My friend Ernie (not his real name), a single father of two young teenage boys, is a loyal employee of a local video store for 5 years now and has an excellent record and good rapport with other employees. He works his butt off for his boss doing almost everything imaginable. Ernie comes to work early and is always the last to leave. He is a huge part of the store’s daily activities and doesn’t complain even though his meager salary is just enough to make it through the day… he said he was doing it for his family.
But that is about to change because his boss confronted him one day.
The store was missing an iPod. They turned the store upside down but couldn’t find it. No receipt was produced to prove that it was actually purchased. Given that, Ernie’s boss made a decision, a foolish decision that would change the working relationship between the two: he was going to deduct the cost of the lost iPod from Ernie’s small hard-earned pay.
Ernie was furious and bravely refused to accept the owner’s decision. Taking away something that you earned, Ernie said, is inhumane. “If you do that, I’m quitting!” he told his boss with strong conviction.
That’s the last thing the boss would want to hear. It will be hard to find someone as diligent and as loyal as Ernie if he leaves.
I don’t blame Ernie if he quits. And as his long-time friend, I understand him. Loyalty is a two-way street. He’s been loyal to his employer and it is just proper to expect the same treatment from his boss. But instead of getting that, he received an unfair treatment and discriminatory judgment.
Symbiotic relationship means both parties benefit from each other. Give and take: one has to give, and one has to receive. Then reverse the roles. There should also be a mutual understanding that parties involve will not abuse one another. In the case of Ernie, only his boss is reaping all the benefits.
I remember when my principal asked me if I can take an additional job by teaching Math (besides teaching Computer). I had taught Math before, and I knew exactly how excruciating it can be to have extra classes. It means more test papers to check, more homework to give, and more lesson plans to prepare. In simple words: more headaches. So I did what I had to do: I would accept the offer but I will also ask for a decent salary increase. They agreed, without questions asked. I think I know why.
It is because my employer knows I have proven that I work hard and I’m loyal to them, and I rightfully deserve every cent of the increase. And because in reality, a simple pat on the back is not enough for a job well done. They reward deserving employees.
There’s a lot of “Ernie” in the world, but problem is, unlike my friend, they stick to their jobs despite maltreatment because they’re afraid they won’t be able to get another job. I hope you are not one of them because they are wrong. There are a lot of jobs out there, waiting to be found. They just need to look a little harder to find them. If they become unhappy, then it’s time to move and go on to a different direction where they will grow – financially, emotionally and professionally.
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This story sounds very familiar! Like they say, you gotta do what you gotta do! Go Ernie!!! =)
Hey Elmer! Did you like my take on the story?
Hi I am visiting you via Blog Rush
I am shocked that Ernie’s employer would threaten to do that to such a good employee. Here in Canada that would be against the law for an employer to do.
Hi, Vic Grace! Thanks for visiting!
Must be paradise working there in Canada. Good news is my friend Ernie has decided to move on, and he will be starting on a new job next week leaving his abusive boss behind.
-Saedel
PS. I love your site!
Kudos to Ernie! And you’re right,,,a pat on the back is not enough..especially if you have bills to pay..ha ha!!!
Madam, thanks for visiting! I know you’ll agree with me.
Regards to John and Alex! See you!
saedel,
it depends where you work and what employement position one is currently in. some jobs are scarce & most of the time people have to compromise between being “emotionally” abused and getting a pay to make ends meet…physical abuse though is a different story.
goodluck to your friend ernie.
First off, a question for you about you and your friend, “Ernie.” Where do you live – what country?
If you live in the U.S., I think, if I am not mistaken, that it is illegal for an employer to deduct from a person’s pay like that. And especially since there is NO PROOF of where the Ipod went too.
I may be wrong on this but I don’t think I am. That is tantamount to accusing and finding him guilty of theft without even any real investigation and then, sentencing him for the crime without any trial or hearing, etc. either.
I’m not sure who you would or should contact but I think I would start by finding out about unfair labor practices and see if he does have a legal leg to stand on there.
You are so right – there are many, many people who are “Ernie” in the work force and who, in a situation like that would just go along for fear of losing what job they have at the moment – be it a good job or a lousy one. And that is no way for an employer to foster loyalty with his employees either -which contrary to what a lot of employers seem to think, is a darned good commodity to have on your work staff!
Hope he proves to his boss that he can’t do that to him! I’ll be rooting for him from my little corner here! And, before I forget – thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog today too!
Jeni
Hello Cris, thanks for visiting!
Hi, Jeni. Thanks for your comment. Ernie and I live here in New Jersey. Our friends also suggested legal actions be taken but Ernie decided to let it go. He’s a nice man, and he thinks it would just be better to move on. He now works at a local computer store that gives him triple the salary he received from his previous boss.
Thanks for visiting and hope you come back again!
-Saedel
Now, that’s fantastic news! Good for him! And don’t you just wonder too how long it will take that former employer to find another employee who will work, probably for peanuts and still be a good and faithful worker too? Don’t ‘cha just hope that karma steps in and the next person he hires robs him blind or something like that? Turn about is also fair play when it’s karma’s doing!
Please tell him to find another job before he quits. When he has clinched it he can give notice. No sense in having to worry where your next paycheck will come from because you have been misjudged. Leave with your head held high but with the security of further employment.
He he he…
This is how inside jobs are born. This is bad management, and it will end with a robbery.
In my experience, you should consider yourself lucky to be at a job more than about 3 years these days without something going wrong. You may get fired just because somebody wants their stock options to go up a quarter point. You could get dumped or stressed out because HR decrees have turned your office into a real life reality show. A good boss might leave and be replaced by a real jerk.
But, don’t worry, it’s not personal, it’s just business.
Thanks for the comment Frank, and nice to see you back. I forgot to mention that the “scene” was Ernie’s last straw. Ernie was a tolerant man, and he had a few small misunderstandings with his boss before, but those were quickly rectified. He had to put up with it as an allegiance to his boss. However, the last big accusation was a huge slap on Ernie’s face, and he thought it was unacceptable.
Your comment made me realize that no matter how good I thought my post was, there are still important details that were left out. Just goes to show that there’s still a big room for improvement before I reach the “writing perfection” that I want to achieve.
Thanks again!
-Saedel