Here's a New One: Gift Rage

"Gift rage" lands worker in court?
Thu Oct 4, 9:33 AM
TOKYO (Reuters) - A disgruntled Japanese worker smashed up his employer's office in a fit of pique after his boss ignored his gift of jelly desserts, a national paper said on Thursday.
An Osaka court heard that the 31-year-old man, who worked for an online clothing sales company, had given the company president a box of jellies in the summer as a mark of gratitude after landing the job, the English-language Asahi Shimbun said.

Many Japanese maintain a tradition of sending gifts to important business contacts in summer and winter.

When the employee realized that his boss had left the box of jellies unopened under his desk, he smashed 22 computers in the office with a truncheon, the paper said. No one was injured in the incident.

The man pleaded guilty to charges of obstructing business with force, the paper said.
"I wish the company president had cared a little more," the paper quoted the employee's lawyer as saying.

Prosecutors said the employer had been too busy to open the gift, the paper said.

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This latest account is a sad commentary on the state of employee/employer relations. When people feel as though they are not valued, they will act on their frustration - some turning anger inward, and others turning anger outward. It is a shame that the employer in this case did not recognize this act of tradition and respect, and at least take 30 seconds to show his appreciation for the gift. Such a small token of gratitude could have prevented everything. On the other side, the employee obviously had little or no coping skills to help him deal with the feelings of frustration and rejection that he felt at the perceived slight by his employer. Too bad he didn't know about Anger Solutions... (www.angersolution.com).

Anger Solutions Train the Trainer Gaining International Attention

The Anger Solutions(TM) Train the Trainer program is designed specifically to equip counsellors and social workers with the skills they need to immediately begin implementing Anger Solutions(TM) groups or individual counselling sessions with their client group - as well as certifies them to train other staff in their agency or community (with a one-day session). The program is beginning to receive international attention with requests to attend coming from as far away as East Asia.

The 3-day program is the most intensive of all our trainings. There is a truckload of theoretical work that must be covered, mostly on the first day - as well as several opportunities for practical application of the training materials. It is always fun, incredibly informative, and is often cathartic for those attending.

Because of the international attention this program is receiving, the T3 program will be evolving again, and we may incorporate one evening session to address the specific purposes for which internationals are attending the program.

The next T3 session will take place in London, Ontario at the Ramada Inn on Exeter Road - from November 14 to 16, 2007. The Ramada is conveniently located adjacent to the 401 and is readily accessible from all points in Southern/Southwestern Ontario. The city of London has an airport, so people can fly directly to London, or fly into Hamilton International Airport and take a short drive to London (about 2 hours).

This will be our third year facilitating the T3 program, and it has evolved and developed since we first ran it early in 2004. Since its inception, we have certified over 30 Anger Solutions(TM) Trainers from agencies spanning the province of Ontario (including Ottawa, Cornwall, Kingston, Napanee, Haliburton, Toronto, Niagara, London, and Sault Ste. Marie). The Anger Solutions(TM) Program has been in use in Ontario for over 10 years, and has been facilitated in over 15 cities to counsellors and participants from over 150 agencies.

If you would like to attend our London T3 session, you must have completed a mimimum 2 year diploma program from community college in the area of social services (Child Youth Worker, Social Services Worker, Addictions Counsellor), or a minimum Bachelor's degree from University in the Social Sciences, and be actively employed in the field of social services. To learn more about the T3 program, visit my website, http://www.angersolution.com . Please contact us at info@angersolution.com if you would like to attend but do not have these pre-requisites.

You can register online for the program at www.angersolutionst3.eventbrite.com, or call my assistant, Tracey at Sensible Office Services (www.sensibleofficeservices.com) to register with her.

Radio Interview - Audio coming soon

I had a great time being interviewed by Kathy Grant Mahon (www.kathygrantmahon.com) and Hallam Carter of CHRI 99.1 FM (www.chri.ca) "Gospel Groove" last evening, (Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007). It's a great show, and if you love black gospel music - everything from traditional to "Holy Hip Hop" or reggae, this is a great venue for you to listen online and to learn about what is new in the gospel music scene.

Anyhow, we had a great discussion about residual anger in Christians and why people of faith often have such difficulty dealing with our negative emotions. We talked at length about forgiveness and the power of God to positively impact our hurt and wounded hearts. I don't usually talk about faith too much in this blog, but I would be remiss if I didn't share this with my readers. Moreover, research backs it up - people of faith are generally healthier and have a longer life span because they tend to have a more positive outlook on life, they have a strong support system, and they lean on their "Higher Power" when the going gets tough. Having said that, we are not perfect, and we must learn to deal appropriately with this issue - just like anyone else.

The audio recording is "so-so" for the interview, and I'd like to edit out some of the dead air and commercial breaks, etc. Once that is done, I will load it onto the blog or the website, so you can all take a listen.