i) Work Delivery
“Can you both tell me, why isn’t there any actions taken until now?” Both of her subordinates stayed silence when they were questioned by Betty, over the video conference call.
It was team meeting scheduled on 10 a.m. Thursday. Betty’s voice wasn’t the light and easy tone as any other team meetings they had so far. Anger can be sensed through her monotone when she talked. Carrie and Sam didn’t turn on their video camera in this call except Betty. Betty didn’t mind that at all as long as her messages conveyed through to them.
Betty had no choice but to squeeze out some of her time to review and check on their monthly report, three months later. They had just entered into a new financial year. Most of the time, January of the year or the first quarter of the year would be pretty clean and easy for finance team to maintain. Aside from that, beginning of the year would be the time for year-end audit work and tax reporting work as well. So, by right, finance team should be able to balance in between that easy monthly work and hectic year-end work schedules.
Betty trusted that her team could handle this quarter-one tasks accordingly as everyone in the team has been working together and went through at least two year-end closing by now. Monthly tasks were not new to any of them. With that, she put her focus on liaising with auditor and tax agent, for respective companies she has to oversee. Her schedules were piled up by attending to these external parties. To top it off, there was a sudden request from the headquarter (HQ), that was labelled as ‘URGENT’.
(Gosh… this comes at the right time, huh?) Betty grumbled a little in her mind. But still, deep down, she knew that jobs are jobs. As employee, she was tasked to complete what needed to be carried out by her position. She considered through each request and allocated a few tasks that were able to be handled and completed by her team members; she then be the final party to review and complete the needed before sending the reports off to those requestors.
(All went well, finally…)
“Huh…” Betty released a heavy sigh after sending the third batch of audit questions from auditor. With the supports from her team and the determination in work planning, they were now at the stage where auditors and tax agents were to complete the draft work. Nothing much critical for her to attend to.
Betty pulled back her focus to take a look at her team’s monthly reports. She decided to review on the March’23 report instead of January or February report for March was also reported on Quarter one’s status.
(Thailand report… Hmm… There she goes again. Not updating those new codes created during the month. How many times do I have to repetitively reminding her?) Betty reviewed Nina’s report, page by page, cells by cells; and spotted some significant differences and things that Nina didn’t do properly. The next day, Betty had a conference call with Nina, patiently inform her on what she lacked of and what needed to be done next.
“Okay, I understand now. I’d update it and send it to you soonest possible.” Nina’s voice echoed from the laptop speaker. “You understand the purpose of this report and why I keep reminding you on this, right?” Betty wanted some reassurance. “Yes, I’m sorry about that. I’d be more careful next time.” Nina, the Thai colleague tried her best to convey and translate her reply in English words. “Alright, any question, like I always said, please let me know. Don’t just leave the work half done and submit it to me just like that.” “Yes, I know. Thank you.” They ended the call.
Next, Betty moved on to the report that she has gotten Sam to help her review on Carrie’s report, in the month of February. These two colleagues were more well-versed in complicated accounting works. They both have better work experiences among the finance team Betty was leading.
(This report should be quick.) Betty made herself a cup of coffee before started her review work on the report on Singapore. She roughly gauged the time she would need to spend on this report and what next she could complete within the day.
Sometimes, Life proves to humans that ‘what you expected wasn’t what you would get’.
Betty’s anger peaked, the more she reviewed on this report.
(Those remarks that I put in November’22 report for them to act upon it before year-end, were still there, unattended! Even at this very moment, in Apr23?!? What is this?)
She gripped her right fist tightly. One must have thought why the need for Betty to get angry on it?
(Why at a time like this, you guys do such half-ass work? Mariah wants to review our report this month.) Betty’s superior, Mariah, would carry out a spot-check on Betty’s team’s reporting works, from time to time. So far, Mariah has reviewed their work, and all went well. There’s no need to review them on monthly basis.
