A Pay Rise or Not
"Unless I get a rise, I"ll have a talk with the boss, Henry Manley," George Strong said to himself. George liked his job and he liked the town he lived in, but his wife kept telling him that his pay was not enough to meet the needs of the family. That was why he was thinking of taking a job in Birmingham, a nearby city, about 50 miles away. He had been offered a job in a factory there, and the pay was far better.
George lived in Wyeford, a medium-sized town. He really liked the place and didn"t like the idea of moving somewhere else, but if he took the job in Birmingham, he would have to move his family there.
Henry Manley was the manager of a small company manufacturing electric motors. The company was in deep trouble because, among other reasons, the Japanese were selling such things at very low prices. As a result, Manley had to cut his own prices and profits as well. Otherwise he would not get any orders at all. Even then, orders were still not coming in fast enough, so that there was no money for raises (加工资) for his workers. Somehow, he had to straggle along and keep his best workers as well. He sighed. Just then the phone rang.
His secretary told him that George Strong wanted to see him as soon as possible. Manley sighed again. He could guess what it was about. George Strong was a very young engineer. The company had no future unless it could attract and keep men like him. Manley rubbed his forehead (前额); his problems seemed endless. A Pay Rise or NotIf George took the job in Birmingham, he would have to leave his family at Wyeford.