Am-dram society introduces policy requiring complaints to be made before incident happens

THE Fabricated Players have introduced a streamlined complaints procedure requiring members to raise concerns before the thing they are complaining about has actually happened.

The committee says the new Pre-Emptive Complaints Policy will allow problems to be dealt with quickly and efficiently by ensuring nobody can complain about anything retrospectively.

Chairwoman Jackie said: “We kept receiving complaints after incidents had taken place.

“By that point, obviously, it was too late.”

Under the new rules, members who believe somebody is going to behave inappropriately must submit a written complaint at least seven working days before the anticipated behaviour.

The form requires the complainant to provide the date, time and precise nature of the future incident, along with supporting evidence.

Jackie said: “We can’t investigate speculation.

“If you’re claiming Brian is going to shout at you next Thursday, we need something concrete showing that he will.”

Members must also provide details of any witnesses who will be present when the incident eventually occurs.

Secretary Malcolm said: “Ideally, witnesses should submit their statements in advance.

“It saves everyone a lot of time afterwards.”

The policy has already caused difficulties.

Mary attempted to complain after receiving an aggressive email from another member on Monday.

Her complaint was rejected because she had failed to report the email before receiving it.

Mary said: “I explained that I didn’t know she was going to send it.”

The committee described this as insufficient planning.

Another member complained that he had been publicly insulted during rehearsal.

He was asked why he had not raised the matter the previous week.

He replied that nobody had insulted him then.

Malcolm said: “Exactly.

“That would have been the ideal time to deal with it.”

The committee insists the procedure is not designed to discourage complaints.

Members remain completely free to raise concerns about any future event they can accurately predict.

To assist them, the society has appointed a Pre-Crime and Future Conduct Subcommittee, consisting of Jackie, Malcolm and a Magic 8 Ball found in the props cupboard.

The ball has so far ruled that three complaints are REPLY HAZY, TRY AGAIN.

One has been upheld because SIGNS POINT TO YES.

Complaints about unexpected incidents remain possible, provided members can demonstrate that the unexpected incident should reasonably have been expected.

Jackie said: “If somebody suddenly throws a chair across the Green Room, obviously you couldn’t know precisely when that would happen.

“But presumably there were warning signs.

“For example, them picking up the chair.”

Members have expressed concern that the new system makes it effectively impossible to complain about anything.

The committee strongly rejects this.

Anyone wishing to complain about the complaints policy may do so.

The deadline was last Thursday.