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Entertainment News (10/07/22)

Advanced tickets to Black Adam available

MOVIEGOERS may get advance tickets now to see Warner Bros.’ superhero adventure Black Adam, which opens in theaters on Oct. 19. From New Line Cinema, Dwayne Johnson stars in the action-adventure Black Adam. This is the first feature film to explore the story of the DC character who was bestowed with the powers of the ancient gods 5,000 years ago, then quickly imprisoned. Freed from his tomb, Black Adam returns ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world. The film also stars Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell, Bodhi Sabongui, and Pierce Brosnan. For details, go to the official ticketing site at http://blackadammovie.com.ph.

Head In The Clouds Music & Arts Festival lineup

MUSIC and media company 88rising and Live MNL announced this year’s Head In The Clouds Music & Arts Festival lineup in Manila. Head In The Clouds Manila will take place on Dec. 9 to 10 at the SM Festival Grounds, Parañaque City. It will be headlined by Joji, Jackson Wang, NIKI, Rich Brian, eaJ, and YOASOBI. The festival will also include live performances from BIBI, MANILA GREY, Warren Hue, Ylona Garcia, GUAPDAD 4000, ATARASHII GAKKO!, MILLI, Zack Tabudlo, among others, plus special guest Grammy-winning electronic producer ZEDD. Two-day general admission passes are priced at P12,888 and two-day VIP passes are P15,888. For more information, visit mnl.hitcfestival.com.

Jay Garche releases single

THE VOICE Teens Philippines Season 2 runner-up Jay Garche has released a cover of the song “Mahal Na Mahal.” The song, which was originally done by Archie D in 1991, was revived when Sam Concepcion did his version in 2013 as part of his Infinite album. This year, Mr. Garche creates his version of this song which features a simple and stripped-back piano arrangement. “Mahal Na Mahal” is available on all digital streaming platforms.

From La La Land to Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

BENJ Pasek and Justin Paul, songwriters of La La Land and The Greatest Showman, have created new songs to help a singing crocodile express himself, in Columbia Pictures’ Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, starring Academy Award winner Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, and Shawn Mendes, is a live-action/CGI musical comedy that brings this character to a new audience. In pitching the project to the songwriting duo, the directors Speck and Gordon were able to offer Pasek and Paul a chance to become involved much earlier in the process than they usually are — and to help shape the story of the musical comedy around the songs that they would write. To ensure that the songs would weave together a wide range of experiences and emotional threads, Pasek and Paul recruited top songwriters Joriah Kwamé, Emily Gardner Xu Hall, Mark Sonnenblick, and Arianna Asfar to collaborate with them on each of the songs. In cinemas across the Philippines starting Oct. 12, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Podcast offers trailblazers’ childhood stories

PUMAPODCAST’s award-winning Filipino podcast Bago Ang Lahat aims to humanize Filipino trailblazers and share stories of how they became the people we know them to be. For its second season, Bago Ang Lahat features stories about the late politician Jesse Robredo, novelist and political critic Lualhati Bautista, the first Muslim woman senator Santanina Rasul, physician and politician Juan Flavier, and broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro. PumaPodcast’s Kat Ventura teams up with Filipino youth leaders to narrate the stories of these notable figures. In the Jesse Robredo episode, Ms. Ventura and Youth led Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Fellow Ange Encomienda interview Mr. Robredo’s younger sister, Josephine Robredo Bundoc, a doctor of rehabilitation medicine who is also an advocate for people with disabilities. To tell the story of Lualhati Bautista, Ms. Ventura and co-host JJ Ilagan talk with Ms. Bautista’s younger brother Dante Bautista. The episode also features clips from Bautista’s interview with Linya-Linya Show last year and with Marra P. Lanot for the Ateneo Library of Women’s Writings back in 2004. Amina Rasul Bernardo, eldest child of Santanina Rasul, shares the story of the senator, educator, and women’s rights advocate. In the episode, Ms. Ventura was joined by GoodGovPH founder and YouthLed LEAD Fellow Dexter Yang. Another fun and lively discussion commences at the podcast featuring Dr. Juan Flavier as Asia Society Philippines Executive Director Joy Alampay, daughter of Mr. Flavier, shares the prolific doctor’s story. Sam C. Madriaga, occupational therapy student and also a YouthLed fellow, shares the microphone with Ms. Ventura. She and LEAD fellow Nekka Abueva, a student from the University of the Philippines Visayas, converses with Cheche Lazaro and Yasmin Mapua Tang, executive director of the Probe Media Foundation which Ms. Lazaro founded. The Bago ang Lahat Podcast Series is available on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/6sm9hoJSIXbLJIO5JUQTv9.

