by Martin; 01-03-2011 at 05:13 PM.
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.