“Wait. Are you saying you will hold my last check until you conduct an exit interview? You cannot be serious, Travis. That can’t be legal.” Shelly stood in the entryway to her boss’s office, arms crossed, waiting for an answer. Working for Travis for three years, she found out that a small, often overlooked clause in her contract said Geonova Industries would hold an employee’s last check until an exit interview was successfully completed by human resources.  

Travis sat behind the oak mahogany desk, staring at a screen. Acknowledging her would mean that he cared, and in the three years Shelly worked for him, he failed that. “What?” he asked, blinking a few times and rubbing his eyes. “What did you say, Shelly?”

“Seriously, Travis? Do better.”

“Hmm?” he said, looking up again from the screen, but Shelly had left.

Walking down the corporate office building hallway, Shelly gritted her teeth. If someone had touched her, spoken to her, or even tried to say hi, she was sure she wouldn’t have taken it well. Chances are she would’ve popped off to them, saying things Shelly wanted to say to Travis. As it was, she wasn’t recognized, not even a little. Shelly did mention her work anniversary not once but twice in the three years she worked for Geonova Industries, and even after she mentioned it, Travis failed to recognize that she’d been there that long. But other employees working for the company for more than four years? Everyone wasn’t just recognized – they were celebrated for their accomplishments for the company and their hard work. After a year she got a cheesy keychain with a charm a child could’ve stamped by hand. No matter what Shelly did, she couldn’t get anyone to see her for her work. Travis lavished attention on her only when he was also recognized for her work. And only to her, not in front of anyone else or publicly announcing or celebrating her. Was it any wonder she wasn’t happy doing her job for less than what everyone else was making?

She was on the verge of tears when she stepped into her office, sitting at her desk, checking email for the umpteenth time. No one needed anything from her. No one needed her help. And no one called her on the office phone sitting on her desk unless it was purely an accident, misdialing a number and getting her by mistake. Shelly started to lay her head down on her desk when the phone rang. It startled her, as it was an unfamiliar sound. “This is Shelly,” she answered.

“Shelly? Shelly Verona?”

“Yes. Can I help you?”

“Yes, Ms. Verona, I’m Jason Clearfield. I’m calling about the resume you sent us for the marketing position with Jefferson Glasstester Technical, Incorporated. Is this a good time to talk? I realize you are still at work.”

Shelly wiped a lone tear from her face before grinning. She shut the door of her office. Shelly thought if she left the door open, someone would speak to her as they walked by. But her office was at the end of the long corridor, and the only exit was a fire escape. Not only was it a longshot thinking someone would speak to her, but Shelly found out over her three years it was an impossibility.

“Yes. This is a good time.”

“Excellent,” Jason replied. His voice was calm, confident, and full of emotion. “I read your resume. Tell me, Shelly, what made you decide to apply? You have so much experience that doesn’t exactly align with what we do here, but I’m intrigued. Why would you apply?”

Shelly had an answer pre-prepared just in case she was asked. It took her off guard to be asked over the phone. That had never happened before. “I like what Jefferson Glasstester Technical, Incorporated does in the community, connecting with corporate and small businesses. Several friends worked for you and spoke highly of their time, making the most of the professional advancement opportunities you provided to the upper-level C-Suite staff and those who were the front-line salespeople and office workers. Even the janitorial staff have opportunities to advance themselves professionally. I heard stories that four of your custodians went on to finish their MBAs and work for you in C-Suite positions. That’s why I want to work for you. Because of that.”

Jason laughed. “Sounds like you’ve been doing your homework, Shelly. What can you tell me about your immediate supervisor?”

Also prepared for questions like these, Shelly wouldn’t disparage Travis or his management style, which worked for some staff, just not her. Shelly went quiet. A few seconds later, Jason answered for her.

“Tricky question. Tells me a lot about your character. I know Travis, not personally, but by reputation. I will tell you three things about our company. First, we will give you all the tools you need to succeed and then some. Two, no one ‘quiet quits’ us because, as you already know, we are very attentive to our staff, so we’ve multiplied our locations and continue to grow. Not because I know everything about business but because I don’t. But I know how I want to be treated. And everyone who works for me? They deserve the best I can offer. So I do. In turn, I expect a lot. Productivity is critical to our success and growth. And keeping my staff happy does just that. If all the teams work together, we continue growing, but only if they are happy. So, my next question is, what do you want from us?”

Shelly smiled. “To start tomorrow.”