Premiere Horizon receives attachment notice on shares

PREMIERE Horizon Alliance Corp. (PHA) has received a notice from Nuovo Gran CT, Inc. that the latter’s writ of preliminary attachment against the properties of Squidpay Technology, Inc. and Marvin C. Dela Cruz has been granted.

In a disclosure on Thursday, PHA said that the Regional Trial Court, Manila, Branch 45 allegedly granted Nuovo Gran’s application for the court order.

“This order has no impact on the operations and financial condition of PHA as it is merely implementing a court order on the freezing of PHA shares held under Mr. Dela Cruz,” the firm said.

PHA said that according to the order, Nuovo Gran forged a convertible loan agreement on Dec. 14, 2020 with Mr. Dela Cruz for P100 million with a maturity date of June 14, 2022.

The loan may be paid through PHA shares should Nuovo Gran exercise its conversion right, which the latter served through a conversion notice.

“These were not heeded, and [Squidpay Technology] failed to pay the loan on its maturity date,” the firm said, quoting the notice it received.

PHA said that the letter from Nuovo Gran’s counsel, Divina Law Office, identifies PHA as a defendant in the case. However, the company clarified that it has not received any summons regarding the case.

On Oct. 29, 2020, PHA entered into a memorandum agreement (MoA) with Mr. Dela Cruz for the equity infusion of up to 55% or 2.80 billion shares in PHA.

The subscription was priced at P0.33 per share with a total consideration of P925 million: P325 million in cash and P625 million via a combination of cash and infusion of Squidpay Technology shares in two years.

In November last year, the board of directors of PHA approved the acquisition of 33% shares in Squidpay Technology for P561 million, which translates to 264 million existing and outstanding shares owned by the group of Mr. Dela Cruz.

PHA said the funding will come from the P625-million subscription payable by the group in accordance with the MoA, with the deadline of Oct. 29, 2022 for the subscription.

PHA engages in business activities relating to entertainment, gaming, hotel and leisure. According to its public ownership report posted in July, Mr. Dela Cruz owns 1.39 billion direct shares or 24.35% outstanding shares in PHA.

On Thursday, shares of PHA closed unchanged at P0.315 apiece. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Alec Baldwin settles with slain Rust cinematographer’s family

ALEC BALDWIN in Still Alice — IMDB.COM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Actor Alec Baldwin and the producers of the Western movie Rust have reached a settlement in a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who Mr. Baldwin shot dead during filming last year, the parties said on Wednesday.

As part of the settlement, production on the low-budget film will resume in January with the late cinematographer’s husband, Matthew Hutchins, serving as executive producer. Joel Souza, who was wounded in the shooting, will continue as director and the same actors, including Mr. Baldwin, will play principal roles.

“I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame,” said Mr. Hutchins, a mergers and acquisitions lawyer. “All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident.” Mr. Baldwin and others could still face criminal charges over the death of the 42-year-old cinematographer in October 2021 at a ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, a local prosecutor said after the settlement was announced.

During production of the movie, Halyna Hutchins was shot dead by Mr. Baldwin when a revolver he was using during a rehearsal fired a live round. The 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live actor denied responsibility for Ms. Hutchins’ death and said live rounds should never have been allowed on the set. — Reuters

Alternergy says required rise in RE use to bring 2.65-million-MWh capacity 

ALTERNERGY Holdings Corp. expects the mandated increase in power suppliers’ distribution of renewable energy (RE) would translate into 2.65 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewables capacity annually.

Vicente S. Pérez, Jr., chairman of the power company, said in a press release that the increase in renewables usage “will usher in new investments as this ensures a guaranteed market for the RE developers.”

Last week, the Department of Energy (DoE) announced that on-grid power suppliers must expand the share of RE in their output to 2.52% from 1%, as part of the requirements under the government’s renewable portfolio standards (RPS) program.

The increase in the annual percentage increment for all RPS participants will take effect in 2023.

RPS, a policy mechanism under Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, requires electricity distribution utilities to source or produce a specified fraction of their power supply from eligible renewable energy resources.

Mr. Perez said that the higher RPS annual increment will result in a massive demand for RE capacity.

Alternergy estimates the mandated increase may result in an added 1,500 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity, 1,000 MW of wind capacity, or 600 MW of run-of-river hydro capacity.

