Fired For Speaking Clearly and Distinctly
Years ago, the job I was supposed to start was postponed for a couple of months due to building construction difficulties.
Needing a temporary job to pay bills, I applied at a local telephone sales company. I had noticed that the background noise seemed a little loud when I called for the interview, but didn't think much about it.
The day of the interview, I was met at the door by the person I was interviewing with, and shown to a back office. As we walked through the call center room, I realized that everyone in it had a speech impediment of some sort, and some were possibly hard of hearing, as they were yelling into the phone. I thought this was a little odd, but was also happy that they were seeing past the disability and allowing people to work. I took the job.
I showed up for work the next day, and was shown to my telephone by a nice well-spoken young lady, who took the seat next to me while I made my first call.
After I was done, she informed me that I was doing it all wrong. Then she proceeded to show me the correct procedure. She dialed a number, waited for someone to answer, and then proceeded to speak very loudly into the phone in a slow, halting, slurred voice, as if she had some form of speech impediment.
After she hung up, she told me "That's how you are suppposed to do it."
I said "I'm sorry, I cannot do that." She then told me how easy it was, how you hold your tongue a certain way, and so on, and I would just need a little practice. I then told her "You don't understand. I will not misrepresent myself as being disabled." She excused herself, and left.
15 minutes later, the person who had hired me came over and said " I'm sorry, you will not work out in this position. You're fired."
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