Help Someone From Losing a Job

Letter to Condo Board This letter is in reference to the recent violations of the front desk man. The front desk man has been on the job for 8 months and we members of the community have all gotten to know and like him. He holds the door open for us when we come and go, is always polite and helpful, and does his utmost to put a smile on people's faces. For this, we are appreciative.

A friendly and helping front door man is all one can hope to ask for -- and he fits the bill. The minor violations for which he has recently come under fire by the board (and for which we fear he may lose his job) are indeed of such an insignificant and trifling nature that we find ourselves utterly upset at the thought that such a kind, helpful front desk man could be deemed incompatible with the position based on such transgressions.

Allow me to list them for the board: First, our front desk man is in violation of watching a resident's dog for a few minutes in the lobby. While this may be against the rules, it is hardly an offense for which one should be forced to lose his employment. Consider that there may have been a very good reason for his watching the dog in the first place and that it is not a customary action but rather one in which a Samaritan is helping a friend in need.

Does this deserve severe punishment or rather appreciation and respect? Second, he is in violation of taking home a key fob. May we point out that this too is hardly deserving of harsh punishment. There are numerous fobs available on site if needed -- so it is not a matter of no key fob being available for the other front desk man.

Should the board not consider that this violation was committed in error rather than on purpose -- that the front desk man simply forgot to replace the fob? Some leeway here is in order, we feel. Moreover, our feelings are governed by the fact that we do not like to see such high turnover rates in the front desk position. The front desk man is one with whom we have to interact every day. As we grow to get to know him, we look forward to our interaction.

What does it say for our community, if we cannot have a sustained relationship with the face of our community due to petty infractions that the board holds more important than we residents do? Even from a safety and precautionary perspective, we feel that high turnover is bad for the community, that it raises the risk of trespass and negligence regarding security matters.

A front desk man who has been on the job for nearly a year has a much higher stake in keeping the community and its members safe than a new front desk man who knows none of us and has no real feelings for us one way or the other. Finally, our front desk man has always been very hard working, friendly and open and accessible to one and all -- and every member would agree.

Instead of firing him for his minor infractions of regulations, we believe that it is a policy issue that should be addressed instead. The policies for which our front desk man is now receiving attention deserve to be scrutinized in turn. And this is not the first.