“The Philippines cannot continue being hostage to any jump in the world oil and coal prices,” Mr. Perez said, adding that the policy directions being set by the DoE and the new administration “to meet the country’s electricity requirements with more and cleaner energy solutions mitigate these risks at the same time ensure a sustainable energy supply for the country.”

Mr. Perez said that the country should push for more RE investment, as the power sector is heavily dependent on imported fuel.

“With our portfolio of renewable energy projects using wind, solar and run-of-river resources, we believe we are in a unique position to take advantage of the growth of the RE sector in the next five years,” he added.

According to DoE, it has issued a total of 998 renewable energy contracts with a combined installed capacity of 5,460.59 MW. It said these contracts will generate a total of P270.78 billion worth of investment for awarded and prospective deals. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Metrobank starts bond offering, looks to raise at least P10 billion

METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) on Thursday started its public offering of peso-denominated fixed-rate bonds to raise at least P10 billion in fresh funds.

The papers, which are a part of the Metrobank’s P200-billion bond program, have an indicative tenor of one-and-a-half years, the lender said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

Metrobank said they have the option to upsize the offer beyond the P10-billion plan.

The offer period will run from Oct. 6 to Oct. 19, while the listing date is Oct. 28.

“Proceeds will be used for general working capital needs,” Metrobank said.

The bonds have a fixed rate of 5% per year, with interest payable quarterly.

The minimum investment amount is P500,000 and increments of P100,000 afterwards.

First Metro Investment Corp., ING Bank N.V. Manila Branch and Standard Chartered Bank are the joint lead managers and joint bookrunners of the offer.

These firms are also the selling agents along with Metrobank.

Metrobank’s board of directors approved its P200-billion bond and commercial paper program in December 2021 meant to support the bank’s lending activities, refinance maturing issuances and diversify its peso funding sources over the next three years.

The last time Metrobank tapped the domestic debt market was in May 2021, when it raised P19 billion from its offer 5.25-year papers, above the P10-billion plan. This issuance made up the final tranche of its previous P100-billion bond and commercial paper program launched in November 2018.

Meanwhile, in July 2020, the bank sold $500 million in 5.5-year dollar-denominated notes to finance its short-term borrowings.

The lender booked an attributable net income of P7.6 billion in the second quarter, up from the P3.907 billion it posted in the same period last year.

This brought its first half net profit to P15.586 billion, 33% higher than the P11.687 billion recorded in the same period in 2021.

Metrobank’s shares rose by five centavos or 0.1% to close at P51 apiece on Thursday. — Keisha B. Ta-asan

Who will be the next James Bond? Producers mull choice as film franchise turns 60

LOS ANGELES — James Bond, the martini-drinking, tuxedo-wearing British secret agent, celebrates 60 years on the silver screen on Wednesday — but who will be the next actor to take on the iconic role?

According to sibling Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the search for a new actor has not even begun following Daniel Craig’s final outing as the suave superspy in 2021 film No Time to Die.

“We won’t actually be really looking for an actor for some time,” Ms. Broccoli said in an interview ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Oct. 5, 1962, world premiere of Dr. No, the first Bond film.

“What we have to do is start a whole new reinvention, which is what’s exciting about being at this place now,” added Ms. Broccoli.

But as fans continue to speculate about who will be cast in one of Hollywood’s most sought-after roles, what characteristics are the producers looking for in the next actor to play Bond?

“We want, first of all, a good actor, an actor who is just not necessarily an action actor, but someone who can play what we hope will be the demanding roles that we write in the scripts,” Wilson said.

“That’s certainly, I think, number one, but it’s so hard to … I mean, if you look at the actors who portrayed Bond, it’s very hard to pin down any common characteristic,” he added.

Sean Connery first played the fictional spy created by author Ian Fleming. He was followed by George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and, finally, Craig.

Ms. Broccoli said choosing the right actor was paramount to the franchise’s success.

“Thank goodness they cast Sean Connery originally because I think if it had not been him, who knows whether we’d still be here 60 years afterwards. And each one of the actors has transformed the series in a new direction, kept them fresh and relevant for the time.” — Reuters

CTA affirms Macquarie’s reduced P50.5-M value-added tax refund

CTA.JUDICIARY.GOV.PH

THE Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has upheld its decision to grant Macquarie Offshore Services Pty., Ltd. a P50.5-million refund representing its excess input value-added tax (VAT) traced to zero-rated sales of its P82.97 million original claim.

In a 13-page decision dated Oct. 3 and made public on Oct. 5, the CTA full court said it found no clear reason to reverse its ruling on the firm’s claim.

