A BUSINESS owner is concerned that a compliment paid to workers will make them demand more cash.
Tom Logan, who runs an engineering firm, made an appreciative comment to a group of staff after a week of record-breaking sales.
While making his rounds of the shop floor, the usually terse Logan said: “Nice one guys. Good work.”
However he now fears that his emotional generosity may backfire: “Normally I’m just moody and don’t say anything to staff that isn’t a command or a perfunctory query about how their weekend was, pitched just right so that they know I don’t really care.
“After my reckless compliment they’re all going to be banging on my door demanding above-inflation pay rises, sabbaticals, time off to do massage courses, that sort of thing.
“Saying ‘nice one’ was a mistake but using the phrase ‘good work’ was just pouring petrol on the flames. This is a monster balls up.
“They’ll think I reckon their work is good, which I generally don’t. The main thing however is that they can’t have more money, because then it’s less money for me.
“Now I have to prepare my spiel about how tough things are, because of the banks and so forth.”
Employee Mary Fisher said: “I was quite shocked when Mr Logan made his nice remark. I think it’s the first time he’s ever noticed me apart from pulling me aside for a warning about wearing too much makeup.
“I never knew he was actually such a good person.”
