The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-06
UTILITY SEEKING
EMPLOYEES HELP
IN SERVICE Plan
Pevear Outlines Policy
OF New Company To-
ward Patrons

Starting off its first week, the Biz
minghans Electric company has sent a
Communication to all its employees ask
ing full cooperation with the public
to give patrons of the street car. gas
and electric services the best results.
j. s.. Pevear, general manager Of the
organization, stressed the point in his
message that the good will of the pub
lie is most desired and that it can only
be achieved through good. service. The
communication is an outline Of the new
company's policy. and is as follows:
ssro members of the Birmingham Elec-
tric Organizatioff:
The birmingham Electric company
desires the confidence and good will of
the public. This can best. be secured
through the rendering of good service,
and by considerable treatment Of al
those with whom we come in contact.
Good service is not limited to mere
ly seeing that good gas, electric and
street car service is available to the
public. In addition to this, it en-
braces many! situations on small mat
tiers requiring contact with the indi-
viduals comprising the public. 1t is
the spirit with which we deal with. these
individuals and the success with which
these contacts are handled that viii
determine the company's standing in
the community.
Good viii Sought
The confidence and good will of the
public can be had only in case we de-
serve 1t. With good team work. on the
part of those concerned with the or
ganization, the, Birmingham Electric
company can and, will make many
friends. 1t cannot have too many.
In our dealings with the public, let
our aim be to: leave a good impression.
Many times a. person may feel he has
a real grievance against the company
when the trouble lies in the fact that
he does not understand the situation.
Take all the time necessary to explain
matters. Be patient. No matter how
unreasonable person may be, do your
best to satisfy him. If you are unable
to do as he wishes, tell him why Above
all things, convince him that you are
sincere in your efforts to be of service
to him and assist him out of his diff
Guilty.
BE quick to recognize Just com
plant against the company as an un-
just one. If a person has Just COM
plant, you can do much toward seeur-
ing his friendship by the sympathetic
and proper handling of his case. Show
him, by prompt action, that you mean
what you say when you. express regret
that his experience with the company
has been unpleasant or unsatisfactory.
Don avoid people who feel un-
friendly toward the company. TheySare
just the people we want to meet. As
certain where the difficulty lies, then
make every effort to find a remedy for
the situation. The men and women
holding various positions in the 0rgani-
zation of the Birmingham Electric COM
pany are at times in a better position
than the executive officers to know Of
situations causing annoyance to patrons
OF the company. Petty anhoyanees fire.
quietly lead to active manifestations of
unfriendliness., It is the desire Of the
company that such annoyances be re-
moved, IL any exist.
SUGGESTIONS Welcomed
while the business Of public util-
ity must be. conducted along certain
lines found by experience to be neces-
sary, the company intends that its regu-
lations in the conduct of its business
shall be reasonable and absolutely fair.
and it viii at all. times welcome sug.
gestions from those in the organization
looking to the Improvement Of its reIa-
tons with the public, II especially
would like to be informed Of any situa-
tons which are thought to be a source
OF annoyance to the public and which
IN the judgment of the informant can
properly be remedied. To cite instances
OF annoyaHces experienced by patrons
Of the company, the telephone system,
at the main office has been outgrown.
with the result that the service is not
what it should be. Again, the counter
space for the transaction of the COM
pany's business on the first floor Of the
office building rs not adequate to han
die the customers without annoying de-
lay at times. Both of these conditions
will shortly be remedied.
Lets give a great deal Of thought
70. the Improvement of public relations.
Have you any suggestions? II 80,
please forward them to f. ". Under
wood, assistant general manager.
(Signed) ~. s. PEVEAR,