Smilax

The following is a letter I'd like to send though I don't think I will. You may think, by merely posting this, that I have sent it. I don't agree. Some things are more defused the more public they become and unless you have the key you won't know who this is about.

Trussel,

I know why Smilax can't work with me. I won't leave "well-enough" alone. I challenge her in ways she'd rather ignore. So, she's black listed me, fine. I made a youthful mistake but I've done all in my power to do good. I hear the anger in my friends voices and see the fruit of her incompetence and can't help but share their anger.

As a manager myself, I look at what's going on in her shop and cringe. By not dealing with her issues your product is suffering.

1. The quality of work going up is only as good as those producing it. Smilax has terrible hiring instincts.

2.Your employee retention is terrible. You have lost some very valuable people who would've been fine staying on if some one else were in charge. (And, yes, I am one of them.)

3. The core staff is overwhelmed and over-worked. Mainly because they have to correct the mistakes made by those less than competent hires. Also,

4. When it comes to mundane tasks, like keeping a calendar, checking up on off site work or communicating things in a timely manner so people don't have to panic, it's just not happening. This makes it hard on those who are trying to get the work done on time and run their various side projects to know when they will be needed and where they should be. It also leads to abuses in the system where it would be possible for an individual to fudge their hours siphoning off funds where they don't need to go.

5. Speaking of funds the budget isn't being followed...

This is just the stuff I can see right away.

The consistent complaint I've heard against you is that you will do nothing. Evidence dose suggest that you avoid conflict. Now I don't know everything and I certainly can't say if this is justified. But if any of this makes sense or rings true doesn't that suggest to you that some action should follow? I hope you get a real manager in there soon. I hope that there can be a way for Smilax to leave gracefully. I don't see her as an asset to you.

I know there are ties stronger than logic keeping her here. To an outsider this set up is crazy. I know because I know some one who won't refer people to work for this company any more because of the shit going down in the shop. They do have a point. I don't want to send people over there myself because I know the insanity it is to work with the Smilax. I'm a reasonable peace loving person yet I've never wanted to punch some one so badly as I've wanted to punch her.

This will posse a problem starting next week as she is taking over the account I'm assigned to. In all fairness I must warn you that we can't be in the same room for too long. I will have a vary hard time being my usual helpful self when dealing with her there's just too much crap there.

Thank you,