1,040 — Dealing with Bureaucracy

If you want to do work for the government, be prepared for a lot of rules and regulations to follow. Learn more in this episode.
Slow dialog: 1:28
Explanations: 4:11
Fast dialog: 19:08
Jogi: I knew when we got this government contract that it would be a two-edged sword.
Deborah: How so?
Jogi: I’m grateful for the work, but having to jump through hoops of the government’s bureaucracy has me pulling my hair out.
Deborah: What’s wrong now?
Jogi: You know that all of our documents have to be submitted in triplicate. I anticipated that and had done everything to the letter, or so I thought.
Deborah: I know. I helped you prepare those documents. What’s the problem?
Jogi: The documents were sent back to us because they say we didn’t follow some of the reporting regulations. But the verbiage in the regulations is so convoluted that I had to interpret them to the best of my ability. I thought I had done everything right.
Deborah: Didn’t they tell you what they thought was done wrong when they returned the documents?
Jogi: All I got was a form letter with no specifics.
Deborah: I suggest calling the office responsible for reviewing the documents and asking someone there.
Jogi: You don’t think I’ve tried? Each time I think I have the right department and leave a voicemail message, either I don’t hear back or I get palmed off on another office. I can’t get a straight answer to any of my questions. I never expected this much red tape.
Deborah: So I see what you mean about that two-edged sword.
Jogi: I can think of one good use for that sword right now – to put me out of my misery!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse