I worked for a staffing agency and once received a call from a very harried aministrative assistant for an executive. This actually happened
Admin: We have a problem with an employee of yours working at our company and would like to terminate their assignment immediately.
Me: I'm terribly sorry. Can you let me know what the nature of the problem was?
Admin: "I haven't been told, I was instructed to call the agency and have this person removed immediately."
Me: Of course I understand. May I please have the name of the temporary employee?
Admin: "Well it's the temporary employee you have working here."
Me: Let me check my records.
Panache checks his computer to see how many temporary employees are current assigned to this particular client.
Me: Sir, currently we have sixteen employees working at your company. If you could just give me the name I would be happy to call them and let them know that thier assignment has been ended and to leave.
Admin: Well I wasn't given the name!
Me: OK, then Sir, there are several different departments at your company utilizing our services. Perhaps if you knew which department this person was working in we could go from there...
Admin: "I don't know! I was told there was a problem and that the temporary employee had to go. I need that person out of here."
Me: Can you describe the individual? Was it a man or a woman?
Admin: I don't know!
Me: "I do understand Sir, but I'm not sure how I can do this unless I know which person. Is there anyway you could find out?
Admin: My boss is in a very important meeting!"
Me: I'm terribly sorry Sir. Perhaps I could call the contacts I have for each department currently using our people and ask them if there are any problems...
Admin: NO! NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! I will find out and call you back. (The Admin hangs up)
Two hours later the Administartive Assistant calls back
Admin: (very upset) I've been informed by my boss that your employee is still here! I asked that this person's assignment be ended!
Me: Yes Sir, I remember. You were going to check and find out which employee you wanted removed. I've just been waiting for your call. Do you have a name?
Admin: (makes strange angry/frustrated noise) No!
Me: Sir I'm very sorry, but failing to start calling up my people and terminating their assignments one by one until I get the right person, I just don't know what I can do on my end without knowing who it is that you want out.
Admin: I know, I know... Look I'll call you back!
About 20 minutes before the end of my shift I called the Administrative Assistant.
Me: Good Afternoon this Jamie from the Staffing Service. I hate to bother you but I will be leaving for the day very shortly and wanted to see if you had the employee's name for me to contact to end their assignment?
Admin: (very quietly) We have decided to keep them on. Good day. (He then hung up)
Cheers
Jamie
Jamie
Originally Posted by Panache
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