Preston Russell Law - Legal Services for Southern People

Don't Kill the Messenger

Saturday, October 01, 2011 by Mary-Jane Thomas, partner category Work to Rule

Recently I have been fighting with authority figures.  A place that I go to, to do my work instigated a policy banning cell phones, food and beverages.  This irritates me.  Presumably the takeaway latte that I carry with me as I attempt to enter this place has been categorised by someone in Wellington as posing a security risk. 

I pointed out the other day to someone who was unfortunate enough to represent “The Man” that in my 20 odd years of prosecuting I had never seen anybody assaulted with a cup of warm milk.  Whilst I accept that a hot tall black might be seen as potentially life threatening (my husband says he has seen a flat white used as a weapon) my inability to carry my latte into said building has raised my blood pressure now for some months.

 My reaction has always been to mumble under my breath in a semi rebellious way – I have often tried to secret said latte up my jacket sleeve. The other day, however, due to the fact that I was feeling a bit uptight in any event I snapped at the poor unfortunate security guard who tutted at me as the latte protruded from my sleeve. Enraged I stormed to the poor woman who is the face of “The Man” demanding she ring somebody and put in complaint about said regulation.

This is an example of how you can often end up yelling at the wrong person.  I got annoyed at the poor guy on the door who has told me for the last year not to bring my latte into the building (I remember the good old days when I was a smoker when I only got yelled out if I stepped inside the back door on a rainy day to smoke).  He was only doing his job.

Further the poor Manager representing “The Man” did not deserve my loud protests of the injustice and stupidity of the said regulation.  She too was only following orders.

I have always hated people that yell at waitresses when they get a bad meal.  They should yell at the chef. I became a waitress yeller.

It is similar in the work place.  It seems to me that too often employers take out frustrations on employees when in fact the person they should be yelling at is clients, or suppliers or bad debtors. Unlike marriage we not enter a vow when we become employed to love honour and forgive our employer every time we are yelled out when they have a bad day.

 So I publicly apologise to the representatives of “The Man” Instead I am going to write to the Minister in question and ask that my complaint be placed before whatever Government employer makes up the Rules about what I can and can’t carry into said building. I feel better already…..NOT.