2.a.iv
Tanya led them
through a variety of departments, filling up their shopping cart with various
supplies. The look of disgust never left
Mr. Jones’s face. He overheard a manager
speaking with a very sullen looking employee.
“I’m sorry
Sally, but there’s really no room in the budget for raises. Waldos is what you’d call a ‘penny profit’
organization. With such great discounts
and low prices we really don’t make much money.
Have you looked into government assistance? There are many programs suited to someone of
your income level.”
Sally tugged
at her ear lobe and sighed. “But sir, I
got kids that–”
“The
government will help you with. The
government loves kids. That’s why they
have the programs that they do.”
“Can’t you
just ask H.R.?”
“I do. All the time.
The answer is always the same.
Now don’t you have some Price Drop Downs to get done?”
“Well… yeah.”
“Better get on
it then. I’ve got to cut some hours from
next week’s schedule. Only those that
show me some hustle are gonna be working.”
“Yes, sir,”
Sally said and scurried off. The manager
smirked and brushed the leg of his navy blue pants. He then fiddled with the cuffs of his scarlet
shirt and checked to make sure his vest was still a smudge-free white.
Mr. Jones
stood in the aisle, his face expressionless except for his eyes, which failed
to mask a seething anger. The manager
finally noticed him and said, “Welcome to Waldos, sir, where we’re dropping
down prices. Is there anything I can
assist with?”
Mr. Jones
cocked his head to the side.
“Don’t do it,”
Tanya hissed in his ear. “We’re trying
to keep a low pro–”
“I’m not sure
you can,” Mr. Jones said.
“Oh, well I’d
like to try,” said the manager, smiling.
His eyes did not smile with the rest of his face.
“Would you,
truly?”
The manager’s
eyebrows narrowed.
“I sure
would,” he said.
“That’s
wonderful,” said Mr. Jones, walking toward the manager. “How about you start by giving that poor woman
a raise?”
The manager’s
smile vanished.
“I’m afraid
that’s none of your concern,” he said.
“Company
policy, I’d imagine,” said Mr. Jones.
“That’s
correct.”
“Is it company
policy–”
“Don’t do
this,” Tanya said.
“–to hire
everyone at part time status to avoid offering them health care benefits but
then ask them to work extra shifts so you end up getting a full forty out of
them, but then never have to actually qualify their status to full time so they
don’t receive the benefits of that designation?”
The manager’s
jaw released and his mouth gaped for a moment.
“I… I… That wasn’t even what we were discussing.”
“Yes it was,”
Mr. Jones said. “She was asking for a raise and you told her that the company
was too poor to afford it. I doubt a
quarter more an hour would sink the Waldo fleet of… How many stores is it now?”
“Eight
thousand three hundred and twenty-two,” Tanya said.
“Christ. That many,” said Mr. Jones, stunned by the
figure. His gaze hardened. “I’ll bet Sally’s still making minimum wage,
too.”
The manager
straightened his shoulders, set his jaw, and said,” Now that is untrue. Sally’s been with us for nearly three years
and has received her annual percentage increases.”
“And what
percent is that? Two percent?”
“I’m not at
liberty to say,” the manager said, averting his eyes.
“Wow. Less than two. So either one percent or,
worse, a half a percent. That’s
despicable. What do you make a year?”
“I’m not at–”
“Liberty
And then a
strange moment occurred between the two men.
A slight pause where neither man struggled. Not to escape the other’s grip; not to
maintain a grasp upon his opposite.
Mr. Jones broke
the silence.
“You make 140K
a year,” he said.
The manager’s
eyes went wide. He opened his mouth but
no words came out.
“Plus store
performance bonuses,” Mr. Jones added.
“A percentage of sales less overtime hours, payroll totals, and
insurance costs.”
The manager
yanked free of Mr. Jones’s grip.
“They reward
you for exploiting your employees,” Tanya said.
“How… How did
you–” the manager stammered.
The sudden
flood of financial knowledge shocked Mr. Jones as well. He turned to Tanya, his eyes wide and
confused.
“Don’t you
know who this is?” Tanya said, abandoning her plans for keeping a low
profile. “This is Corporate
Man.
“Oh God, you’re from Corporate?” the manager
said.
“No,” said
Tanya, shaking her head. “Corporate Man.
“I don’t know
who that is or what this is or what
your two are trying to pull, but I don’t like it. I’m calling the head office.”
“Yes, that’s
right,” said Mr. Jones, recovering his focus.
“Better call in, protect your position.
After all, you’ve got plans to buy another vacation home with the
salaries you steal from your employees.”
