Chapter 399: Chapter 399: Understanding Difficulties
"I’ve seen it. Although we have positions on our side, if we really take in so many new workers, the existing employees at the factory will definitely have opinions."
Yara Reagan said seriously, pausing with a heavy tone, "I advise you to think it over. People nowadays worry more about unfairness than scarcity. If you bring over Vanreid’s people and offer them the same treatment as our factory’s employees, the old employees will surely be dissatisfied. And if you lower their treatment, do you think Vanreid’s people will agree?"
Evelyn Clayton had already considered this issue on her way here.
She furrowed her brows, contemplating as she took out a cigarette from her trench coat pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag.
Rhys Jacobs and Yara Reagan both waited patiently until Evelyn Clayton finally spoke in a deep voice after half a cigarette had burned down: "The treatment definitely can’t be the same, so we can only convince the Vanreid workers."
Evelyn Clayton handed the statistical report to Yara Reagan, "You and Rhys wait here for me. I’ll go inside and talk to them."
"Evelyn!" Yara Reagan was a little anxious, "Since it’s already come to this, why not just pay them a severance package and let them all go! Then we can take the receipt and sue John Jacobs. Let him deal with the remaining issues!"
Evelyn Clayton seemed not to hear and insisted on entering the factory building.
Sophia, the worker who had been waiting for a long time, stirred slightly when she walked in.
The man who was causing a commotion with a banner spoke first, "Director Clayton! What did you decide, are you going to dismiss us or what, just give us an answer!"
"Yeah, don’t keep us hanging!"
"I don’t want to be laid off. After the layoff, how will we support our families..."
Similar voices rose one after another, and Evelyn Clayton heard clearly that most of them didn’t want to leave.
Evelyn Clayton raised her hand, signaling them to be quiet.
She raised her voice, looking solemn: "Everyone, I just want to ask you one question. Do you want to leave with a moderate severance pay, or do you want to stay and continue working?"
"Of course, I want to work! At my age, which company would hire me?"
"How much severance pay can we get?"
The workers began to chatter again.
Evelyn Clayton took a deep breath and said loudly: "I now offer you two options: if you want to leave, register with my assistant, and I will pay you the severance package according to the terms of your contract; if you don’t want to leave, you will work in my factory from now on, and once the procedures at Vanreid are completed, you can return."
With these words, the workers visibly calmed down and started whispering discussions.
Evelyn Clayton gave them time, quietly waiting.
Soon, the man holding the banner hesitated and spoke, "Director Clayton, if we stay and go to your factory, will our benefits be the same as before?"
The man’s tone had become much calmer and more respectful, and Evelyn’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
This was exactly the effect she wanted.
As long as the workers’ emotions were calmed first, everything else would be easier to discuss.
She remained very calm and spoke sincerely: "I’m sorry, no, I can’t let your treatment be equivalent to that of the old employees in my factory; if I did, they would feel it unfair."
Agitation erupted instantly; some people started grumbling discontentedly.
The man with the banner also darkened his expression, "If that’s the case, what’s there to talk about?!"
"Exactly! Why are we treated as inferior?!"
Evelyn Clayton maintained a serious expression.
"This is not about being inferior! You shouldn’t underestimate yourselves. The fact is, I’m cleaning up John Jacobs’ mess right now, and I recognize the difficulties you face, that’s why I’m here to solve your unemployment issue! I said it, I could easily give up on this factory and just go after John Jacobs for accountability! But I can’t bear the thought of you losing your jobs; I also ask for your understanding of my predicament!"