Watering Ban Complaint: Good Idea?

Last year I was rather annoyed with purgatory and their disregard for a regional watering ban. So I decided enough is enough and e-mailed the region lodging a complaint. I was surprised when two days latter I not only got a reply but a van showed up at work to check everything out. It was exciting. Unfortunately the van showed up twice, once at 6:30am and the second time at 10:00am and missed all the action, leaving me feeling sad. I was going to re-complain but never bothered. Purgatory had won. So this year I thought I would start things off early and lodge a complaint pre-emptively (although the ban actually took effect on the 31st and there has been watering done since then). My motivation for complaining has two parts.

Before I continue:
Now Jay Roberts, you better be quiet about this. I trust you will not tell on me and get me fired. I think you're far too sick of an individual to do something like that anyways. (For the record Jay is a manager at purgatory and a damn good one at that. Far too talented and sharp for the place. He is also an accomplished musician and blogger.)

First I believe since a corporation is considered in many ways to be a person and has many of the right of a person it should also be subject to the law like a person. A corporation is a citizen and should have all the rights and responsibilities of a citizen. Some are very good citizens, (RIM, Clarica, and Tim Horton's), whereas others are not, (Purgatory and Wal-Mart). The watering ban applies to all citizens, corporate or not. Therefore to blatantly disregard the watering restrictions and scrub sidewalks daily is disgusting. Especially considering there are seniors straining carrying watering cans to tend their gardens. Very irresponsible behaviour purgatory.

Second when I did bring the problem to the attention of management last year they were so damn condescending it infuriated me. First they told me to do my job and if something happened they had lawyers for that sort of thing. Second they said they were pretty sure the by-law was for houses and not for businesses. The next day McDonald’s was fined for breaking the by-law. They didn’t seem to have much to say about that.

So I was motivated by a concern for the environment and a desire to see corporations be decent. And a little bit of a grudge. Still I wonder if I did the right thing or if I’ll soon be regretting this. Part of me cares because I really do need this job no matter how horrible it is. Another part feels quite smug.

Working at purgatory has an effect on a person that makes them feel stupid. Any low-wage job has a way of draining your confidence away. I still have trouble looking people in the eyes. So part of smugness is from sticking it to them through letters and an understanding of something basic like a by-law; something they can’t seem to understand (or choose to ignore).

Below is a copy of the e-mail I sent. It might seem familiar. Pierre Burton advises to recycle any material you have. So I did for this post.

To: ep@region.waterloo.on.ca
From: danielvoisin@gmail.com

Subject: Pre-emptive complaint

The watering conservation season has started again so this year I thought I would lodge a preemptive complaint. Last year I e-mailed a complaint in regards to my employer, Purgatory, disregarding the watering ban by scrubbing the sidewalks and drive-thru daily. I was pleased with the response as two days later an EPA showed up to check out the situation. Unfortunately, although I made it clear the daily scrubbing was performed between 7:30 am and 9:30 am, the EPS van arrived first at 6:30 am and later at 10:00 am missing all the action. So that is why this year I thought I would get things started early.

Of course I would appreciate if this e-mail is kept anonymous because despite my job being menial and commonplace it is the only job I have and would like to keep it. Despite that I feel strongly that corporate citizens should be held accountable for their actions and behave in the same manner ordinary citizens are expected. Furthermore this problem is not isolated to the Purgatory location, but includes all stores in the region, as they follow the same procedures. I have also seen similar procedures being carried out at area McDonald's, Burger Kings, and Tim Horton's.

I am a bit of an idealist and environmentalist and tend to speak my mind. As such I tend to try to get other workers riled up and informed about all those little infractions fast food companies tend to make (i.e. Labor guidelines, safety issues, and the watering ban.) When management caught wind of my whinging they brought me to the office and provided two explanations as to why the watering ban wasn't being followed. First they told me it was not my problem, to just do my job and scrub, that they had lawyers to handle these kind of things. Second they told me, in a condescending tone, that the by-law applies only to houses and not businesses; that I must be confused. Ironically two days later McDonald's was fined. They had no comment.

Maybe I seem like a disgruntled employee, and maybe I am (try working fast food for five years and not become a little disgruntled). Still my motivation for this e-mail is primarily because I believe the watering restrictions are a good idea and they should be respected. Their blatant disregard by certain members of the commercial sector is disrespectful to the regional government and its citizens. The thought that there are seniors straining to carry a watering can to tend their garden while a restaurant is hosing their sidewalks is appalling.

Thank you for your time and concern.

Sincerely,

Daniel Voisin

Now I just have to wait and see what comes of all this. Maybe by Friday some shit will hit the fan. Best case it will be in the paper and maybe they will talk about it on the Final Round. Worst case I get fired. Although would that really be for the worst?