Lowball My Bonus, Lose Your Lifeline
"For Kate's year-end bonus this year, let's just give her 500 dollars to keep up appearances."
My boss' nonchalant conversation with the accountant drifts through the half-closed break room door.
"500 dollars? But Mr. Ribeiro, she's our top salesperson this year," the accountant reminds Rupert Ribeiro cautiously. "The new guy, Carter Stevens, just closed a small deal, and you just approved a 5,000-dollar bonus for him…"
Rupert scoffs. "You don't get it. Carter's a man—a rising star. You have to throw money at him to bring out his killer instinct.
"As for Kate, she's a 40-year-old woman. She's old. Even if she leaves us, who's going to want her? Giving her 500 dollars is already doing her