h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This will be rather vague, this journal, and not only because I am, to be blunt about it, drunk. It will be vague because if I give specifics I will clearly identify both my employer and myself and I'd really rather not do that.

Let's just say that we had recently been told of a new internal policy on a certain issue, which would have greatly assisted some people in the office but which would have discriminated against others. Clearly this was not the intention, the policy was inspired by the best possible motives but the thinking behind it had not been completed.

Being a naturally bolshie type, I complained. With the moral support of others, but absolutely no visible support, I tackled senior staff on the issue, right up to the CEO. The basic issue was one of equity - one of my pet subjects. I have over the last few days had the distinct impression that I might have done something career-limiting.

Today the policy was revised. The official notification was almost a direct quote of all my arguments. I've also had private acknowledgement that it was my stubbornness which won the fight.

Getting a CEO to change his mind about a policy with which he was closely identified - this is the absolute high point of my career.

Even better - although I will now benefit from the revised policy, I won't be the only one, and I won't be the first either. Before I'd even seen the official email, at least four other people had signed up to take advantage of what was now available to them.

So of course I went for a few drinkies this evening, and there's a further celebration-in-a-glass within easy reach.

The moral of the story, I suppose, is that fighting for fairness does pay off, as long as one invokes logic and equity rather than pure self-interest.

It feels good, winning.

*hic*

Ivan.

Might isn't always right, Ivan. Well done for helping them see this.

Brilliant! Great fun to read and great to see folk can and do win these kinds of battles.

Congratulations. I can recall having a similar epiphany once upon a time and it is a grand feeling, if all too rare.

Wahoo! That really *is* a good news story!

I am always of the opinion that standing up and doing something about issues is better that what most people do and just whinge and mutter about "the unfairness of it etc".

Well done

I'm still most awfully happy and self-satisfied about all this, but I've run out of mixers so I'll have to go and have a nice lie down soon... It's past 9:30pm and it's a school night... *hic*

*giggles*

Well done, you!!

Superb, Ivan.

Congratulations Ivan.

Excellent work Ivan

Congratulations, Ivan! You write well drunk, btw.

Well done you. Perhaps I ought to summon Dutch courage to win my fight for a bicycle shed at work. I have been promised one sporadically over the years, especially during a giant re-build a few years ago. When the new part of the factory was finished, I said "And where's the bicycle shed?". I was told I could wipe the saddle dry if it rained.

The reason given was that if we had a bicycle shed it wasn't to ..

hell, what am I doing? - I could make this into a journal of my own - there are still 28 to go!

Well done Ivan. You're lucky. You are at the beginning of your summer, life's hunky-dory. Keep us posted and keep cheering us up.

PS - my son's coming to Oz for his Christmas holiday with his wife. Anything they should absolutely not miss?

The world could use more bolshie types like you!
As it is, I'm just glad that your part of the world benefits from your good mind and heart(both of which I've always liked about you...)put to use so brilliantly and effectively!

Well done, Ivan!

Good golly, that's a lethal looking blend of drinkies I've served up to celebrate.
Ah well, more wouldn't hurt at this point...

Good for you Ivan. Ain't nothing wrong with being stubborn when you've a point worth winning


MC

The euphoria wore off overnight and completely left me this morning.

I should note at this point that I didn't have a hangover this morning, though I think I deserved one.

Sometimes a hangover is better than merely feeling depressed, something reflexive in the aftermath of elation.