The Circle of Contradictions

Created in late 2003 with the objective of introducing the NADHRn to HR professionals, the Circle of Contradictions brings together DHRs once a month at the Institute of Human Resources to discuss issues that concern those DHRs who must deal with the very crux of company paradoxes. These monthly meetings strive to be intelligently iconoclastic; sensitive subjects are dealt with in a professional if offbeat tenor. Humor is welcome, but officialese mumbo-jumbo is not!^o One Hundred Two

Usually Markus took his time walking through the hallways. He’d always considered these movements from one place to another as breaks. He was perfectly capable of getting up and saying, “I’m going to stretch my legs,” in the same way others would go out for a cigarette. But by that point he was finished with all that. He charged. It was so strange to see him coming forward like that, as if propelled by rage. He was a souped-up diesel-engine car. There really was something souped-up about him: some sensitive chords had been struck, and they went straight to the heart.He burst into his boss’s office. Charles looked hard at his employee and instinctively placed his hand to his cheek. Markus stood stock still in the middle of the room, holding back his rage. Charles dared to say, “You know where she is?”“No, I don’t. All of you must stop asking me where Natalie is. I don’t know.”“I just spoke to the clients on the telephone. They’re furious. I can’t get over the fact that she could do that to us!”“I understand her perfectly.”“What do you want with me?”“I’d like to tell you two things.”“Quickly. I’m in a hurry.”“The first is that I refuse your offer. How low of you. I don’t know how you’re going to look at yourself in the mirror anymore.”“Who told you I look at myself?”“Fine, I don’t care what the hell you do or don’t do.”“And the second?”“I quit.”Charles was stupefied by the man’s speed of reaction. He hadn’t hesitated an instant. He was refusing the offer and leaving the company. How could Charles have handled the situation so badly? And yet, no. Perhaps it was what he wanted? Seeing both of them run off with their unfortunate affair. Charles kept looking at Markus and couldn’t read anything on his face. Because there was a kind of frozen rage on it. Which annihilated any readable expression. However, Markus had begun to walk toward him, slowly, with a confidence that was out of proportion. As if motivated by some unknown force. So strong that Charles couldn’t avoid feeling afraid, very afraid.“Now that you’re not my boss anymore … I can …”Markus didn’t finish his sentence; his fist finished it for him. It was the first time he’d hit anyone. And he regretted not having done it before. Having looked for words to handle situations too many times.“You can’t do that! You’re insane!” shouted Charles.Markus came toward him again, made as if to hit him again. Charles reared back, terrified. He sat down in a corner of his office. And he stayed down in that position long after Markus left. One Hundred Three

Дата добавления: 2015-10-26