Chapter 3

I picked up my phone to check. Sure enough, there was a new post from that account.

"All my dumb boss does is exploit me. He can't even manage a simple pay raise. And he just uses poor company performance as an excuse to brush me off.

"He can only blame himself for his poor management. I only get seven thousand dollars. Does he think we're supposed to slave away for him?"

Some of the replies below tried to talk some sense into the original poster. "OP, I just have to ask. How good are you at your work?

"With such a laid-back company culture, seven thousand dollars is already on the high side. Besides, isn't your pay based on performance now? Isn't that exactly what you asked for? You can show your capability in the coming month."

"The OP is just ungrateful."

"People like this are the cancer of the company."

The original poster replied, "What do you mean by cancer? I'm not the only one in the company who's unhappy. There are plenty of others who are dissatisfied. They just haven't been public about it."

The one with the familiar avatar chimed in again, "Don't worry, bestie. Those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those who have something to lose.

"If your boss messes with you again, just unite with the other employees and fight back. Better yet, get the media to expose the company so that he won't dare act recklessly anymore!"

"That's a great idea, bestie!"

…

After closing the post, I was unable to calm myself for a long time. Over the next few days, problems started popping up frequently since the company added the clock-in system and various other rules.

For example, someone was late for a meeting and got fined 50 dollars.

Someone brought their pet to the office, wasn't allowed in, and had to board it at the shop next door for 100 dollars a day.

Because of the performance evaluations, unfinished work meant they couldn't leave, so they were forced to work overtime. Within a few days, everyone was groaning and complaining.

"Oh my gosh. I can't live like this anymore. I miss the way things were before. Can't we just go back to the old system?"

"Yeah, I also think that things were better before. I never thought clocking in for work would be this exhausting. I can no longer sleep in or cuddle my cats on paid time.

"Lunch and drinks are also not provided anymore, but ordering delivery costs 50 dollars each time. Even our monthly bonuses and subsidies have been cut."

Joanna remarked, "Weren't all of you saying our boss was terrible before? Why are you changing your tune now?"

The other employee sighed. "We were just venting for the sake of it. It's not like we went around blabbing about it. Besides, even if we had it bad, it was still better than other companies.

"Now look, we're just like every other company. I don't think I made many sales this month. If we're really getting paid based on our performance, then I'm going to go broke."

"Oh, right, so why did Mr. Pearson suddenly change the company policies anyway?"

Joanna let out a scoff. "If you're simply not capable, then don't blame the system. Isn't performance-based pay better for us? We get what we earn. Isn't that fair?

"And honestly, with such great benefits before but such low pay, who knows how much Mr. Pearson might have been shortchanging us? Things are better this way."

Just as they were chatting, Jacob walked in. "No chatting during work hours. Joanna, Mildred, and Irene, you three have violated company rules. 100 dollars will be deducted from your pay."

Jacob left after saying that, leaving the group looking at each other in silence.

At the end of the first month under the new system, everyone was stunned upon seeing their pay slips.

Jacob rushed in, exclaiming, "Mr. Pearson, bad news. They're all protesting, claiming that their salaries are wrong."

After a pause, I simply said, "There's no rush. We'll hold a meeting in a bit."

"Understood."

At the meeting, everyone was restless. Before I could even speak, someone stood up. "Mr. Pearson, is there some mistake with my pay this month? I only received 4,500 dollars."

"Yeah. I received 9,000 dollars last month, so why did I only receive 5,000 dollars this time?"

As I glanced at them, I signaled Jacob to pull up their records and project them onto the big screen.

"It's pretty straightforward. As requested by most of you, I implemented performance evaluations. You get what you earn. It's all recorded. No one gets extra, and no one gets shortchanged. The rules are clear and transparent. If you suspect me of cooking the books, feel free to check."

The screen clearly showed each employee's performance records.

"This is…"

Everyone was stunned, speechless. "But this isn't enough to cover our living expenses."

I said with a smile, "The evaluation method is the same as other companies. Your expenses aren't my concern. What you get depends on your ability."

With that, I stood up and left. Behind me, a wave of discussion broke out. "What's going on? Does he know something? Did someone reveal our thoughts?"

Joanna had a diffident look on her face. "How would I know?"

The others started discussing among themselves. "Something's not right. Why would he suddenly change everything? Are we supposed to live like this now? If we really have to clock in and out every day like at every other company, he might as well just kill me now. There's no freedom at all."

"We get paid so little now. Who can live on this? Our salary is down to nearly half its original amount."

Joanna suggested, "This can't go on. I know! Let's get the media here and expose him online."

The others exchanged looks. "We should. Why didn't we think of that? We'll secretly expose him and say that he's deducting our wages. Then, he won't dare do anything like this again.

"Once nobody dares to work here, he'll end up begging us to stay."

When I heard what they said while I was hiding around the corner, my heart dropped.

Before, I thought only Joanna was dissatisfied with me. It turned out they had all been dissatisfied for a long time. And here I was, treating them like family.

I left in a fit of anger. Sure enough, in less than a day, a post titled "Unethical Company Exploits Employees" went viral.

Early the next morning, as I arrived at the company, I spotted a huge crowd of reporters holding cameras and microphones at the entrance.

They rushed toward me as soon as they saw me.

Microphones were shoved in my face. "Mr. Pearson, we've heard allegations that your company enforces unreasonable rules, deducts pay, denies leave, and even makes sick employees work. Is that true?"

"Mr. Pearson, according to online reports, your company is an unethical business that exploits and bleeds employees dry under the guise of overtime and pay cuts…"

"Mr. Pearson…"

Voices came at me from every direction.

I turned toward the camera. "Since everyone wants the truth, then I'll show you what the truth really is."