“Based on the foregoing, the court finds no compelling reason to modify or reverse the findings of the CTA Third Division,” according to the ruling penned by Associate Justice Catherine T. Manahan.

Under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, zero-rated sales are transactions made by VAT-registered taxpayers that do not translate to any output tax.

The petitioner is the Philippine branch of an Australia-based multinational company engaged in international trade with affiliates, subsidiaries, or branch offices in the Asia-Pacific region.

The commissioner of internal revenue (CIR) argued that the trading firm’s claim should have been denied since it failed to present its authority to print (ATP) official invoices and receipts to prove its excess VAT.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue requires businesses to present ATPs before they can print official receipts or sales.

The tax court disagreed, saying Macquarie secured and obtained an ATP before printing its official receipts and service invoices. It added that the CIR failed to point out any specific error in the tribunal’s findings.

“Findings of the face by the CTA in Division are not to be disturbed without any showing of grave abuse of discretion considering that the members of the division are in the best position to analyze the documents presented by the parties.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Insurers’ Q2 COVID-19 payouts hit P1.18 billion

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

TOTAL PAYOUTS made by insurance providers for claims related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic reached P1.18 billion in the second quarter, the Insurance Commission (IC) reported on Thursday.

Results of a survey by the IC for the April-to-June period showed life insurers made COVID-19-related payouts worth P877.3 million, which made up 74% of the total.

Meanwhile, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) disbursed P258.4 million (22% of the total), nonlife insurers paid out P32.6 million (3%), and mutual benefit associations or MBAs shelled out P14.9 million (1%).

The IC survey had a 91.95% participation rate, with 137 out of 149 insurers joining.

Out of the survey respondents, 30 out of 31 life insurers and 20 of 49 nonlife firms said they received claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, 20 of 31 MBAs and 21 of 26 HMOs reported having received COVID-19-related claims from April to June.

Majority or 71.15% or P842 million of the P1.18 billion COVID-19-related claims paid out in the second quarter were death benefits. Other benefit payouts were outpatient claims amounting to P141 million (11.89% of the total) and inpatient claims totaling P139 million (11.74%).

In terms of the number of claims, outpatient benefits stood at 32,963 out of the 42,767 total. This was followed by other benefits (emergency, financial assistance, etc.) at 2,949 claims and death benefits at 2,917.

Year-on-year, the number of COVID-19 related claims paid in the second quarter declined by 52%. However, death claims paid increased by 8%, while hospitalization benefits surged by 332.54%.

The IC added that there was a correlation between new COVID-19 cases and related payout claims in the first half of the year.

“The figures reveal that when the total number of new COVID-19 cases breached the 700,000 mark for the month of January, claims paid for said month amounted to approximately P1.2 billion. During the months of February to May, the amount of COVID-19-related claims steadily decreased as new cases decreased,” it said.

“However, COVID-19-related claims paid slightly increased between the months of May and June, notwithstanding the generally downward trend,” it added.

Since the start of the pandemic, the IC said that total COVID-19 related claims paid out by insurers reached P20.82 billion at end-June, with P12.82 billion or 61% being disbursed last year.

The bulk was paid out by life insurers at P11.72 billion (56%), while HMOs followed with P7.65 billion (36%). The rest was for MBAs at P896.80 million (5%) and nonlife insurers at P560 million (3%).

Broken down, for the first half of 2022, the life insurance sector made COVID-19-related payouts worth P2.66 billion. This was followed by the HMO industry with P1.21 billion, nonlife insurers with P178 million, and MBAs with P64 million.

Meanwhile, for 2021, the life insurance sector made P7.59 billion in COVID-19-related payouts, followed by the HMO industry with P4.53 billion, MBAs with P478 million, and nonlife firms with P222 million.

For 2020, HMOs led in COVID-19-related payouts at P1.91 billion, followed by life insurers with P1.47 billion. MBAs and non-life insurers paid out P355 million and P160 million, respectively.

“While COVID-19 claims paid by our regulated entities amounting to P20.82 billion as of Q2 2022 remain substantial, this has minimal impact to said industries’ growth. The P4.11 billion paid by the life and nonlife insurance sectors in Q2 2022 constitutes a mere 6.76% of the P60.78 billion total benefit payments that they made during the same period,” IC Commissioner Dennis B. Funa was quoted as saying.

“Despite these payouts, the insurance industry remains stable as growth parameters showed positive performance year on year. Insurance industry assets are now more than P2 trillion, as it increased by 12.21% between Q1 2021 and Q1 2022, while the industry’s net worth also grew by 24.27% to P393 billion during the same period,” he added.

