Heritage

The trouble of getting new worker at my shop

man

I fire my cousin after realising she stays away from the business to entertain her boyfriend. PHOTO | BD GRAPHIC

I have taken some time off, and I am really enjoying myself. Yesterday, I attended Maingi’s Sports Day at school. Shiro could not get a day off from the office so I had to step in.

I was amused at the seriousness with which these kindergartens take the Sports Day. We had gotten a whole list of the dos and don’ts for our children to ensure that they do not sustain injuries or get sick during the Day— and most of all they were asked to wear a sports kit and to keep time.

On the material day, decked in my track suit, we reported to school at 7.30am to a fun-filled event. There were so many races and so many events and I was excited that Maingi came first in three of the races — it is clear my son has inherited my sports gene.

I did not do as well as my son in the fathers’ running race since I came in last — I must go back to the gym soonest to stop embarrassment.

After I had dropped my tired son home, I decided to go to my side business. My shop offers everything from photocopying to M-Pesa services mainly to college students nearby. Every month, I get about Sh90,000 net profit but something tells me we could be doing so much better hence my unannounced visit to the shop. When I got to the shop, I was shocked to find it closed.

I decided to sit in a café opposite the shop and monitor the customers who would show up in the absence of the shop attendant who also happens to be my cousin. I was there for one hour and within that time more than 20 customers came to the shop only to find it locked.

Blood boiling

Since this visit had been unplanned, I had forgotten to carry my set of keys so that I could open the shop and serve the customer. By 2pm, I called Josephine, my cousin, who conveniently opted not to pick my calls. I decided to ask the attendant of a neighbouring shop, “When does this shop usually open?”

He chuckled, saying “most of the time she opens at 9am and then leaves at midday and comes back at 4pm for an hour!” This had my blood boiling! I decided to go home, pick up the shop keys and return.

In about half an hour, I was back at the shop and ready to serve the customers who were coming in. At 4pm, my cousin waltzed into the shop in the company of a tall man.

She was in total shock to see me. “Josee!” she started. “What are you doing here?” Before I could respond, two customers walked in and asked that we talk later.

We did not get a chance to speak because between 4pm and 6pm, we had a steady flow of customers. So at 6pm, I closed the door and told Josephine, “Please give me the shop keys.” She started crying, offering to explain. “It is not what you think. I had an emergency to deal with.”

I was livid but opted to keep my cool, telling her “it does not matter what I think, it is very clear you do not value your job. So please leave my premises now. She continued crying as she got down on her knees. “Please have mercy! This will not happen again,” she pleaded.

I was having none of this and just ensured she left and I got into my car and then headed home. Just before I got home, I decided to get into a local pub and have a few drinks to ease the stress of having to fire my cousin and of not knowing where to get a replacement employee.