Complete Service Notes Leave Office With Entire Afternoon To Do Its Actual Job

SATIRE / FICTION

This is an original fictional story. The characters, organizations, events and dialogue are invented.

A commercial roofing office unexpectedly completed its work Thursday after a technician submitted service notes that answered the questions staff normally spend the afternoon preparing to ask.

The record identified the building, work status, supporting photos, and next action. Accounting prepared the invoice without calling dispatch to ask dispatch to call the technician.

“We keep a checklist so nothing gets missed,” the service coordinator said, holding an unused interrogation sheet. “Most of it starts with what did you mean by.”

The technician said the notes described the visit. Office staff examined the entry for an additional explanation and found that it described the visit again, in the section where that information belonged.

With no clarification calls to make, employees turned to other work. A standing afternoon meeting ended before anyone could announce that they were waiting on the field.

The coordinator sent a thank-you message.

The technician replied, “No problem. Anything else you need?”

The office has opened a clarification request to determine whether there is anything else it needs.