Completely Unprepared

 

Completely Unprepared

 

Muri had always had things come to him without much hassles, Not that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but from childhood he had learnt how to position himself to receive. His Father taught him that.

He was one of those lucky fellows who were picked up from the University immediately they were through with their studies but that aside he also did very well in the aptitude test that was administered on him and the others - infact the beat every other person to the first position and so he was offered the job of Assistant Marketing Manager immediately.

The offer came with a house - a 3 bedroom detached bungalow tastefully furnished, and a car loan for him to buy a car of his choice.

He was made to understand that the house rent and refunds for the car loan would be taken out of his monthly salary and he did not mind that.

Part of the conditions for employment was also that he was to be on probation for not less than 2 years and that confirmation and promotion were dependent on available vacancies.

Being a green horn, he did not really understand the unwritten lines behind those words so he really didn't mind.

He was too happy to have a well paying job to be bothered with the mumbo jumbo that lawyers had put together in the form of conditions of service.

He was earning a good sum of money on monthly basis but most of it was going for the refunds - house rent and car loan; he was waiting for the day that he would finish paying for the items so that he can then start saving money for his own survival.

At the end of 2 years, his appointment was confirmed.

3 years after he started work, he was yet to be promoted and then it went over to 4 years. He approached the Director of Administration to know when he would be promoted and he was informed that promotions are subject to vacancies and that right now there were no vacancies in the office of the Marketing Manager since the present occupant was still active and delivering on his mandate. He was advised to man his duty post effectively and that when the time was ripe he would be promoted.

5 years after he started work, he got married. The marriage brought in added responsibilities as his wife was not working. He started noticing that his income was not matching his expenses again. He had since finished with the car loan but now only paying for the house rent since it was not on Mortgage.

6 years after he started work, his wife put to bed - 2 babies (a boy and a girl) and that increased the demand for money in the house.

Again he sought the face of the Director of Administration and asked when he would be promoted since his family has expanded now and his income is not able to cater for the family. Again he got the same reply.

Being so livid with rage, he stormed out of the Director's office cursing and swearing, this attracted the attention of his co-workers and even the Top Management. That action attracted a query and in answering it he poured out all his frustrations about the Company and his stagnation.

On receiving the reply to the query, the Director of Administration recommended that his appointment be terminated since he was a risk to other workers in the Company.

When the Managing Director got the reply to the query and the Director's recommendation, he simply endorsed it because he felt that for a man so highly placed and trusted to have acted that way, if he was not checked, he would become an undue influence to the other workers and one day they might have a strike on their hands from aggrieved workers.

The next morning when Muri came to work, he had no inkling as to what was waiting for him right on his table; so when he saw an envelope bearing his name, he wondered where it came from but then took it and tore it open. When he read the content of the letter of termination of his appointment, his heart sank into his tummy and he just collapsed into his seat and there was nobody there to see what happened.

Not only was his appointment terminated with immediate effect and his severance pay included therein, he was given 30 days to pack out of the Company's house or face eviction.

Filled with indignation, he marched to the office of the Director of Administration to give him a piece of his mind but he was unable to have access because the DA suspecting that he would behave in that way had asked security personnel to be stationed before his office to prevent any mishaps.

Since he could not have access to the DA or the MD, he left the place filled with bile in his mouth and regrets of the years he had wasted in the Company.

His major challenge was not even that his appointment was terminated but how to relocate his family to a new home in 30 days since all he had was the severance pay which was just 150% of his salary and which would not be enough to rent another 3 bedroom bungalow.

Kindly answer these questions

1.   How would you title this story?

2.   What was Muri's major mistake in accepting the job offer?

3.   Mention at least 3 financial mistakes that Muri made while the job lasted?

4.   What do you think that Muri should do to beat the deadline given to him to relocate his family?

5.   Can you hazard a guess as to Muri's next line of action?

#successwithdrjerrythefirst