By rutger5 (An Original Story Copyright 2011)
All characters 18 ++
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"No, I understand that it has to be done. Once I make my final decision I'll let you know who, as well as informing the person affected. By Friday it will be finished Mr. Johnson. No, it is very unfortunate that it's come to this I agree. Yes sir I'll speak to you soon."
After hearing the click on the other end I hung up the phone and just sat there for a minute thinking. When I accepted my current position I understood that there might be times like this that I'd be forced to do unpleasant tasks. Now I had a doozy ahead of me. The way the company did business left me with a limited choice and neither option was clear cut. So I decided to follow the course I'd discussed with Mr. Johnson, the company founder and president, as I felt under the circumstances it was the best way.
In spite of my decision I found myself sitting at my desk doing other work rather than taking the bull by the horns. Do it, I told myself, because no matter how hard it is for you it will be much worse for the others involved. That steeled me enough to get up and head out of my office. Passing my administrative assistant Barbara on the way I walked out to the bullpen where the workers I supervised were located. Coming to the cubicle of the first person I needed to speak with I stuck my head in.
"Yes, that is correct. If you have any future problems always feel free to call back. And thank you for doing your business with us. Good bye."
Once she'd finished the call the woman looked up expectantly at me. This was going to be tough I knew.
"Judy...ah Ms. Phillips, may I speak with you for a few minutes please?" I asked the woman seated before me.
A look of uncertainty flitted over her face after hearing how I addressed her but she quickly regained her composure and smiled at me.
"No problem Mr. Daniels, I'm free now," she replied.
"Would you please come to my office, it won't take long," I told her.
She followed me to my office where I made sure to leave the door open. Though I didn't wish anyone to overhear the conversation I felt it was prudent under the circumstances to make sure we weren't alone unobserved. Once I sat behind my desk I looked up at Judy. She had joined the company around fourteen months ago and had done all that was asked of her so this wasn't easy.
"Please sit Ms. Phillips," I said indicating the seat on the other side of my desk. I observed her as she sat and I had to admit she was still an attractive woman. Just north of forty years of age she had a voluptuous figure but dressed conservatively in keeping with our company dress code. A subdued light blue blouse buttoned to near her throat kept her ample bosom covered and a navy blue form fitting skirt that clung to her curves and reached her knees completed her outfit. Like many women she dyed her naturally dark hair a brassy shade of blonde and though it caught one's eye, in my opinion, it would have looked better untouched. After she sat she giggled nervously for she seemed aware that something wasn't right.
"This can't be good news if we're being so formal Mr. Daniels," she sagely observed.
"No unfortunately it's not for a good reason that we're having this conversation. Let me cut to the chase then. As you may be aware the bad economy has been hurting this company's bottom line for some time. The reason you found a job here was the person who held the position previously moved out of state. It wasn't because the company was expanding at the time. The last quarter numbers are in and they are grim. I've been directed by Mr. Johnson to terminate one of the workers I supervise."
After I'd said that I saw all emotion drain from her face as she was confronted by the specter of the unemployment line.
"I understand Mr. Daniels," she said in a barely audible voice.
"Wait Judy," I told her, "it isn't certain that it will be you that goes. Hear me out first. The company policy is for the most part last in, first out. Exceptions can be made if a more senior worker is really doing a bad job but in this case I don't think anyone under me is performing poorly. However you and one other worker started within a month of each other. So my choice has to be one of you and as of now I haven't made my decision. To my mind you're both good workers and each of you brings some different strengths to the position but the unpleasant fact is one of you has to go. I'm letting you both know in case it's possible one of you might know of another position you could find, plus when it happens I don't want the affected party to be blindsided. I'm sorry about this and I'll let you know my decision by Friday."
"Thank you for that then sir. If you don't require me here anymore then let me get back to my job while I still have one."
She smiled wanly and stood up, doing her best to show no emotion. To be honest I was very impressed by her demeanor, for I knew she was a single mother with a daughter in her senior year of high school, and she was the sole supporter of the girl. Facing such uncertainty couldn't be easy but she put on a brave front. As she left the office my eyes drifted to her shapely calves as well as her wide hips and large round posterior. Stop it, I told myself, feeling ashamed. Here I might be laying this woman off in less than a week and I had the nerve to check her out.
I waited a couple of minutes before again rising from my desk. No sense in putting it off, I might as well talk to the other employee now. The conversation followed a similar course with Chet Norris. The only thing I didn't like was that he made a few disparaging borderline sexist comments about Ms. Phillips, as if as men we shared some solidarity because of that. I informed him that as far as I was concerned it was purely a numbers issue and that I wished neither had to go.
Truthfully I didn't really blame him as I understood the situation he was in. Chet was divorced but he had a couple of kids who he paid child support for and losing his job would not be a good thing. The problem for me, beyond the fact that I didn't wish to fire either of them was that it really was a toss up. Flipping a coin or picking a card would resolve the dilemma as fairly as anything else I could do. Not wanting to think about it for a minute I decided to get a cup of coffee.
As I approached the company lunchroom I heard a voice speaking and I realized it was Judy Phillips. Since I didn't hear any other voices I figured she was on her cell phone. That stopped me in my tracks for I didn't wish to interrupt her call after our recent conversation. So I turned to retrace my steps but I couldn't help but overhearing some of what she was saying.
"Well thank God you didn't buy that prom dress yet Alicia. Whatever you do, don't spend any money right now. No, we can't discuss it until I see you so it will have to wait until tonight. You're not working, right? Okay wait at home for me baby because we really have to talk. Bye."