(Quarter one usually would be the most relaxing time for finance team, comparing to the other three quarters… How can you BOTH, the experienced ones, ignoring those action items?) Betty closed her eyes and frown…
(I just can’t understand why things would go this way…) She sent a meeting invitation to both Carrie and Sam. There’s a need to have a talk with them, first thing tomorrow morning. (Not today, as I might lash out on them. I can’t control my anger now.) She shook her head while typing her email.
“As finance team, you know that year-end is very critical across all the other months in the year, right? I squeezed out time to review you Nov22 report, and put action items to be taken by end of Dec. I remember that I sent the report to both of you and stated clearly. I even asked the team if we have anything else left out and need to be posted as journal, in mid-Jan23, before we closed Dec22 book. Can any of you two, tell me, why those action items were not taken in December and even now?” Betty’s cold voice went loud and clear.
Silence, was their reply to Betty’s question. Betty can’t see their facial expression as they both didn’t open the camera on their laptop. “I understand that we have ad-hoc request from HQ that took up our time in quarter one. But this report is monthly report; we have cleaned up most of the backlogs already, and with my remarks in Nov report we are in good shape to close the year. No one highlight this to me. Sam, you’ve reviewed the report and you’re in cc loop in my email too. Didn’t you act on it or at least reminded Carrie to do the needed?” Betty asked.
(Silence, again.) “We can make provision now” Finally, someone responded. “Sam, What’s the point of making provision for last year end now? You understand the way our group of companies work? No more audit adjustment is allowed by HQ. Isn’t that clear enough? You thought it’s easy to discuss and negotiate with audit manager for not posting any audit adjustment that they think fit? We do whatever is needed up front, so that any adjustment that auditor want to post, might be just at immaterial amount. You’d better pray that no adjustment suggested by auditor this time.” Betty diverted her gaze to her laptop. Her expression must be ‘not so nice’. She knew it well but that’s the best she could control her temper on these two that gave her such low-quality work.
“Now, it’s already May23. You two go look through the remarks and do the needed in this month. I have no choice but to share this Mar23 report to Mariah. Apr 23 report also would be the same anyway. Let me say this one more time, if anyone has no time to complete something on time, do voice up as earlier possible, so that we could assist. What happens after, would be too late. Okay?” Betty gave clear instruction before closing their meeting call.
“Okay.” “Yes.” Both voices came through Betty’s laptop speaker. “Alright. That’s all for this call. Thank you.” They ended the call.
“Sigh…” Betty shook her head… Nothing much she could do now. Truth will surface. She has to be mentally prepared when she discussed these Mar23 reports with Mariah. (High likely she would say some not nice to hear comments…) Betty took another deep breath and sent her Mar23 review updates to Mariah, via email.
“We could go through the files next week.” Mariah replied Betty in her email, in ten minutes later.
ii) Work Presentation
“Hi, good morning. I’m on MC today.” A WhatsApp message came through when Betty reached office, at 8:40 a. m. It was from Sam.
(MC again? How many times these four months?) Betty started her working day with a black face. Her best assistant has, again, took medical leave on Monday morning.
(I’m so sick with such pattern in Singapore employees. You’re entitled to fourteen days of sick leaves in a year. Many people here are taking granted on the wordings on their employment contract, use up all those fourteen days of MCs! Only in Singapore though. We don’t have such mindset and ‘take it for granted’ practice in Malaysia. Employees would still avoid taking MCs as less as possible.)
Betty has already had 1-to-1 meeting with Sam, twice this year, on his tendency in having ‘Monday Blue’ MC and not reporting to work with all kind of sickness reasons, name it. The second meeting was on his last-minute leave applications. “This has affected the progress of the tasks I have assigned to you and work plan has been affected too, Why is that, Sam? Do you have any health issue? We need to understand what happens to you. During interview, I remember asked you if you need to frequently go on leave for any personal or health issue. You said no. Can you tell me why you have such pattern?” Betty asked Sam on Thursday, after he returned to work and finished those urgent weekly tasks that he really need to submit by Thursday.”
