Taste of Reality by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Author:Kimberla Lawson Roby
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780061755255
Publisher: HarperCollins

CHAPTER 15

EVERYONE GATHERED around the conference room table and waited for me to begin the meeting. Three weeks had passed since I’d accepted the promotion, and today was my first official day in my new office. I already knew Karla, my secretary; Jamie, my HR coordinator; and Mary, my HR specialist, but I figured it was a good idea to meet with them as a group, making our new working relationship somewhat easier. Although I wasn’t sure how this first day was going to play out, because I didn’t know if my staff was going to be receptive. Especially since Mary had applied for the job as well. But Lorna had heard that Jim didn’t care for Mary and hadn’t even bothered to consider her interest in the position. I wondered what that was all about, but hadn’t asked Lorna to elaborate. Now, though, I wondered how Mary felt about reporting to me when she’d wanted the job herself.

“Since this is my first day, I thought it would be a good idea for us to meet for a few minutes,” I began. “From everything I’ve reviewed this morning, it looks like Bob has done an excellent job running this side of HR.”

Mary raised her eyebrows.

“Did I say something wrong?” I asked her.

“No, but I wouldn’t say he did an excellent job.”

“Really? And is there a reason why you feel that way?”

“Because the whole two years I’ve been here, I’ve worked my butt off trying to make him and this department look good.”

My question had been answered. Mary was disgruntled about not getting my position, and I didn’t know what to say to her.

So I made things up as I went along.

“I’ve always heard how great of an employee you are, and please know that I have nothing but the highest respect for your dedication to human resources.”

Her face started to brighten.

So I continued.

“I wouldn’t normally say this unless we were alone, but since it’s sort of out in the open, and because I want all four of us to work as a team, I will. I’m sorry that you didn’t get Bob’s position, because, believe me, I know what it’s like when you don’t get promoted into a position that you really want. I’m sure you know that I applied for the corporate manager’s position, but didn’t get it because they placed it on hold. I know that saying I’m sorry doesn’t help a whole lot, but I’m hoping none of this will cause a strain between the two of us.”

“I don’t have a problem with you, Anise, because this was Jim’s decision. But I am upset with him for giving the position to someone else, even though I’m the one who did most of Bob’s work whenever he wasn’t here or needed help. It’s not fair how they pick and choose certain people for certain jobs with no standard criteria. They do whatever they want, and couldn’t care less about who they hurt in the process.”

I didn’t know what to say, because I agreed with her completely.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.