What differentiates an inspired business decision from pure corporate greed aimed solely at extracting the maximum financial profit no matter what? Apparently in the case of JC Marketing, Inc., nothing much.
As a member of the recently congratulated batch of '17 graduates, Khlöeeshelle Annn applied for employment in the above mentioned company. Within the reasonable wait time for fresh grads to receive an employment application return call, Khlöeeshelle Annn got called for an interview. The job vacancy was for a Sales Agent, and the HR personnel she spoke to informed her that she was perfect for the job. Thus began Khlöeeshelle Annn's road towards becoming an income tax-paying citizen of this nation. And eventually towards a fruitful and successful corporate career.
Except that this last wasn't really the case... at least with this first job. For one, the employment term was on the basis of a five month temporary contract that was only in effect practically for as long as Khlöeeshelle Annn could haul in a steady stream of money for her employer. For another, the compensation was a meager 8 pesos above the minimum wage, no Health Benefits until "regularization", no paid leaves until the same, and had an automatic 33% contribution to an Absentee Insurance.
The Absentee Insurance. If patenting such innovation didn't cost so much, JC Marketing definitely would have had it registered already. It was brought about by past history of absenteeism among JC Marketing employees--often to secretly explore career opportunities elsewhere. This prompted the brilliant account officers of JC Marketing to identify a possible risk of potentially losing prospected income when their agents didn't report for duty. The Absentee Insurance virtually liberated the employees from any form of limitation when it came to absences, while at the same time ensured earnings for the owners.
One cannot truly blame Khlöeeshelle Annn, therefore, when on the day of her contract signing, there was a momentary hesitation upon coming across this particular bit of salary deduction.
"I know 33% percent is a considerable chunk of solid hard earned money," the HR said, noticing this hesitation. "but you see, the deduction is merely a way of discouraging absenteeism. If you give the company no reason to use the Absentee Insurance, the money just pools into a Retirement Fund. And this Retirement Fund will be given to you if you complete 20 consecutive years of profitable service."
33% of an income, with almost guaranteed increases in the span of 20 years, and multiplied by a factor of the same number of years of service, seemed too much for a quick mental math for our young aspiring professional. One thing was certain about it, though, and that was it amounted to a considerable future sum. She fought the hesitation, and upon signing the allotted spaces on the contract, Khlöeeshelle Annn could almost feel herself being physically transported from the ranks of the Unemployed into becoming a First Time Sales Agent.
As a member of the recently congratulated batch of '17 graduates, Khlöeeshelle Annn applied for employment in the above mentioned company. Within the reasonable wait time for fresh grads to receive an employment application return call, Khlöeeshelle Annn got called for an interview. The job vacancy was for a Sales Agent, and the HR personnel she spoke to informed her that she was perfect for the job. Thus began Khlöeeshelle Annn's road towards becoming an income tax-paying citizen of this nation. And eventually towards a fruitful and successful corporate career.
Except that this last wasn't really the case... at least with this first job. For one, the employment term was on the basis of a five month temporary contract that was only in effect practically for as long as Khlöeeshelle Annn could haul in a steady stream of money for her employer. For another, the compensation was a meager 8 pesos above the minimum wage, no Health Benefits until "regularization", no paid leaves until the same, and had an automatic 33% contribution to an Absentee Insurance.
The Absentee Insurance. If patenting such innovation didn't cost so much, JC Marketing definitely would have had it registered already. It was brought about by past history of absenteeism among JC Marketing employees--often to secretly explore career opportunities elsewhere. This prompted the brilliant account officers of JC Marketing to identify a possible risk of potentially losing prospected income when their agents didn't report for duty. The Absentee Insurance virtually liberated the employees from any form of limitation when it came to absences, while at the same time ensured earnings for the owners.
One cannot truly blame Khlöeeshelle Annn, therefore, when on the day of her contract signing, there was a momentary hesitation upon coming across this particular bit of salary deduction.
"I know 33% percent is a considerable chunk of solid hard earned money," the HR said, noticing this hesitation. "but you see, the deduction is merely a way of discouraging absenteeism. If you give the company no reason to use the Absentee Insurance, the money just pools into a Retirement Fund. And this Retirement Fund will be given to you if you complete 20 consecutive years of profitable service."
33% of an income, with almost guaranteed increases in the span of 20 years, and multiplied by a factor of the same number of years of service, seemed too much for a quick mental math for our young aspiring professional. One thing was certain about it, though, and that was it amounted to a considerable future sum. She fought the hesitation, and upon signing the allotted spaces on the contract, Khlöeeshelle Annn could almost feel herself being physically transported from the ranks of the Unemployed into becoming a First Time Sales Agent.
It didn't take long for Khlöeeshelle Annn to start suspecting that there might possibly be a minor mistake in her decision to accept the JC Marketing offer. Day 1 of her deployment she received an urgent text from HR asking her where she was, the New Hires' Orientation was to begin in 5 minutes.
"But I'm here in Ayungin, bright and early for my first day of duty," she replied with enthusiasm and only the slightest of mounting worry.
"Why? We emailed you that there is going to be an orientation today at 8 AM. Didn't you check your mail?"
It was true that Khlöeeshelle Annn had been advised to maintain an internet account, and regularly check her email for any memos or additional instructions from the Head Office.
"I checked yesterday," replied Khlöeeshelle Annn, "and I didn't find any such instruction from the company. My sincerest apologies. I might have missed it."
"Well of course you would miss it! Why check from yesterday's mail? I sent the announcement an hour ago."
The gravity of the injustice--specially highlighted by the impossible italics in the HR officer's SMS--struck at the very pit of Khlöeeshelle Annn's existence, that she felt suspended in spacetime for fifteen full seconds. When she regained her orientation and self awareness, she typed--unitalized--through the SMS function of her mobile phone a powerless whimper:
Sure, Ayungin is well within the 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines (and to anyone with a minimum set of eyes and a properly functioning brain, it sure as hell belongs to it), but still it is a good 7 hour travel from there to the JC Marketing, Inc. offices. Khlöeeshelle Annn started as soon as she could. To save time, she even started writing her Letter of Apology, Incident Report, and Authorization to Deduct Salary as soon as getting on the boat. All three were of course required of her by the HR, intended to minimze--if possible--whatever impact such neglectful conduct had on her probationary status.
Khlöeeshelle Annn arrived at the JC Marketing headquarters with only one hour left in her orientation. Good thing she had taken a taxi all the way from the ferry port to the office, she had made it right on time for the last topic on the orientation deck. The ride itself cost her 15,000 plus PhP, but she believed this could be reimbursed from her employer. (Poor girl, how wrong could she be!--but of this... later.)
As it happened, the last topic being discussed was on Disciplinary Actions. On that last hour, she learned that yes, this latest mishap on her very first day of work warranted a Disciplinary Action, and no, mere Incident Report, Letter of Apology, and Salary Deduction were not punishment enough. In fact the offense would be stamped indelibly in her Employment Record, which would be promptly distributed among major and minor corporations nationwide.
Most importantly, given that she was now under disciplinary action, any costs she incurred--be it travels, meals, and the like--they would no longer be reimburseable from her employer. If she was still holding on to her 15,995 PhP taxi receipt, now would be the right time to throw it to the nearest waste bin.
(to be continued...)
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