Sam stayed silence. (This is not a good attitude. Not responding in a conversation when we’re in a discussion, Sam… How can I help you as your superior if you’re not being honest about your situation or needs?) “Do you know how many MCs and urgent leaves you’ve applied until now?” She asked.
Still, he just looking at Betty without any responding words. “If you still continue like this, sooner or later, HR will send you a letter about your attendance record. That’s what I would like to highlight to you. Any issue, let me know then.” Betty wrapped up their meeting. “Okay.” Sam went back to his workplace. (This whole meeting session, just like the previous meeting, he didn’t even apologize for his action… No point… if he insists on staying silence like this. He is taking granted on the appreciation I have on him. All that he should be entitled to, I have fought for him as his work performance was good in year 2022. And now, I don’t know why he changes…) Betty looked at his back view; can’t help but somewhat disappointed by this colleague that she proudly claimed as her best assistant.
(What is wrong or Where has gone wrong?) Betty asked herself on her way home, that nearly 1-hour ride in public transports.
(I gave them freedom in planning their work. I don’t like to micro-managed. So far, some of them would voice up their issue, when needed. And we managed to go through so many issues but handled each of them well. Why now? What happens to them? Did their direct-reporting boss gave them more tasks? But if you don’t voice up to me, how would I know and how would you expect me (your dotted-line reporting superior) to help you?)
(Was my way of managing wrong? I practice macro-manage instead of micro-manage style. I don’t like to be micro-managed, so I won’t do the same to my team.)
“As long as you submit you work on time, meet the deadlines, I am cool with it. You can plan your work; I don’t plan to micro-manage any of you. If you have any question or not clear on what or how to do it, just ask me then. If you’re so efficient and able to get your works done earlier, I don’t mind your do something else during office hours, as long as don’t go overboard. But if I observe that you can’t seem to plan your work well, I’d step-in to further understand your work plan. We all work as a team; any question, we raise; and we try to solve it within the team, as much as possible” This was the work principal I shared with my team.
Was macro-management style not fit for use on this team? Was my letting loose at their work plan somewhat misled people to start getting used to it and presumed that their work contribution could be low-quality thereafter? Were people even taking granted on the flexibility I gave them to the point of breaking company policy on punctuality and good attendance at work?)
(I still can’t accept the fact that these group of experienced professional accountants submitting those half-completed reports to me just like that. This shouldn’t be happening… Jeez…)
Betty starred at the view outside of the MRT window.
Where could she get her questions answered?
(What kind of sarcastic word from Mariah next week? I wonder…)
“Hoof…” (Leave it to next week’s meeting… Nothing much I could do now.)
This poor Betty who has been practiced patience and willing to guide towards her team; enthusiastically pulled everyone into team work energy; stood and backed up for her team when other doubted on their work performance; has been disappointed by her own team, numerous times, in this month of May…
“Recently, I have insomnia. Can’t really enter into sleep at night no matter how tired I was. And that, causes me not in good condition to bring myself to wake up on time and go to work.”
“I’d look for remedies to help improving my sleeping patterns. Like swimming; it helps a little.” Two weeks later, Sam opened up and informed Betty about his real issue, vulnerably.”
(Thank goodness… I’m not losing my team member.) Betty listened to every work her best assistant intends to share, without any interruption in between. She let him finished his words.
“Did you do something that stretching your brain too much before sleeping time? For instance, reading, playing games apps?
“Try to drink some milk and see if it works for you?” Betty shared a few ideas that she thinks that might help Sam’s sleeping issue. She had never stingy in showing her appreciation to her team; and she even extended the same to her colleagues in other departments as well. Courtesy greetings and caring words often heard within their daily conversations.
“Sure. Let me try. I don’t want to keep relying on medicines from doctor as well. Thank you.” Sam gave it a thought. Betty could see the serious determination from his eyes when he said that.
“I thank you for telling me the truth. Alright, any question, please let me know again. If HR questions about this, I would handle that.” Betty re-assured him a smile before he walked out from her office that day.