Last week, the CEO of Company X visited our Malaysian plant. Not sure what was his agenda, but it sure got the local folks here really excited. In just a short period of time, both the Company X premises were literally transformed into a completely different place. The building(s) washed, walls and floors painted, the cubes were decorated with colorful posters and there were even a few areas transformed into showrooms of some kind. Employees on the other hand, were asked to tidy up their workplace so that it wouldn’t sore Mr.CEO’s eyes – you know, the whole package of it to ensure that everything was as perfect as the CEO was made to perceive.
I was like ‘DUHHHHHH’. Are all these… like, really necessary? I wonder if it’s only me that is having a different kind of thoughts about all these but, shouldn’t we… they… be doing the opposite instead?
Eg.
- instead of painting the building, the management should be spraying water on the building(s) to promote the growth of fungi and kudzu. So that we’d get more budget to repaint the building.
- instead of cleaning up the office floor, the employees should make a mess out of their work desks to let Mr.CEO see that they’ve been working so hard that they barely have time to clean up. (that’s how work desks should look like, anyway…)
The fact is, everyone who works in Company X here is a wage earner. I’m sure Mr.CEO would very much interested to know how well he has been spending his money paying for all these mongoloids here as part of his money-making empire. So, what do you reckon he would think when he sees everyone has a squeaky clean desk and are idling by the hall to welcome him like he has just been released from prison?
If I were to be him, I’d sure be piss-mad. I’ll probably give a big smack on the table and shout out loud:
“WHY ARE YOUR DESKS SO CLEAN!?!?!? WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN DOING???? SITTING AROUND WIPING TABLES???”
Yeah, and I’d complain about the waste of funds allocated to paint the building too.
“IS PAINTING THE BUILDING GOING TO MAKE YOU IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY?!?”
The banners, posters and stage hoo-hahs.
“If I want to have a good time, I’d be visiting a NIGHT CLUB!!! WHY WOULD I NEED YOU TO SPEND MY MONEY ON THOSE GAUDY BANNERS, WELCOMING MYSELF, TO MY OWN PREMISES???”
Things that I couldn’t get myself to understand, man. Those guys are sure lucky that the CEO doesn’t think like me… or should I say, they’re lucky that I’m not their CEO? Fucking hell.
I strongly believe that’s why our increments and bonusses are getting less each year. The CEO just couldn’t see the need of increasing the budget for a bunch of people splurging unnecessarily for the organization.
*****
You can give yourself a test here.
Say you’re somebody’s boss. 2 of your employees come into your office one day to ask for a raise. Both claim to be in dire need for a raise to support their family.
- Employee#1 rides a rundown scooter to work.
- Employee#2 drives the latest edition of Audi A6 and he also has a brand new Seamaster on his wrist.
Who do you think – between Employee#1 and Employee#2 – deserves the raise more?
