The A to Z English Podcast A to Z Am I the Jerk 30 | Am I the jerk for giving one employee a raise and not the other?
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You are a manager at your workplace, and you have two employees, Alice and Bob, who work on the same team. Alice is a very dedicated and hardworking employee, and she consistently goes above and beyond to meet deadlines and deliver exceptional results. Bob, on the other hand, has been struggling with his performance and frequently misses deadlines.
One day, Bob comes to you and asks for a raise, citing his financial difficulties and the need to support his family. He feels that he deserves a raise because he's been with the company for a long time, even though his performance hasn't been up to par.
You know that Alice has been doing an excellent job and deserves a raise as well. You only have the budget to give one raise at this time. You decide to give the raise to Alice because of her exceptional performance, but you don't inform Bob about her performance being the primary reason for your decision.
Bob finds out about Alice's raise and feels very upset and unfairly treated. He confronts you and accuses you of being unfair and playing favorites. He argues that he's been loyal to the company for years, and Alice has only been with the company for a short time.
So, the question is: Are you the jerk in this situation for giving the raise to Alice and not fully explaining your decision to Bob?
00:00:00
Jack
You're listening to the A-Z English podcast.
00:00:13
Jack
Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I am here with three of my good friends, agnieska, Leila and Salimah.
00:00:23
Jack
And today we are going to do an MI, the jerk episode, and these are my favorites. I love doing these and let me read the situation to you guys 1st and then one by one I'll ask what your opinion is about the situation.
00:00:39
Jack
So you are a manager at your workplace and you have two employees, Alice and Bob, who work on the same team.
00:00:48
Jack
Alice is a very dedicated and hardworking employee, and she consistently goes above and beyond to meet deadlines and deliver exceptional results. Bob's, on the other hand, has been struggling with his performance and frequently misses deadlines.
00:01:08
Jack
One day, Bob comes to you and asks for a raise, citing his financial difficulties and the need to support his family. He feels that he deserves a raise because he's been with the company for a long time, even though his performance hasn't been.
00:01:28
Jack
Up to par.
00:01:30
Jack
You know Alice has been doing an excellent job and deserves a raise as well. You only have the budget to give one raise at this time. You decide to give the raise to Alice because of her exceptional performance, but you don't inform Bob about her performance.
00:01:51
Jack
Being the primary reason for your decision.
00:01:55
Jack
Bob finds out about Alice's raise and feels very upset and unfairly treated. He confronts you and accuses.
00:02:04
Jack
You of being.
00:02:04
Jack
Unfair and playing favorites, he argues that he's been loyal to the company for years, and Alice has only been with the company.
00:02:15
Jack
For a short time. So the question is, are you the jerk in this situation for giving the raise to Alice and not fully explaining your decision to Bob?
00:02:27
Jack
And we'll start with Agnieszka first, what do you think is the manager the jerk?
00:02:34
Agnieszka
Uh, for me? Yes, because he's creating, you know, this tension between cowork workers. I know he he did. He did the right thing because I think Alice is the one that deserve this.
00:02:54
Agnieszka
But I think the best it was talk with Bob and tell him the the truth that he decided to.
00:03:03
Agnieszka
For these reasons, and This is why he didn't get the raise. So it's better because when you have this environment in work, it's very difficult. Everybody's have a competition, have this feeling that they want to be the best and they really hate each other. So when they don't.
00:03:23
Agnieszka
When they they have these.
00:03:25
Agnieszka
This competition, they they really, you know, feel that they deserve.
00:03:29
Agnieszka
The thing so.
00:03:30
Agnieszka
It's better to be clear and and have a.
00:03:34
Agnieszka
A good environment.
00:03:35
Agnieszka
Because it's OK, let's get raised. But it's better if we if we tell him that. What is the reasons? So for me?
00:03:43
발표자
OK.
00:03:46
Jack
So he wasn't clear, he wasn't transparent.
00:03:46
발표자
For me.
00:03:49
Jack
He didn't explain it and so he created a situation of, like, tension between the workers. And so he is the jerk. OK, interesting this.
00:04:00
Jack
Is very interesting.
00:04:01
Jack
I I have my opinion, but I'm gonna wait till the end and and share it with you guys. But you're I'm on the same track as you.
00:04:08
Salimeh
OK.
00:04:10
Jack
Uh, what do you think?
00:04:12
Jack
About this situation.
00:04:15
Layla
Could you just please remind me of the question because I couldn't hear Agnieszka, while she answered the question and as well as you, Jack, just remind me of the question please.
00:04:26
Jack
Oh, no problem. So yeah, so the question is, is the manager the jerk for giving a raise to Alice?
00:04:34
Jack
And not explaining the situation to Bob because Bob didn't get the raise, and Agnieszka said yes, he's the manager. He's a jerk because the manager didn't explain the situation to Bob, but just gave it to Alice kind of secretly behind the.
00:04:54
Jack
The curtain.
00:04:55
Jack
So what do you think about the situation with who do you think is the jerk?
00:04:58
Layla
Yes, honestly, I would like to say because there is a a manager right in the for for the company who raised the the how to say.
