More boxes,… the more likely he was to get a raise

Poor guy, you wouldn’t believe just how naive he is. Just the other day, I watched this whole thing unfold, and it really made me feel for him. You see, he’s always trying to do his best, following every rule to the letter, not realizing that not everyone plays fair.

So there he was, diligently stacking boxes, when one of our supervisors told him that the more boxes he could stack in an hour, the more likely he was to get a raise. His eyes lit up at the prospect—bless his heart—and he started working like a machine, sweat and all.

What he doesn’t know is that the supervisor says this to everyone, especially the new folks. It’s more of a tactic to push us without actually leading to any real rewards. Everyone else knows to take it with a grain of salt, pacing themselves to avoid burnout. But there he was, pushing himself to the limit, thinking he was going to impress management.

At the end of the day, he looked so proud, expecting some recognition—or at least a pat on the back—but of course, none came. It’s tough to watch, seeing him learn the hard way that the job isn’t always about how hard you work but knowing how to work smart. And understanding that some stories in the workplace are just stories—nothing more.

I just hope he catches on soon. It’s really a shame seeing him wear himself out for a dream they dangle in front of him, just out of reach. It’s just how it goes around here, but someone really should tell him, right?