Round2...
I’m beginning to think I’m the only one who works five days a week! (Exaggeration I know). Given a good proportion of my day involves calling people to arrange conferences/meetings or to chase documents/comments on document, I am finding that I’m being told all the time that so-and-so doesn’t work Monday’s, or such-a-person only works 2 days a week (and, incidentally, today is not one of those days). I have no bother about people working part time or reduced hours but what I don’t understand is how, for example, third parties such as myself are left in a position whereby they can’t do their job, because they have to wait for someone else to be in work.
The Consultant I have been trying to contact since last week is an example. I called on Friday to ensure our letter had been received, to be told his secretary doesn’t work Fridays. I asked could anyone else confirm receipt of the letter and the lady reacted like I’d asked the impossible, which, apparently, I had. They don’t touch each other’s Doctor’s post. Oh, and this secretary doesn’t work Monday either. So I call today, and speak to her. Yes, they have our letter. It requires a yes or no answer so I ask when we can reasonably expect this.
The catch.
The Doctor is not in this week, so she can’t put the letter in front of him until he is back. Fair enough. However, she is not in work again after today until a week Thursday. So she won’t give him the letter until then. Err, no. I finally convince her to put a post-it on the letter saying we need a reply asap, at least this way she will be able to call me with the Doctor’s answer hopefully in a week’s time.
I don’t understand how this is considered a good system of work!!!
However, I do feel better for getting that out of me.