The youngest guy there, Alonso, is fresh out of high school and this is his first job. He's super naive and crazy excited to be hired as a beverage porter. We all have to tell a bit about ourselves at the beginning of the day. Alonso's from an immigrant Mexican family (he arrived in the US at one year old) and tells us he's thrilled to have right-to-work status and he's going to stay focused on making the most of that opportunity. He has a natural smile any mother would smother-hug him for, and doesn't seem to have an ounce of guile or attitude.
During the walking tour of the premises, while the team trainer is showing us all the general points of interest we should be able to identify for the customers, Alonso asks the team trainer how many bars the place has. The trainer smiles and says, "focused on your job, huh?" - he goes on to say he's not certain, he'd estimate maybe 8 to 12 different bars but they could find out for sure later.
Throughout the day we learn about all the rules for employees (loads) and the benefits for full-timers (loads and generous), get fed in the company cafeteria (packed - great salad bar) and generally see a lot of slides and sign a lot of papers.
At the end of the day, The General Manager of the corporation and the VP come into the training room to speak to us. They're quite personable and refer to themselves by their first names. The GM leads a very relaxed Q & A about the company and its history and the focus on teamwork, saying if we do only two things: help our team members and help our customers, it will be noticed and we will succeed in our positions and our careers with the company.
This corporate situation is all new to me but I'm well aware that most companies will use those same words no matter how cut-throat the way they operate. Honestly, when I hear a company/employer use the word 'team' it usually puts me into cynic mode. I chose to apply for a job here, though, because every company person I'd encountered so far, as a customer and as a job-seeker, had actually behaved the way the posters dotted around the joint said they should.
So, anyway, after the General Manager finished talking with us, he turned it over to the VP, telling us she'd worked with the company for over 18 years and was also a member of the family that started the company and still owns and operates it. The VP told us she just wanted to be there to meet us and say hello and wish us all the best as new team members and then she asked if anyone had any questions for her.
After a beat, Alonso raised his hand. When the VP said 'Yes?' Alonso replied, "How many bars are there here?"
There was some light laughter from everybody, including the VP and GM. I cringed a wee bit for Alonso. After a second, the VP smiled and said, "Well, that's an interesting question for you to ask me." The Trainer called from the back, "Alonso is a new beverage porter." The VP responded, "Well then that's a perfect question for you to ask me, Alonso!" and turned to the GM and they both started working it out by naming and counting the bars on their fingers, smiling the whole time. When she gave Alonso the final tally, the VP smiled at him and said, "You look like you're raring to go." He grinned and sort of wriggled in his seat and said, "I am!".
Those two high-ups (as high-up as you can get around here really) met that moment with such easy-going grace that it left me feeling a bit 'Alonso' myself.
p.s. I get my first paycheck Friday 10th May. I may play before then but will definitely play that weekend!