Mr. Funa said the total paid-up capital and guaranty fund of insurers and MBAs increased by 9.75% to P75.90 billion.

“While it may be arguable that COVID-19-related claims only account for a small portion of benefits paid by our regulated entities, the impact of these benefit payments was undoubtedly felt by our fellow Filipinos especially when they needed these benefits,” the IC chief said. — D.G.C. Robles

Hong Kong allows domestic helper wages to rise for first time since 2019

REUTERS

HONG KONG has raised the minimum wage for domestic helpers for the first time since before the pandemic, with Filipinos in domestic service there estimated to receive extra pay equivalent to P750 per month, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

In a statement late on Wednesday, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan V. Ople said: “The increase in pay comes after a wage freeze in HK due to the coronavirus pandemic… At a time of rising prices due to a stronger US dollar, this new minimum wage hike is a boon to our domestic workers in HK.”

There were 181,171 overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong as of August, 333,000 of which are domestic workers, according to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong.

Last week, the Hong Kong government announced a new minimum wage for foreign domestic workers of 4,730 Hong Kong dollars, up 100 Hong Kong dollars from the last minimum wage set in September 2019.

With the new minimum wage taking effect on Oct. 1, monthly pay for Filipino domestic workers will be equivalent to P35,475.

Taiwan remains the highest-paying destination for domestic workers in the region with monthly salaries equivalent to about P37,200, the DMW noted.

Globally, only about 6% of domestic workers have access to comprehensive protections including medical care, sickness, and unemployment benefits, the International Labor Organization said in June, citing a study it conducted this year.

The Philippines is the only country in Asia and the Pacific that ratified the Domestic Workers Convention in 2011, it noted. 

In 2013, the Philippines passed the Domestic Worker’s Act, which set a minimum wage, benefits, and improved terms of employment for domestic workers.

A survey conducted in 2019 by the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Statistics Authority indicated that 83% of the 1.4 million domestic workers in the Philippines are not covered by social security benefits. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Depeche Mode announces new album and world tour

DEPECHEMODE.COM

BERLIN — British electronic music pioneers Depeche Mode announced a new album and world tour on Tuesday, their first since the death of founding member Andrew Fletcher this year.

In a press event livestreamed from Berlin, singer Dave Gahan and guitarist and keyboardist Martin Gore said they were still working on Memento Mori, their 15th studio album since the band originally formed in Basildon, eastern England in 1980.

The title, meaning “Remember you must die,” was chosen before Fletcher, the band’s keyboard player, died in May.

“We’re quite far into it now in the actual recording process. We’ve got all of the tracks finished kind of for the album without them being mixed,” Mr. Gore said.

“All of the songs and even the album title was kind of decided before Andy passed. (The title) sounds very morbid but I think you can look at it very positively as well in that live each day to the max. That’s how we like to interpret it too.”

Most of the songs were penned during the COVID-19 pandemic, with their themes inspired by that period, Mr. Gore said in a statement on the band’s website.

“After Fletch’s passing, we decided to continue as we’re sure this is what he would have wanted, and that has really given the project an extra level of meaning,” he said.

Mr. Fletcher died after suffering an aortic dissection. He was 60. Mr. Gore and Mr. Gahan returned to the studio in July.

“Many times we would joke or things would come up and of course we missed Fletch,” Mr. Gahan said in Berlin.

The band will kick off a world tour to support the album’s spring release, in March.

“That process is still happening, what we’re going to be doing on stage, how we’re going to do it, what visuals we’re going to use,” Mr. Gahan said, when asked what stage tributes the band were planning for Fletcher. “He’ll be there in spirit anyway, I’m sure, judging us.”

Depeche Mode, known for songs such as “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy the Silence,” released their first album Speak & Spell in 1981, placing them at the center of Britain’s new wave scene.

They released their last studio album, Spirit, in 2017. — Reuters

Isuzu, Gencars ready ‘strategic’ San Pablo location

ISUZU Philippines Corp. (IPC) and Gencars, Inc. broke ground for the new location of Isuzu San Pablo in Laguna to meet surging market and service demand.

IPC said that the new location is along Km. 85 Maharlika Highway, Brgy. San Ignacio, San Pablo City, with a land area of 7,220 square meters. The dealership is currently located within the city center for over two decades.

