We live in a world with lots of rules. When the rules are unclear, there is a huge potential for conflict.

A previous employer provided me with a company car. I asked about use after hours and my employer said, “the insurance company doesn’t like it.” I concluded that, he did not care if the car was used after hours. Fortunately for me, nothing happened to the car after hours; but it could have led to a huge conflict.

Poorly written employee manuals have led to thousands of lawsuits, which have led to the loss of millions of dollars of profits. Something a small business can rarely afford. But the courts have sited ambiguity as a reason for levied fines and judgments.

I think this is what is happening at these angry Town Hall meetings. Congressmen are quick to mention that there is more then one healthcare proposal, but only one bill has been made public. http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/07/americas-affordable-health-choices-act.shtml is an official web page for the bill. I have read most of the bill. I have not found any listings of covered or excluded illnesses or conditions. It mainly talks about commissions and positions, which will be formed after the bill is signed. It does state that these agencies and commissions can take up to one and one half years to determine coverage. No sound business would provide a signed blank check, for the payment of services to be determined at a future date. But that is what our elected officials are asking us to do.

Maybe we should require the government to abide by the same level of clearness, required for Employee Handbooks.

I realize I may not have been specific enough in stressing the need for clear business communication. I had thought of writing a seventeen-page disclaimer, which would speak of my lack of responsibility for any actions by the readers of this article. But I would rather spend the time on the water, fishing with clients.

See you at the dock,

Ken Bear Cole
Fishing with Bear LLC