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Subject:RE: Is this too Offensive for a manual? From:"Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:19 Nov 2003 17:23:07 GMT
If there's the slightest chance that the people being
supervised might see the document, you might want to
point out the potential for creating hostility in the
working relationship between management and workers.
Normally, euphemisms like "performance management,"
and "internal security" are preferred over direct
references to employee incompetence amd dishonesty.
Of course, it's entirely possible that the working
environment is already toxic, and if management
insists on that language, the customer may not
always be right, but is still always the customer.
Gene Kim-Eng
------- Original Message -------
On
Wed, 19 Nov 2003 10:17:25 +0200 Claire Philpott?wrote:
Dear All,
I am editing a software manual with a target audience of users who are responsible for managing meter readers. This management process uses the various reports and records maintained by the software.
There are some phrases used in reference to the meter readers that make me balk at including them. For example:
Arising from incompetent, lazy or crooked meter readers...
...reward performance and punish incompetence.
In some cases these comments are absolutely true and the cause of significant business losses that the software is used to control. However, I can't help but think it is not necessary to be so blunt.
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