Old Man Morgan

Building on Chris’s blog RE check the boxes, I am in a bit of a huff with our Security department. As background information, there is the expectation that all expat’s domestic help (maids, gardeners, drivers) will undergo security checks.

Late last year with only about 1 weeks notice we were given a list of documents that had to be produced by each staff person. Each were also subject to an interview and a “home inspection”. This was a real hassle, primarily because of the short time period and the fact that it was right before the Christmas holidays. All staff did this and were we (and the staff) were advised that everything was ok.

Then a week ago, 8 months later, I receive (as well as every other expat) letters suggesting that “everything wasn’t in order”. However, the attachment to the letter sort of suggested that “all is ok”. As part of the letter, there was a photocopy of a form letter listing 11 different documents that must be presented by the staff. One would reasonably conclude that the form letter didn’t apply to existing staff that have been thru the process but it did apply to new staff – thus, the reason for my getting the letter.

Then over the weekend, I receive an incredibly strong and snotty email advising that I have violated corporate guidelines and that none of my domestic staff have completed the screening. I am essentially ordered to immediately comply. With the email is an attachment that shows the status of my staff. Basically, it (a) suggests that every staff person failed on EVERY aspect … and that none of the steps had been completed (ergo: check the boxes).

I promptly send an email reply blasting the incredibly poor communications and contradictory advice we are being given, such as a letter in Bahasa Indonesia that shows certain documents being “optional” but the checklist in English showing them as being required. The fact that we were told everything was fine – only to be told 8 months later that all staff failed on all accounts, even on the documents they did submit.

Then, Decy and I go to work (primarly poor Decy) collecting a gazillion documents on each of the staff.

Supposedly some of the “originals” of documents are supposed to be submitted. In many cases, however, this is incredibly difficult as the originals are 1000 miles away and there is no practical way of getting them here without sending somebody on a bus. Then, there are other documents that are actually impossible to legally obtain – but with some “additional fees” we can get “temporary” documents.

After numerous visits to government offices, phone calls, reviewing of notes, Decy and I going around and around on the facts (trying to help me understand the issues and vagaries of Indonesian laws) I drafted one of my William Shakespeare Morgan emails. Generally speaking, in the email I advised the company of (a) my dissatisfication with the process, (b) the “check the box” aspects of the exercise, (c) the ridiculousness of being told by a contractor (who is being paid to process all the paperwork) to do things like put originals of critical family documents “in the mail” or to pressure local govt officials to give us “temporary” documents. Then I provided a list if what I would and would not provide – with the request that they (not the contractor) review the list and advise if they take any exception. As a final comment, I advised that in spite of the fact that one of our employees is Decy’s brother, we would still (in good faith) comply with their demands that all of his documents be submitted for review – including providing an official document showing his family member. Just for the record, I clearly refused to obtain a letter of recommendation from Decy’s brother’s previous employer …. which is us … because he was working for us (but not as domestic help) as a driver for our Indo family since 2002 …. he he he ….

So, how was your day? How many boxes have you checked ???

Gotta get to work.

ciao ciao