00:05:17
Jack
The salary or the wages? Yeah.
00:05:17
Layla
That will come for Alice, right?
00:05:23
Layla
Ohh yeah, the the wages. So I think the manager is a little bit jerk because he or maybe she should explain that for Bob before raising the Alice.
00:05:42
Jack
OK.
00:05:42
Layla
Because to give to give him the clear idea about what's happen.
00:05:49
Layla
And and why he or maybe she raised Alice instead of Bob in.
00:05:57
Layla
This certain moment.
00:05:59
Jack
Right.
00:06:00
Layla
So I.
00:06:02
Jack
You agree with Agnieszka, then? Basically, yeah.
00:06:02
Layla
When when the manager didn't explain that.
00:06:06
Layla
To to to.
00:06:08
Layla
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:09
Jack
OK, OK. So.
00:06:09
Layla
Although I didn't hear her answer, but this is my answer so.
00:06:10
Jack
I think you.
00:06:14
Jack
Yeah, yeah. You guys have the same answer, but I think you know, great minds think alike. So in this case you guys both came to the same conclusion that the manager should have.
00:06:15
Layla
We are.
00:06:25
Jack
Blamed clearly to Bob why he gave the.
00:06:29
Jack
Race to Alice.
00:06:30
Jack
And not to Bob.
00:06:33
Jack
And so yeah, I think that's you guys have the similar conclusion. You came to the similar conclusion. But Celine, I'm kind of curious what do you think about the situation, do you agree with Leila and Agnieszka or do you have your?
00:06:45
Jack
Own opinion about it.
00:06:47
Salimeh
Not really. I think the manager is not jerk because Alice is the one who is hard working person in that company in that office and she deserves that that.
00:06:58
Salimeh
Race, you know.
00:06:59
Salimeh
And the managers, you know, I know this situations, the manager is just human, you know.
00:07:05
Salimeh
Sometimes they can't, you know.
00:07:07
Salimeh
Where they can make a mistake like this situation. I know the manager should talk with Bob about the reason and she should be he.
00:07:15
Salimeh
Or she the manager.
00:07:16
Salimeh
Should be clear with employees, but the decision but the important things in this story is making the right decision. So I guess the manager is definitely not richer, but as Bob is the loyal because loyalty is one of the factors in the offices in the companies. So.
00:07:37
Salimeh
Well, if he's working for a long time for that company.
00:07:40
Layla
I I I think.
00:07:41
Salimeh
The manager could give a loan. I don't know. Maybe from the salary in salary or not, but he should. You know, he he could give a loan to that person, Bob. And after that, you know, reduce the loan from his salary, you know, every month. You know, I I I would like to help you know.
00:08:03
Salimeh
To Bob because he has difficulties with his life, so he could manage, you know, both. But yeah, this is my opinion.
00:08:14
Jack
Interesting. OK. Yeah. Or or maybe?
00:08:17
Jack
Give like half of a raise to.
00:08:19
Jack
Well, that's not really the the point of the am I the jerk is. You can't make these kinds of, you know, different arrangements. But maybe like half to Bob and half to Alice would be like the perfect solution.
00:08:32
Salimeh
No, but I I guess you.
00:08:34
Salimeh
Know you don't encourage your employees. If you do the half to the the employee that she can't, you know, work properly, he.
00:08:42
Salimeh
Work well, so I just the manager, you know, did the right thing, you know, because the managers should be the when they are making decisions, they have to be one or zero. I mean true or false. And this is the, you know, this is a great thing that the manager did.
00:08:54
Jack
Right.
00:08:59
Jack
Right. They have to make a decision, you know? That's right. You can't always be. You can't make everybody happy all the time.
00:09:06
Jack
That's a good point.
00:09:08
Jack
OK, my I'm I'm I'm going.
00:09:10
Jack
In like kind of different direction here I'm thinking.
00:09:13
Jack
Bob is is, it's.
00:09:15
Jack
Working in a company is like a marathon. When you first start, it's easy to be a hard worker. You know that first year, the second year, you're like, really.
00:09:25
Jack
You know what can I do? What?
00:09:26
Jack
Can I do but after like?
00:09:28
Jack
Five years or 10.
00:09:29
Jack
Years. It's like that the last miles of a marathon. And that's what Bob is like in a different stage of the marathon. He's, like trying to finish the marathon, and Alice is just starting the marathon. And she looks so fresh and so, so bright. And so the manager is like.
00:09:46
Jack
Look at the shiny.
00:09:47
Jack
New, you know, object look at this.
00:09:49
Jack
You know, this is so nice and new and it's like, but Bob is like he's been there for a long time, just chugging away like a, you know, the hard worker. So I'm.
00:10:01
Jack
I kind of feel.
00:10:02
Jack
Like because Bob has been there longer, he deserves the raise. Even though Alice is a hard worker. If Alice is still a hard worker after like 5 or 10 years, then definitely she deserves a raise later. But I feel like Bob deserves the raise, so I'm I'm gonna say yes, the manager.
00:10:23
Jack
Is the jerk.
00:10:25
Jack
He made the wrong decision. He went for the new shiny worker and he should have stuck with the loyal, you know, the loyal teammate, even though he's a little slow and a little.
