Unfulfilled promise.

”A promise is a debt”.

I have heard this phrase more times than I can count, to the point that it makes me weary. You'd think that even after knowing this, a lot of persons would live up to expectations but no, no, no…... .these persons turn around to give a shocker.

The gist

I was on my own at my work station on Monday the 27th of January 2025. I was chilling and doing my thing when a message was sent to me that I should report to the administrative office because my boss called for me. I stood up to go meet my boss and on getting there, this was what happened.

”Becky, I know that you and other teachers are upset”.

Looking clueless, I replied ”Sir, upset about what. I don't have an idea of what I should be upset about”.

”Okay. It is about the fact that you all did not receive any bonus from us but don't worry, we the management would compensate you before month end”. I thought I saw him raise his right hand and place it on his chest to drive home his promise.

”Alright sir” I replied before going back to my station. Out of curiosity, I asked a colleague of mine if she had also been called to the office and she replied in the affirmative. Then I knew that every worker had been told the same thing hence, we awaited the surprise compensation.

Personally, I wasn't as expectant as some of my colleagues. I have had my fair share of broken promises and this has taught me to never hang onto promises until it is a done deal.

I also had a feeling that this was a managerial move to motivate workers to keep working after a disappointment. You know the case dangling the cheese in front of the rat so it could keep running on the wheel. That kind of motivation. So I wasn't falling for it.

Fast forward to today being the end of the month, 31st January 2025. We all got our remuneration but there was no ”extra” added to it. Oh my! I didn't know that disappointment had a sound until today.

Some colleagues could be heard hissing and some were just ranting endlessly. Unfortunately, my boss had made a quick exit as soon as he was done disbursing everyone's pay 😁 (*how ironically smart).

Two colleagues came to me to inquire as to why I was not bothered when I saw that they (the management) didn't keep their promise.

”Why should I be bothered?” I asked. ”Did you really think they would come through on their promise?”

”I mean think about it. They let us all vacate without a bonus nor the usual end of the year package. I have long since removed my mind from receiving anything. If they do, then fine but if they don't, then fine as well”.

I thought my motivational speech would make sense to some, but they were adamant and the most vocal of them said that she would go ask my boss personally about it on Monday morning. After all, he promised us.

That last sentence smgot me thinking. Yes, he did promise us some compensation, so why didn't he fulfill it and why didn't he communicate.

I get that sometimes, life happens and as such we might disappoint some people but to run away from the situation is not a good idea. He should have communicated and told us to be patient but no, he disappeared, leaving behind a set of angry teachers.

I can't wait to find out how the situation will be handled on Monday but for now here is my rant about a promise not kept.

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Thank you all for reading... Shalom

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Image is mine.