Maddie looked over at David Player. They were seated in the corridor outside Bettina Rossmore’s office on two chairs obviously put there for the purpose.
“Same rules as before, Madeleine. I won’t answer any questions put to you by either Bettina or Romania. I will only contribute if you’re getting into hot water within my area – the most likely will be to request some time alone with you. Of course in the meeting, you can ask me anything or defer to me. You’re in charge.”
Maddie nodded. She liked how he made it so clear she was at the helm. Enabling. For all his youth, David Player knew what he was doing.
A long ten minutes later, they were ushered into the office. Bettina was in one easy chair and Romania in a second placed in front of a coffee table. David and Maddie took the couch opposite. Maddie didn’t even try to return Bettina’s smile. The arrangement presumably was to give the impression of a friendly-friendly conversation, but it really looked like a case of ‘us against them’. It would have been better if they’d been spaced evenly around a table. She introduced David to Romania.
“Surely this doesn’t involve the union,” Romania said to Bettina.
“It’s Madeleine’s right to have it present at any of these meetings. This young man has been a help already.” She turned to David. “Welcome, Mr Player.”
“David,” he said pleasantly.
Bettina sat forward. “I’ve gone over and over all the personnel regulations for our service, both with my supervisor and Human Relations. I have been appointed the Deciding Officer in this case,” she said in a slightly louder voice. “To let you know in the interests of transparency, Ms Carlisle – Romania – is currently being instructed in the skills of managerial supervision as she is new to this role. The regulations are quite clear what happens next. In instances like this, we have a protocol that must be followed.” She flicked her eyes from one to the other.
Maddie was mollified although still wary. So far, it didn’t seem that Bettina was favouring Romania. Nor her either, of course. But Romania undergoing management training was good. Otherwise, neutral was good. Probably good.
“Madeleine,” Bettina said, turning to her, “you will be put on supervision for a four month period starting on your return to work. Romania will hold a supervisory meeting with you on a weekly basis setting out goals for the next week and going over the goals from the previous week.”
Maddie felt herself flush. Supervision?
“Romania will then meet with me,” Bettina said, “and we will go over each meeting in some detail, including how you are doing and what is appropriate for the next set of goals.”
Maddie frowned, started to speak.
Bettina held up a hand. “We will discuss it all once I’ve outlined the entire package.”
Maddie sat back, controlling her breathing. Once a week with Romania? Then it hit her. Those last few weeks of work, she had been called into far more supervisory meetings than one a week. This would be a reduction. And the weekly supervision meeting would be analysed by Bettina each time.
“I presume you’ll have some sort of contact with Mr … with David each week as well. Is that so, David?”
“I’m willing to comply with any and all regulations,” he said a tad stiffly.
“I’m happy to have David involved,” Maddie said with a quick glance at him. “I presume if there is anything to complain about, he’ll advise me to … to what, David?”
“To contact the Deciding Officer, who is Bettina in this case.”
Bettina beamed, clasping her hands in front of her. “We can get through this. We can learn to work together.” She turned to Maddie. “You wanted to comment?”
“Just to go over it all, thanks. So, Romania and I have a meeting to set goals for the week. The next week, we go over how I have achieved those goals and amend them for the coming week. That’s it?”
“Essentially.” She turned to Romania. “You have a comment?”
“Are you saying that I have a weekly meeting with you as well? That’s a lot of meeting time to squeeze into my busy schedule. Two meetings about Madeleine’s performance. As well as the managerial training.”
“Two meetings to discuss both your performance and Madeleine’s,” Bettina said.
It was Romania’s turn to flush.
“If this meeting is concluded, I’d like a private word,” Romania said to Bettina.
“Fine,” Bettina said as she nodded to David and Maddie with a small tight smile. They walked out, closing the door behind them.
Sounds of a rising voice could be heard through the closed door. They glanced at each other.
“Hey,” David said and gave Maddie a high five.