Chapter 8: Thirty Days
*There is no magic formula for great company culture. The key is to just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated. – Richard Branson*
Just before nine, Donna came into the lobby to relieve Helen. She locked her computer so that the blonde could not get into it and handed her a notepad that had the morning appointments listed on it. Katherine, the HR director, had let it slip that the reason Donna was no longer working the front desk was because of too many complaints.
Men were tired of getting hit on.
Women were tired of their men being hit on.
And one woman threatened legal action if Donna showed up at their house again.
Donna was currently one write up away from being fired. And the fact that her uncle owned the company was not going to save her.
After giving Donna the notepad, Helen walked into the back area and down the hall with the company offices. The third door was open and Katherine sat behind her desk making faces at her phone. Helen knocked lightly and Katherine started laughing.
“Baby, mommy has to go back to work now. Be good for Miss Bea.”
“OK. Bye mommy.” Came from a young voice on the phone.
“No. Newt! Newton! You have to close…. BEA!”
There was laughter from the phone and the office next door. “I’ve got it.” A woman said from the phone and Katherine thanked her before ending the video call and putting her phone away.
“Come on in, Helen. You’ll have to forgive me, everyone around here is used to me yelling at the babysitter. Three year old boys and technology do not mix.”
Helen smiled at her. “Forty-three year old women and technology don’t always mix either. Did you want me to close the door?”
“Only if you want. I’m just going to go over the benefits that you get now that you’ve here for thirty days.” She said pulling a company folder off of the shelf behind her. It was a bright turquoise with TRAAC written in shiny black. She also grabbed a long skinny white box with a business card taped to the front.
“First,” Katherine opened the box and pulled out a couple of cards, “make sure everything on here is right.”
“It says that I’m a client advocate.” Helen said looking at the light turquoise card with black writing.
“Honey, we’ve all heard you and seen you handle upset clients. And I’ve seen you handle issues before handing it over to an accountant. You do a lot more than just answer phones and greet customers.”
Helen blushed. “Years ago, I was trying to get my degree in finance. But, it didn’t work out.”
“What happened?”
She shrugged. “Life. Marriage. Kids. Divorce.”
“That sucks. What college were you attending?” Katherine asked and Helen named an online university. “We’ll see what we can do about getting that finished. I would love to see you in one of the offices on the other hall.”
“Me?”
“You. Don’t sound so surprised. Frank has been trying to get you for months.”
“Me?”
Katherine smiled at the older woman. “Helen, I don’t know who convinced you that you weren’t all that and a bag of chips. But you are. In fact, you’re all that and two bags of chips.”
“Thank you.” She murmured softly not believing the other woman.
“You’re welcome. Now, onto the unofficial benefits. We have several clients that give us perks for our services.”
She opened the folder and took out a stack of papers.
“Golden Iron is a gym that gives our employees a deep discount. Five bucks a month gets you access to the gym. Ten gets you access to the gym and pools. And fifteen gets you access to the gym, pools and auxiliary staff including trainers, dietitian and, my favorite, the masseuse. Not only does he have magic hands, he is very easy on the eyes. Take ear buds, he will talk your ear off about his current boyfriend. My husband was jealous of him until he told Steve all about Fabio. He actually dated a man named Fabio.”
Helen couldn’t help but give a little giggle.
“Moving on.” She flipped to the next page. “Do you have kids?”
“Three. Jaxon is a diesel mechanic over at Paxton Freight. Jolene is getting her teaching degree. And JD graduates this year and is going into the Navy.”
“You are a proud momma. I have Newton who is usually sticky. And his sister,” she patted her belly, “will be here in spring. Today he is with my neighbor because he had a bit of a fever. But Willow Rose gives our employees a 40% discount on daycare. Keep that in mind for grands.”
“Congratulations.” Helen gushed.
“Thank you. Looking forward to the baby shower because I’m craving cake. I’m hoping if I keep saying it, someone will bring me cake.” Her voice got louder as she spoke.
“I heard you the first forty times today!” a man yelled from the office across the hall.
“You met Steven, right? The IT guy?”
Helen laughed at her calling him the it guy instead of I.T. “Yes, I met him. And I saw the giant Pennywise poster.”
“He also does birthdays and other parties. AND BRINGS ME CAKE!”
“For the forty-second time, I heard you!” He yelled across the hall. “I feel sorry for your husband.”
Grinning, Katherine admitted, “He is my husband.”
She then went through the other benefits but Helen was focused on the gym. She needed to lose weight. At least get in better shape. And she had no idea what to do.
After work, she dipped into her Christmas savings and bought her a workout outfit off the clearance racks. A pair of black leggings and a gray shirt that was big enough to hide in.
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