We have all been there. You work hard each and every day, just to see a co-worker utilize the system to their very benefit. This week we begin with a similar story, one with a familiar ending, before diving into the realities of the modern day world.
This week’s discussion begins with a story centered around one man’s ascension to the spotlight. When he achieves all that he can, what does he do when his own hero may fall? Ultimately, dive into a very philosophical and topical subject that is on everyone’s minds. Don’t miss this episode of Smirk!
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Welcome to Smirk. A podcast that covers society and culture through a storytelling lens. Part creative writing, part discussion, and always interesting. Each week our hosts brings a story to the show, a story they wrote themselves, which is immediately followed by discussion on the author’s moral or theme.
These stories can cover any topic the host wants to discuss, it can be lighthearted or more serious. No one but the author knows if these tales are truth or fiction, and part of the fun is guessing while you’re listening before the reality is made clear.
We want to hear from you! If you want to share YOUR story, join the conversation by writing in to mystory@smirkpodcast.com, and include your moral, or you can let us guess at it. This is the podcast that looks at truth, fiction, and reality. With a Smirk.
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Want to read Amanda’s story “Unfair” in full? Think you can identify the moral or theme for this episode? Read it below, and then take a listen to the podcast.
Unfair
“Hey, Jim! Good morning, how’s the family?”, Jim’s boss, Lucy, asks him Monday morning. “Oh, they’re good, we’re just trying to get some things taken care of before the big day”. Jim’s five year work anniversary is approaching; only two more days. He’s got two kids and a soon-to-be wife, so he’s hoping for a raise to take care of some of these wedding and spawn bills. His review will take place on his anniversary day and he’s been working hard the past couple of weeks to boost the appeal. He’s been coming in every day on time, getting ahead of his work, and smiling at everyone.
His co-workers aren’t buying his “act”, they call it, as they gossip about his hit or miss work ethic for the other 50 weeks of the year. “I can’t believe Lucy buys this crap – he comes in late at least two days a week, he doesn’t do his work and we get stuck with it, and someone in his house is sick like two or three times a month on average so he’s calling in”, Jamie says to her colleague Jill about Jim. “I know, it’s hard that we’re having to take on this extra work, but we don’t have kids, so we don’t get it”, Jill responds.
“Yeah, we don’t get the excuses alright”, Jamie quickly rebuttles. The two have been tasked with taking on the work Jim doesn’t get done because Lucy is always saying how overtasked he is, but they quickly got overwhelmed and frustrated. Making numerous complaints, they’ve seen no positive impact. “Do you think it’s just because he’s nice, or what is it that let’s him get away with everything?” Jamie presses the matter further. Jill tries to stay out of it, so she shrugs her shoulders and with a frown, looks back to her computer… “I don’t know, guess it doesn’t really matter what we think anyway”.
Because of Jim’s anniversary, the office is having a party to celebrate the day before (so, tomorrow). Everyone is set to bring in an item for the potluck, Jim is tasked with showing up on time. “Hey, Jim. Are you on track for workload completion by Friday?”, Lucy asks. Jim smiles and says that of course he is and he’s excited to talk with her this week. Jim ends up chatting with some other colleagues that Monday and gets close to nothing done. “Oh well,” he says to himself, “I’ll catch up on it tomorrow. I’ve done so good the last couple weeks”. He heads home to be with his family.
It’s Tuesday now and Jim’s anniversary party is today. Jamie and Jill each bring a dessert and set it on the counter space in the break room. Its a pretty casual morning and everyone in the office seems to be having a good time and laughing – but there’s no sign of Jim yet. “It’s almost 9, is he not coming in today?” Jill asks Jamie. “Who knows at this point. I’m sure he’ll be gifted a puppy for his tardiness at this point” she responds. The two go back to their desks and continue working while the office mingles and chats. Jim finally walks in around 930 and the office cheers and blows their noise makers like it’s a New Year’s party. Jim laughs and smiles, greeting each individual person, making special contact with Lucy. The office goes along with their celebrations and snacks on the food that day, treating it like a Friday. Lucy then approaches Jill and Jamie after lunch and asks if they wouldn’t mind helping Jim get caught up. “He’s had a busy day and we really need to get this invoices sent out. Do you mind helping out?”
Jill responds quickly, “Sure, whatever you need”. The intense side eye from Jamie nearly scorches her. “Are you kidding me?!” The two end up working late getting things caught up for the next day so they don’t have to come in Friday. If everyone’s work is caught up by the second Friday of each pay period, they get to take a personal day or work from home.
The next day, Jim heads into Lucy’s office: 8am sharp. The two sit down and begin discussing his future, how things are going now, and his current salary. Jamie and Jill can overhear the laughter and chatter but don’t know what the conversation is. They decide to just keep their heads down, focus on their work, and even get ahead of what they can. Jim finishes around lunch time, so he doesn’t even get back to his desk until 1. He works diligently the next couple hours but asks Lucy about leaving because his youngest got sick at school and daycare needs him to pick him up. He heads out, leaving a mess of work. Jamie and Jill just continue to work and catch him up on his activities.
The next day, Lucy acknowledges Jamie and Jill (at their department) stating that Jim is home sick again today with his kid and won’t be in. She also says she has an announcement… The vacant supervisor position is being filled by Jim and will start next week, so they will be short staffed in their area until they find a replacement. Lucy walks back into her office, Jamie and Jill’s jaws drop to the floor…. “This can’t be real. How could she possibly think he deserves to get more money AND more responsibility? We already do half his work regularly!” Jamie says to Jill. “Yeah, and now well never get out of here for Fridays”.
The two continue working hard to get the job done but they still end up having to come in Friday. Jamie looks over at Jill- “I guess this is no different than before. At least we don’t have expectations for someone else to do work and then not get it done last minute.” Jamie and Jill both look down, bothered, and continue working. Jim’s still at home with his sick kid.
Now, listen to the full episode as we dissect Amanda’s story.