Mailshot is your chance to tell the subscribers of
Dial-a-Cab exactly what you think. Complaints, compliments or just to write about Call
Sign.
This is YOUR paper within your magazine....
You can also email your letters to: callsignmag@aol.comWELFARE DEPARTMENT
The Board of Management and numerous colleagues, acquaintances and others
will know that I have always respected and never failed to regard Dial a Cab as the
only radio circuit that really cares for it's personnel, whether they be drivers or
'in-house' staff.
However, whilst I respect the company on almost all fronts, there is one area
which they could use some improvement and which I can speak about from personal experience
following my non-cab accident back in 1994 which resulted in the need of a shoulder
operation in the early part of 1995. This is the subject of the Long Term Sick of which I
am one. I refer not to actual sickness benefit but to the personal touch.
In any organisation large or small, there are two lots of people who
matter - the client and the staff member. Although the client is
all-important for the success of the business, it is the staff member that first
consideration must be given to by management in order for the business to succeed
through the various channels of the staff's expertise.
The term 'three score and ten' has been used millions of times and we
all hope that our individual life will go on and on. However, the lead-up to that
situation in most cases does unfortunately involve sickness and hospitalisation. Many
drivers have sensibly covered themselves with the DAC Health Scheme and PHI, the latter
being tremendously important if a permanent injury occurs and the individual can never
work again - this cover incidentally terminates at the age of 65 years.
However, where a subscriber is ill or incapacitated for a long time, our
Company should not forget them and always show the courtesy of phoning them or forwarding
a card or letter, or if feasible, perhaps a personal visit. I can assure you that
it would really be helpful and a real pick-me-up, because when one is ill,
especially on a long term, it does de-motivate a person and makes life not really enjoyable
from a mental point of view. Having been in the situation, I can speak from first hand
experience. I strongly feel that the Board should provide a sensible and realistic budget
to cater for the few who fall |
into the category that I am
speaking of.
My recommendations on the various uses of this budget is as follows:-
1. To send at an early stage, a Get Well Card.
2. If the person is hospitalised, to forward either flowers or chocolates.
3. A fortnight later, to follow-up with a pleasant and tactful phone call.
4. Consideration to be given to a personal visit taking some 'goodies' with the visitor.
5. If there is a possibility that the Subscriber is going to be in hospital or
incapacitated for a long time, then Benefits advice should be given in order
to assist on the worry of the financial hardships that may follow, due to not working.
In this respect, member(s) of the Welfare Department should be well versed
and trained in the various avenues of possible benefits on behalf of the subscriber as so
many drivers and their families are quite oblivious as to what they are entitled to during
incapacitation.
CONCLUSIONS:
On behalf of all our subscribers I would like to see this very human problem
addressed, much along the lines I have suggested.
Just think about it....... a subscriber is laying in a hospital bed and a card,
chocolates, a basket of fruit, a tin of biscuits, a visitor......What a nice thing to
happen at such an apt time.
Ronald S.Colman (B13)
Hope you are feeling better Ron and I am sure that the points you make will
be looked at. However, it is not just a matter of budget, there is also the question of
being kept informed by the patient or their family. But now that you have brought up the
subject, I am sure that the Welfare Dept will do their best to show the personal touch
whenever possible…Ed
DUCKHAMS THEM ALL??
I wonder if any other driver - just for a laugh - could write a ditty for
an ad on television? I know there are a lot of different versions going round for Hoover
ie All the dirt, all the grit etc. Here is my effort just to start the ball rolling. It is
for Duckham’s Oil, sung to the tune of Bless ‘Em All. Hope it doesn’t sound
too ‘crude’…(!!)
Duckham Oil, Duckham Oil,
For the car that needs that recoil,
Lubricates the engine and all other part,
Gives the car a really good start!
So you must use Duckham Oil,
When on the road the car won’t toil,
|
You’ll get no friction,
When pressing ignition,
So rev up your cars Duckham Oil…!
Dennis Vogel (R5)
Isn’t it lucky that you already have a day job, Dennis…Ed
WESTMINSTER
I recently picked up a female Westminster account passenger who made me
feel both good and bad. The good was because I was able to help in a small way and the bad
because it made me realise how self-obsessed I am at times. Most of all, I was inspired by
this stroke victim’s bravery. If you don’t help others, you are missing out on
something really important. After all, not every job can go to the ‘flyers. What
really affected me so much, though, was this lady’s determination. She was offered a
wheelchair but refused and insisted on walking. I don’t mind admitting that I had to
choke back a tear. If there is ever a problem in covering this particular account customer
from Dorset House, Gloucester Place (42692) then please get in touch with me personally.
Jon Trevor (W94)
IRENE BENJAMIN
The untimely death of this dear friend came as a great shock to everybody
that I have spoken to since hearing the sad news. She was only two days into a charity
horse riding event that she had been planning for some time. This was to have been the
biggest event in the 20+ years that I have known her, involving riding on horseback all
the way from Scotland to London. During all of those years, she has been a great friend to
the cab trade, speaking up for both drivers and the cab trade in general. At every Taxi
Driver of the Year Show, Irene would always be in attendance giving pony rides to the
children. She became a Vice -President of the charity some years ago and we spent many
hours together discussing and planning various fund raising events. Two years ago, she
asked for my help in the annual New Years Day parade. My family and I were delighted to be
involved, but I was ever in awe of her ability to participate in temperatures of -5
degrees Celsius and still present herself in what one can only describe as a regal manner.
Somehow Irene was always both regal and yet in touch with the common man. The last time
that we spoke at length, she told me that she had recently received a clean bill of health
and was looking forward to new adventures. Sadly, this was not to be and no longer will |
