Promotion and New Rules
Nia was promoted to general manager at a major fashion retail outlet. Enthusiastic about her new role, she implemented strict changes, emphasizing punctuality, customer service, and uniform guidelines. “Anybody who fails to follow the new rules — whether it is about uniform, customer greetings, display arrangements, punctuality — will lose their incentive for that month,” she declared.
Harsh Management
Nia’s demanding approach led to staff frustration. She extended shifts, limited breaks, and banned sitting during shifts. “We’ll have to show them we are never tired of serving them. And always serve them with a smile. Am I clear?” she instructed. Her extreme measures caused a drastic drop in sales, and she blamed the staff’s “laziness.”
Confrontation and Firing
During a heated moment, Nia fired Maya, a saleswoman, for falling asleep on the job. Victor, a 68-year-old janitor, spoke up, trying to reason with her, but Nia fired him as well. “I don’t care about the reason! Let this be an example, folks. Hey, you’re fired, old man! Now you can accompany Maya and get lost!”
Unexpected Twist
The next day, Mr. Gordon, the store owner, visited and discovered Victor’s firing. Shocked, he revealed Victor was a co-owner who had saved his life years ago. “Do you know you fired the co-owner of this store?” he asked Nia. He ordered her to apologize to Victor, who would be taking over the unit. Victor, with kindness and wisdom, helped Nia understand the value of treating employees with respect. Following his advice, Nia saw a surge in sales and, eventually, was promoted to CEO. Victor continued working as a janitor, loving his job.
