A Serious Mistake

He arrived at central offices at about 11:00 in the morning. It was clear that everybody was in a holiday spirit. He went directly to the HR director’s office. In the beginning the discussion was quite general. The HR director told our hero how everybody was happy with him and how the CEO had heard so many nice things about him. Our hero was satisfied to hear this, but also seized the opportunity to ask about his personal issues. Don’t worry said the HR director. Everything will be as we discussed. You will receive an additional bonus. Should I discuss it with the CEO or the CFO our hero asked? No said the HR director. The CEO never discusses these issues. On the other hand I will handle everything with the CFO. You do not have to mention anything. Our hero was not sure. But decided to give the HR director one more chance and listen. He would avoid talking about his personal issues with the CEO or the CFO. In the future he would realize that this was a serious mistake.

Decision

That Christmas was very strange for our hero and his family. They were happy to be home with family and friends. Everybody wanted to visit them. Their son had grown since the summer and he was a total joy for everyone. However our hero was stressed. He did not know what would happen with his compensation. He had the commitment from the HR director that he would receive additional compensation in order to cover the unfortunate situation with the stock options, but he did not trust him. This situation did not allow him to relax as much as he wanted. He was nervous and worried about the future. The meeting in headquarters would take place on December 23. Our hero did not know if this issue would be discussed at a higher level, either with the group CEO or CFO. Certainly he would discuss it with the HR director and then decide.

Home

Our hero and his family had planned to return to Greece for the Christmas vacations. They were looking forward to it, since they had missed Greece. They would be living on December 21st and returning in about 15 days. It was very strange for them to have Christmas in the summer, as it was in Lima. In their minds Christmas meant winter. And in Greece the winter was quite strong. During their stay our hero would also have some meetings in central offices. Due to the company's behaviour to him, he felt a bit distant and was not in the mood for meetings. But he was looking forward especially to one meeting. With the group CEO. He hadn’t met him before, but he had heard very good things about him and wanted to talk to him. Finally the day of their journey came. After a long trip they arrived to Greece at 11 o’ clock in the evening, after leaving Lima at 9 o'clock the previous day. They also had a 6 hour stop at Madrid. Some friends picked them up from the airport and took them to their apartment. That night would be difficult because of the jet lag. But they were happy. They were home.

Nice time

As soon as they got out of the airport they saw the difference with Lima. There was no cloud in the sky. It was a very sunny day. They hadn’t seen sun very often in Lima despite the fact that it was almost summer. In Buenos Aires the climate is totally different. You have very hot days, but you also have intense rain, even in the summer. Our hero was lucky. This was a beautiful day. As soon as they checked in the hotel, they left for Recoleta, which is a very touristic area. They visited Evita Peron’ s tomb, and then went to the open market. They spent all the weekend visiting different areas of the city. They went to the Boca area, the zoo, the Japanese park, the center of the city, to certain Malls like Florida and generally had a very nice weekend. During the night they walked along Puerto Madero and had dinner, meat of course, along the river. They also tried the famous Dulce de Leche. On Monday morning our hero attended the meetings he had and in the afternoon they flew back to Lima. They had had a very nice time.

Argentina

After a month, our hero received a phone call from Greece. It was the finance director who had a rather pleasant surprise for him. The company wanted him to go to Argentina for a project. Our hero liked the idea and decided to go with his family. It would be a great opportunity for them to see another country in the region. Our hero had to be there on Monday, so he would leave on Friday to spend the weekend with his family there. They made reservations in the Hotel Madero by Sofitel in Puerto Madero. Unfortunately the only airplane tickets they could find would be with Aerolineas Argentina: The worst company he had ever travelled with. Bad airplanes and bad service. The worst 4 hour flight ever. Anyway, they left at around midnight from Lima and arrived in Buenos Aires in the morning because of the 2 hour time difference with Lima.

Trust no one (at least in the company)

Our hero knew that it would be very difficult for him to return to Greece without having a job. There would be no guarantees that he would find a job quickly and he needed the money. On the other hand he could not find another job in Greece from Lima. This was impossible. He was in a difficult position, but he could only wait for the bonus. In the meanwhile the HR director started to tell him how important he was for the group and how the group CFO had plans for him within the group. The next step could be a position in a European subsidiary the HR director said. And this could happen very fast. Maybe before you receive the bonus. Our hero liked the sound of this. A position in a European country, near home. However at this point he could not trust the HR director. He only listened. After a few days the people from Greece left and everything was back to normal. At least to a certain point. Our hero could not believe what the company had done to him. Half of his agreed compensation was gone. Our hero had entirely lost faith in the company and was very nervous about his future.

More Stupid

I have a solution said the HR director. I will arrange with the group CFO for you to receive an extra bonus that will cover a large part, at least 50%, of the money you did not receive from the stock options. And next year you will definitely receive stock options. Our hero had lost faith in the company. He did not believe a word he heard. But he could not do anything at that point. When will I receive this bonus? he asked. In about 4 months. Are you sure? our hero asked. You have my word he said. Listen, our relationship is seriously damaged our hero replied. I have done a hell of a job in Peru, a very difficult country far away from home. What do I get in return? You lower my agreed compensation by 50%. However I will show good faith one more time and wait for the extra bonus. It is the least you can do. And even with this you will only cover part of my agreement. Our hero decided to give them one more chance. He would wait for the extra bonus. If he would receive it would be a positive sign that the company had the intention to correct this unfortunate (for him and his family) situation. OK he said to the HR director. I will wait for the bonus. But if I do not receive it, I will go home. I am not staying in Peru for the same money I received in Greece. I would be even more stupid then.

Stupid

Our hero could not believe his ears. He felt like a fool. He trusted the company, he trusted his “friend” and now… I know this is a problem said the HR director but maybe next year things would be different and you will receive stock options. This is bullshit our hero said. First of all I don’t trust you anymore. Secondly what we agreed was stock options every year, not maybe next year. You are right said the HR director, but you have to understand that the two year restraint was something that came up the at last moment. The group CEO decided this without anybody knowing about it. Our hero was angry. When we agreed a few months ago he said, you did not tell me that there would any possibility of something like this. You told me that it was a sure thing and that the phrase “according to company policy” in the agreement was related to the number of stocks. Unfortunately I was stupid enough to trust you and move to Peru, leaving an excellent job.

Calm Down

In the afternoon our hero finally had time to meet the HR director. This discussion would be quite shocking and would be the beginning of the alteration of his relationship with the group. The HR director informed him that he would not be entitled to stock options. A restriction had been set regarding employment in the company. An employee would be entitled to stock options only if would be working at least two years in the company. Our hero could not believe his ears. Nearly half of his agreed annual compensation just disappeared. You can’t be serious he said. This is a disaster for me. I showed good faith and this what you do to me? Without stock options my decision to join the company is stupid: I moved to Peru with the nearly the same money I made with my wife in Greece! Calm down said the HR director. Calm down? Easy for you to say!

Regrets

The next day in the morning the meetings in the office began very early. Our hero did not have the opportunity to discuss alone with the HR director. He thought that he would do that in the afternoon. Anyway the meetings did not create any value for the company. The executives, mainly the finance director and the marketing director were very arrogant in the meetings. They were acting as if they were experts and their ideas could not be doubted. Our hero basically listened. They did not enter into his field, finance, so he decided not to talk about the other issues, mainly commercial. Later on he regretted this decision. He should have talked and expressed his position about company issues, even if they were not within his direct responsibility.