No Clucks Given
I witnessed this short conversation a couple of days ago. The backstory is as such.
My friend is very overqualified for her position and has been with our company since she graduated from high school. She commonly does things that are outside of her pay grade and even assists senior members of her department. A position in upper management had opened up for her department, and she applied. Now, four months later, her big boss couldn’t make up her mind on who to hire between my friend and four external applicants.
Normally, they had a good relationship, but while the hiring was going on, meetings continued, and interviews were held. Big boss had been pushing more and more work to my friend, month to month, her workload increased by multiples, and she just said “Yes ma’am.” to everything.
Onto the conversation.
I walked into the employee lounge in pursuit of a Monster Energy Drink, a rare find when IT was in the building instead of working remotely. Between them and the Security Department, which operated 24 hours, the front fridge was normally empty. I flagged another friend of mine, who works in employee services, and she went back to get a few she had saved for us. While I was waiting, my friend and her boss walked in, my friend’s arms filled with folders, while her boss carried a Costco Rotisserie chicken for some reason as well as a tray of coffees.
My friend looked like she was at the end of her rope, not returning my smile or nod as she sat down with her boss.
Big Boss: “…and in the end, I’m kind of deciding if I’m going to be a c*** today or not.”
Friend: “Why stop now? You’ve never had trouble being one before, at the very least not for the last few months, [Big Boss’s First Name].”
Dead silence, shocked stare, coffee cup lifted halfway to mouth.
Friend: “I… I’m not sorry.”
Big Boss: “Okay, my office, now.”
She stood up, and my friend followed her sadly.
Her promotion was just announced; it popped up on our internal company traffic. I never found out what the chicken was for…
