The extra mile

<p>I would really like to send my deepest thanks and appreciation to Kate. I have been dealing with my UIF claim over the past few weeks and we all know how unreliable the labour departments tend to be in South Africa. None the less, I phoned your offices for assistance/help/advice, anything to get me through as it is the first time I have ever claimed. The lovely and helpful lady whom I spoke to, Kate, was really just a breath of fresh air for me. I explained my situation to her, that I'd been retrenched from my previous company and that they had not registered me for UIF and did not submit the necessary documents, however I had been paying it the entire period that I had worked there. She advised that the agencies are unable to assist whereby retrenchment is concerned. However, I explained my situation to her and I'm truly and utterly thankful that she took the time to listen, even if that was all I needed. The labour department advised me that I needed to have the company complete a salary schedule which would need to be submitted with my documentation. I told Kate that due to me taking my previous employer to a labour lawyer for unfair practices they would ignore my mails requesting documentation. Kate took it upon herself to help me and let me email all the relevant details to her so that she could get this information from them for me. The nice thing about it was is that she was really understanding and didnt just brush me off like most companies would do. I told her that I really wish she was in Cape Town as we need more people like this here, and within South Africa. To me she went beyond the role of her duties to help me. Unemployment in this country is terrible. She managed to get the necessary information but the schedule that was sent from my previous employer had some discrepancies which UIF would clearly point out as an error and we would be back to square one again. I made her aware of this and she was quite happy to help once again, she didnt have to but she did! It has been a rollercoaster ride somewhat, being passed from pillar to post. The relief I had yesterday of not feeling lost and confused and knowing that Kate was going to help me is actually unexplainable. Kate was very empathetic towards my situation aswell. We as people tend to give up too quickly on things because of what South Africa is as a whole in terms of its service industry. Please could you reward her with some form of praise and an extra incentive as its people like this that make a company better and help towards your business flourishing.</p>