“As their market and service demand continuously grow, Isuzu San Pablo decided to move to a more strategic location with bigger space for the expansion of their facility to accommodate more walk-in customers and to service more units,” IPC said in a recent statement.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Oct. 3, led by IPC President Noboru Murakami and Gencars President and Chief Executive Officer D. Edgard A. Cabangon.

The car manufacturer said that in its new land area, “the dealership will house a wider showroom area that can accommodate light commercial vehicle and truck display units and a spacious service center that can cater [to] the increasing demand for service in the area.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Cabangon said that the upgraded Isuzu San Pablo is part of the company’s efforts to deliver “top-notch customer service.”

“With this upgrade, we hope to give our clients the best experience every time they step into our dealership. Whether they are looking for their next vehicle or seeking services for their cars, we want them to be comfortable and feel cared for during their time here,” Mr. Cabangon said. — Revin Mikhael Ochave

Long-time worker leaves difficult tasks to colleagues

Mark, a long-time employee who has been a hard worker, has taken to refusing to do the difficult part of his job, which he passes on to younger colleagues, who are revolting at this treatment. He has become bossy even though he and his colleagues are assigned the same tasks. How do we resolve this issue? — Yellow Ribbon.

If you were the boss of that department, you would have no choice but to act immediately. But what exactly are the issues? Listen to the complaints of Mark’s younger colleagues and find out how to make things easy for everyone. You don’t have to ask for the complaints in writing. What’s important is your understanding of what’s going on. Do try to act in a way that gives off the impression that you’re taking their complaints seriously.

It takes a lot of active listening to determine the context and nature of the issue. It happened not too long ago, and Mark was not known for being “bossy” and adopting the attitude that he must be spared from the hard part of the job. What made him change? Because we can’t speculate, we need to understand the situation from his point of view.

If you don’t listen to Mark and favor the younger colleagues, then you’re not being objective. Therefore, set a meeting right away with Mark and try to understand everything. Then, take it from there.

OPTIONS
If you’re a regular follower of this column, you may have already figured out that I’m always in favor of a win-win solution. These are not easy to find, but make finding one a priority to avoid disaster. Explore the following options and weigh all possibilities and anticipate possible consequences.

One, identify all issues raised by the complainants. You must zero in on the main issue or issues and judge for yourself whether they’re worth taking up with Mark. If you understand the issues well, you can decide whether those issues are minor or not. At the same time, never belittle any issues, because you may have no idea how important even little things can be to some workers.

Two, analyze and review the “difficult part” of the job. Find out how you can make it easy for everyone. Ask Mark and colleagues to study the workflow and propose a less burdensome way of doing things. You may need an internal kaizen facilitator or external problem-solving expert to succeed in this.

Arrange for all key department workers and their managers to attend a kaizen workshop so that finding solutions becomes a company-wide approach, rather than a limited exercise in resolving the issues Mark has with his colleagues.

Three, adopt a “sandwich” strategy with Mark. Start off by bringing up some neutral issues, followed by statements about what you like about him and his accomplishments. As soon as you have Mark’s attention, slowly explain what you’ve heard about his relationship with other workers.

Don’t accuse him of anything but explain what you understood of the issue from other workers.

Four, encourage Mark to resolve the issue with his colleagues. This is to emphasize the point that you don’t want the issue to be resolved by you making a decision, because you don’t want to be accused of favoring one over the other. In the same vein, go back to Mark’s colleagues and advise them to reconcile with him, at all costs.

Five, monitor any improvement in the relationship. Give all parties the chance to resolve their differences among themselves. If nothing happens, arrange a meeting. Challenge all parties to come up with a mutually acceptable solution.

Last, make a decision if necessary. The options may include transferring Mark to another work unit or geographical area. If this is your only option, allow Mark to choose his new work assignment and make it easy for him to transition to his new job.

BAD SYSTEM
More often than not, organizations are always confronted with poor policies and procedures that have created undue conflict. American management guru W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993) said it best: “A bad system will beat a good person every time.”

This happens when people act in conflict with one another without looking at the root cause of the conflict. If you, Mark and his colleagues can’t turn a bad system into something good, or make a difficult system easy, then everyone will always be focusing on how they stand relative to others instead of the disadvantages of the system.

Workers and managers are happiest and most productive when they enjoy performing tasks because things have been made easy for them. It’s not an issue of laziness but common sense, borne out of a desire to make everyone productive. Why require people to work in difficult circumstances when you can simplify their jobs?

 

Chat your workplace questions with Rey Elbo on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, e-mail elbonomics@gmail.com or go to https://reyelbo.com

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