SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Hindi ko pinagarap na isulat ito sa blog ko. Thinking na silence is the better part of prudence. Pero ang dami nang rumors swirling about these issues kaya naisip ko na dapat na siguro talagang ipaalam sa mga interested parties kung ano ang totoo. Not to enter into another argument. Not to rebutt anything out there. Only to set the record straight. And have some sort of a statement coming from our side which would be our official stand on the issues. Whether other interested parties will accept these or refute these, is another issue altogether.

Ganito talaga ang mga pangyayari....

On my Bebe's assumption of the position of Executive Assistant to the Country Leader (and concurrently, Program Management Director for Middle East and Africa). - This position was offered to him by no less than the Country Leader himself. My Bebe accepted on the condition that no one will be displaced.

It was offered based on his track record as executive support ever since he joined the company more than a decade ago, and for various top executives who came and went. It was offered because my Bebe was the best qualified to be in that job, bar none. It was offered because the Country Leader was sure my Bebe was available since my Bebe gave up the position offered to him in Abu Dhabi for another colleague who would have been eased out because there was no budget for this colleague. But this colleague's skills were needed by Abu Dhabi more than my Bebe's skills. Since there was no way that additional headcount may be added, my Bebe was asked to give way and he did.

There was someone who provided support to the Country Leader, but he was actually part of another department. I also provided support to the Country Leader, just as my Bebe did, even though we were all from different departments. It was like we acted as a secretarial pool for the Country Leader in the absence of someone officially attached to his office to do the support job. But for purposes of delineation of duties, this someone was the de facto support. Despite being one though, the Country Leader did not include him in his headcount.

When this someone's department underwent retrenchment, he was one of those separated from service.

On Rene Segovia's deployment at Lucent. - On or about March or April 2006, the Program Management department led by the Country Leader as well, wanted to strengthen the department and, among many requirements, needed dedicated administrative support. This new position however will be filled up a subcontractor. My Bebe, apart from other people, was asked for potential candidates. He offered Rene's name, knowing fully well that Rene was in-between jobs and Rene's previous work experience in the field fitted the bill. Rene was chosen, from a very short list, and has proven to be more than qualified for the requirements of the department.

So there. Pero I suppose, it is also wise to list down the following take-away messages:

1. All decisions regarding my Bebe and Rene were made by management. Inputs from my Bebe may or may not have influenced those decisions. If it is a crime or misdemeanor to provide inputs in these twin situations, specially if they were sought, then by all means file your case in the appropriate courts.
2. More than inputs, I believe my Bebe and Rene are still at Lucent (albeit in Rene's case, as a suncontractor) due to merit. All other factors are merely positively mitigating.
3. The rumors almost always put us (specially my Bebe) in a bad light, and picture us as the bad guys. Have certain interested parties thought for a minute about their own capabilities and if they have been quite qualified (or not) for the jobs at issue? Have they ever thought that despite the presumed/perceived politics in the workplace, talent will out?

For sure, this post will not put the rumors and issues to rest. But for the record, this is our version of the stories.