Page 79 of Through You
“Yes?”
“I’m very sorry to bother you like this. I can see you’re tired and are heading home.”
“I’m sorry, but who are you?”
He clears his throat, “My name is Richard Perez, and I work in the cleaning department. Well, I used to work there.”
“How can I help you, Mr. Perez?”
“I understand you’re a busy man who doesn’t concern himself with the trivial things, but today I was fired.” And that’s when I notice his eyes are swollen and red. “You see, I have four girls to feed. I’ve worked all my life with this company. Maybe I’m over-stepping, but could you help me?”
“What was the reason given for your dismissal?”
He hangs his head. “I’m older now, and I guess it’s affected my performance. But I always leave everything very clean, Mr. Hidalgo.
I promise. Even if I take longer than someone who is younger.”
I approach him. “How long have you been working with us?”
“Fifteen years, sir.”
“May I call you Richard?” He nods. “What positions have you occupied over the years, Richard?
“I’ve only worked as a cleaner, sir. Simply because I never graduated from high school.”
“Come with me, Richard.” He follows me back inside the building and I take him up to my office.
Richard sits in front of my desk, wringing his hands in his lap. Sasha, the head of human resources, comes in a few minutes later. It was good fortune she happened to be working overtime.
Her smile quickly fades when she notices Richard sitting with me.
“Good afternoon.”
Richard gets up. “Good afternoon, ma’am.”
“Sasha, Richard here has told me he was dismissed without just cause. Moreover, he wasn’t given severance or any other compensation.”
Sasha places her hands behind her back, looking nervous.
“Mr. Perez has had difficulties performing his duties.”
“Has he been able to complete his tasks?”
“Yes, but it takes him longer than the allotted time.”
“I understand Mr. Perez has been working for this company for fifteen years and has four daughters to support. Were you aware of that?”
“Yes, sir, I was aware.”
“Is this how we show gratitude for years of loyalty?”
“Sir, I think it’s best we have this conversation in private.” She shoots Richard a glance.
“No, Richard has a right to be here. He’s been with this company longer than you. So do we treat him like he’s disposable and let him go just because he’s aging?”
“Sir, that wasn’t at all my intention. I was just trying to improve the quality of the work performed by the cleaning crew.”
Richard cuts in. “Sir, I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
