Layoffs cut financial backers

It was the day before bonuses were supposed to be handed out, and my boss, Bob, called me into his office. He said my salary was too high, that my colleagues were complaining, and it was “bad for team morale.” He wanted to cut my pay and give my bonus to some new hire, a nephew of someone higher up. I agreed without hesitation. I was ready to coast.

The next day, the client, conveniently, delayed their payment. The entire company couldn't hand out a single bonus. Bob begged me to help get the payment released. I simply replied, "Me handling all the client payments is too much for one person. It's bad for team morale. We should share the responsibility."

1

"Jo, management wants you to take the lead on this pay cut. You're the highest paid in your team, and your colleagues have a lot of… feedback. It’s not good for team morale," Bob, my direct supervisor, told me. Bonuses were supposed to be distributed tomorrow, and here he was, asking me to take a pay cut. I was stunned. I was the team leader, the core technical expert. Wasn't it normal for me to be the highest paid?

"Since when did the company make salaries public? Aren't we supposed to not discuss them? How would anyone know the difference?" I demanded.

"Well, uh… secrets get out," Bob stammered, avoiding my gaze. "Your bonus is being… reallocated. The new guy, Kevin, needs it more. Young blood, you know, needs encouragement.”

"Sure, no problem," I said after a three-second pause.

Bob was taken aback. He hadn't expected me to agree so readily. "Good! Showing real leadership, Jo. I'm impressed."

Yeah, right. I'd busted my ass all year, pulling all-nighters to meet deadlines, and now, instead of a reward, I was getting punished.

Back at my desk, Kevin was sitting in my chair, my external hard drive plugged into his computer. All my other stuff was gone.

"Hey Jo, my circulation is bad, and it's always cold by that vent. I asked Bob if we could switch, hope you don’t mind," he said.

"Where's my stuff?" I asked calmly.

"Oh my god, Jo, are you mad? I can switch back if you are. Your stuff's at my old desk. Everything’s there."

I glanced at my team. Usually, they'd be clustered around me, joking and chatting. Now, everyone was suddenly busy with their work, heads down.

"Don't bother. You can have it. You can have the team lead position, too," I said, moving to Kevin’s old desk.

"Seriously?" Kevin grinned. "Mr. Henderson just talked to me. He said us young folks need to step up and take on more responsibility, help you out. I was worried you’d be upset."

Right on cue, Mr. Henderson, the department head, walked over and announced to everyone, "We're implementing a team leader rotation policy, effective immediately. Kevin has two years of experience studying abroad, so he’s got the technical skills and language proficiency. He'll be the new team leader, and he’ll be taking over the Lakeside Hotel project. Jo, you've been working hard all year. This will give you a chance to rest."

The room went silent. E...