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Out of control
One
company executive was literally sent packing—fired on
the spot, moved out of the hotel the group was staying
in and put on the first flight home the next day—when
his drinking got out of control at an event and he tried
to physically attack one of the senior VPs and push him.
The out-of-control guest was tackled by co-workers and
taken away.
Bubuwit
was shocked when the assault came seemingly out of
nowhere, but Bubuwit was impressed that the event
planning staff on hand were poised and prepared to
quickly take charge when it happened. They did not want
the person removed from the hotel property and moved to
another location. This drunken executive’s partner was
given the option of moving with him or staying at the
hotel in another room and having their name taken off
the hotel list so they would not be harassed during the
night. The fired employee was then escorted to the new
hotel and his partner back to their old hotel. The hotel
security team was also instructed to keep the
now-ex-employee from returning to the hotel. During the
course of the evening, events did escalate when the
ex-employee began calling the hotel and threatening to
commit suicide, but all was handled and resolved in a
peaceful manner.
Bubuwit
says a company employee or their invited guest being
fired or reprimanded for displaying inappropriate
behavior is not uncommon and is not limited to the
staff. It is extremely important to be fully prepared
for any kind of behavior at any event. While not all
events that companies orchestrate are televised or
written up in the news—with an employee’s bad behavior,
poor judgment or lack of preparation flashed in a matter
of minutes—inappropriate company comportment can still
become industry news, whether it takes place in the
office, in the boardroom or in the public arena in front
of colleagues, clients and guests, and professional
reputation.
There
are lots of marketing events that are not being handled
properly, according to Bubuwit—if a breach of conduct
has occurred, how it was handled and whether or not it
put them or their company at business risk. Your clients
are looking to see whether or not the memorandum of
agreement by both parties is met and professional lines
are being crossed. The line they draw may be deciding
not to do business with you. To which Bubuwit says, “I
can just cite many of them.” |
