20.8.06 Greedy Goodwill
Fellow Medinge member Tony Quinlan has set up a new blog, which I began linking not too long ago from the right-hand column. Called Partum Intelligendo, Tony looks at areas of his expertise: communications and narrative. He is far better informed than many of his colleagues dealing in these areas and his blog complements others’ among the Medinge Group rather well.
While I am sending you off-site today with other people’s blogs, Andrea Weckerle at New Millennium PR discusses a disturbing matter at Goodwill of Central Virginia, to which she had been donating things. It turns out that one of its own people was fired when an “undercover” staffer posed as someone needing goods from the place, but could not pay for them. Joe, the chap on duty, took pity on her, and decided to give her the furniture that no one would pay for anyway, and would be disposed. Result: Joe got the sack. Here’s a man living the brand and the spirit of his organization—supposedly—only to discover that it cares little for people, and it’s all about the profit. At least, that’s what it seems to me, now that I know how it deals with its own people who try to further its aims. (Note that Andrea’s story has been told to her by an eyewitness, and it would qualify as hearsay. Still, I have known Andrea to be always reliable, and I expect her contacts to be, too.) There is something very sick with America if Goodwill considers its actions normal, acceptable business conduct. I’d accept this happening in some faceless, greedy, profit-driven corporation, but Goodwill? I’d like to hear its side of the story and how this NPO could possibly justify Joe’s dismissal. Posted by Jack Yan, 00:12 Comments:
Jack, you're correct that the eyewitness statement is hearsay, but given the circumstances under which I was told this story, I believed it to be true, although a court of law would apply its own standards in determining authenticity. Nevertheless, I'd be interested in hearing Goodwill's side of the story, if only to learn the reason it decided to go with termination. If there is more to this than initially appears, perhaps a statement would be a good idea.
# posted by Andrea Weckerle: 8/20/2006 01:41:00 AM
I have no doubt about your contact’s accuracy, either, Andrea, nor would I expect you to write anything that you did not believe to be true. I agree a statement from Goodwill would be a good idea as these stories can propagate.
Jack, I'm going to play Devil's Advocate on this one. First question, did this kind hearted guy get permission from his supervisor before he decided to give the person the furniture? It is not his place to be generous with his employer's goods. If he was really touched by the person's plight and wanted to do something about it, he could've bought the furniture himself and then given it to the person. He wouldn't have gotten in any trouble if he'd done that. Second, how does he know the person's plight is legitimate? The person could be lying and unless he did a background check on the person, he wouldn't know. One of the biggest scammers in the U.S. are panhandlers who claim to be homeless or out of work and beg for money. These people can pull in $200 or $300 a day tax-free. With that kind of money, a person wouldn't need to work as long as they have the lack of conscience to do it. Third, why this person and not another? Surely there are other people who need help. Why should he help just that one person?
It sounds like the guy didn't have the authority to give the furniture away to the person he gave it to. This sounds like a case of an employee who decided to be generous with his employers goods. In that case, the employer most definitely should fire him. BTW, I've faced a similar situation like this recently. At Medieval Times, we have a lot of Mexicans who work in the kitchen. You can imagine their situation isn't the greatest. I noticed one of the employees carrying out aluminum wrapped packages. I finally decided to challenge the guy. I found out he was carrying out ribs and potatoes from the kitchen. If I go with what this guy did, I should've let the guy walk out with the food. The company could afford it. However, it isn't my place to decide who the company bestows its charity on and who it doesn't. That is upper management's call. In my case, I didn't let the guy take the food out and reported the incident to the operations manager.
Ron, excellent analogy. I do take your point. What I am concerned about, however, is the way that it was done; plus Goodwill being Goodwill, you’d expect a warning or something else rather than a dismissal altogether. These guys are meant to be about giving.
Secondly, Medieval Times’ brand—as a for-profit company—is somewhat different, so I would be totally on your side for stopping the theft of what was essentially company property.
Jack, I spoke with Aimée P. Walters, Goodwill's Director of Marketing & Communications, today and she shared the organization's side of the story. Apparently the organization has a very strict policy regarding donated goods -- and takes immediate action if such policies are violated. That appears to be, based on what Ms. Walters told me, what happened here. Anyhow, please have a look at the update to the post and, if possible, alert your readers to the additional information so that they have a more complete picture. Thanks.
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# posted by Andrea Weckerle: 8/23/2006 02:47:00 AM
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