00:10:36
Jack
Easy. I don't know what.
00:10:37
Jack
Am I wrong sling me? What do you think?
00:10:39
Agnieszka
If I if Alice.
00:10:41
Salimeh
Found out that you already gave the raise to Bob, then maybe she lost the, you know, interest for working, for being the hard worker. So you know if you. So OK. I'm like, I'm Allison. I'm not gonna work for hard for this company because they don't deserve it.
00:10:58
Salimeh
You don't, you know, give me the rates so.
00:11:01
Jack
This is true, this is.
00:11:02
Layla
I I don't. Yeah, yeah.
00:11:04
Jack
OK, I can ask, what do you think? Is my argument good or is it? Is there a problem?
00:11:09
Jack
Do I have weaknesses?
00:11:10
Agnieszka
I I think you make a good argument also you.
00:11:14
Agnieszka
Want to lose if?
00:11:16
Agnieszka
They do like that they want to lose, that he's a loyal maybe Alice. In two years that she decided to go and and Bob was the loyal worker. So.
00:11:30
Agnieszka
Yeah, I I understand that. But also as a manager, I think one of the best thing for me when I see a manager is.
00:11:39
Agnieszka
Have create a good environment so he maybe he could have a he could take a decision, but a better decision like selling said maybe not everyone's happy, but maybe they what they deserve. So yeah, you'll understand.
00:11:58
Jack
I don't know. Yeah.
00:11:59
Jack
I feel like maybe Alice will become Bob. She just hasn't been there long enough.
00:12:05
Jack
Everybody becomes Bob eventually. If you work for a company, but maybe I'm wrong, maybe just Jack becomes Bob, like that's me. Like I just identify with Bob and I feel sorry for Bob because I've, you know, I'm like the same situation where you know, you've been at the same company for a long, long, long time.
00:12:25
Jack
And you just, you know, you. But it's like an old hard drive. You have a lot of information, you know, I know a lot about how it works. I know this the company, I know the situation. So I don't know. I'm just torn. I I feel like.
00:12:41
Jack
Yeah, I don't know.
00:12:42
Agnieszka
They should create a legal a loyal rate like like give a vote, but for being loyal.
00:12:50
Jack
Yeah. The Bob.
00:12:51
Jack
Give him, like a yeah loyalty button.
00:12:54
Jack
Slime, please go.
00:12:55
Jack
Ahead. What were you going to say?
00:12:57
Salimeh
No, but the company should, you know, make money. So how they could, you know, make money?
00:13:01
발표자
Right.
00:13:04
Salimeh
With hard workers.
00:13:04
Salimeh
OK. Bob is loyal. Bob, have a lot of.
00:13:06
Salimeh
Knowledge and experience, and I know I respect for those experience, but if you cannot use those experience though, it's it's going to.
00:13:15
Salimeh
Be useless, you know.
00:13:16
Salimeh
Because bug is just, you know.
00:13:20
Salimeh
I I guess in the story Bob is the one who know everything is loyal, but it's kind of tired of this job. So maybe we can't. We can't have. But in that position maybe maybe we have to think about, you know just changing the position.
00:13:38
Salimeh
I don't know.
00:13:39
Jack
I think you're right. I mean you're you're exactly right. That's all the companies really care about is making money. And if Bob's not making as much money as Alice Bob's out Alice is in. I mean, that's really how it how it comes, what it comes down to. So I think that's a a fair argument.
00:13:55
Jack
And and. All right. Well, thank you guys. You gave me a lot to think about. This is a really difficult one actually, because I don't know. I still feel sorry for Bob. So I'm kind of, I'm pro Bob right now.
00:14:08
Salimeh
One more thing, Jack. It's about not making decision logically and emotionally, so I guess I'm not making decision just logically because I just.
00:14:17
Salimeh
You know, pay attention for.
00:14:18
Salimeh
The you know, care about the money, but I know about this, but yeah, so yeah, it's very difficult decisions to make.
00:14:26
Jack
Yeah. And and.
00:14:27
Jack
I guess that's the the difficult part of a manager's job is like.
00:14:31
Jack
How do you balance the emotional aspect of knowing Bob for longer and knowing that Bob has a family but Alice is making you more money because she's, you know, harder worker. She she, you know, she's just a better employee at this point in time. So yeah, it's it's.
00:14:52
Jack
I think the the cold, you know, the hard logical decision is the one that most companies want you to make and that's why I could never be a manager in a company like that because I don't have a stomach for it. I'm too emotional. I'm way too emotional. I.
00:15:09
Jack
Could do it and yeah, so I'm glad I don't have that job, but.
00:15:15
Jack
Listeners out there let us know what you think. Send us a comment on this. Am I the jerk episode at AZ englishpodcast.com? Send me your emails either pro Bob or pro Alice. Which side are you on? AZ englishpodcast@gmail.com.
00:15:33
Jack
Or jump into our WhatsApp group, the Ados English podcast group, and you can have our argument right there in the WhatsApp chat group. And with that said, we will see you next time. Thanks everybody. Bye, bye.
00:15:49
Layla
By that.
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