‘Complaints? From clients?’
‘Yes, but not only clients. Sarah, this may be hard for you to hear, but your co-workers find you very difficult to work with.’
‘What?’ Sarah wracked her brain for what she could’ve done wrong. She avoided talking to colleagues at all costs. How was that ground for complaint?
‘As you know, here at Weatherwear, we like to foster a positive working environment, taking care to protect not just the physical, but also mental wellbeing of our staff.’
God, thought Sarah,this woman’s so good at spouting nonsense she should pound the streets selling crappy windows herself.
‘Is any of this ringing true for you, Sarah? I’m hoping we’re on the same page here?’
‘Sorry, Mel, but I don’t think we are. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Just because I don’t like to socialise with colleagues doesn’t mean I’m difficult to work with.’
Mel scrunched up her face, her fingers drumming against her desk as she sought the words she needed. ‘This is about your attitude, Sarah. Your colleagues feel you view yourself as superior.’
Sarah laughed. ‘Superior? Superior to window fitters with five GCSEs between them? Hell yes, I feel superior.’
Mel sighed. ‘This is just the attitude I was talking about. Those men you talk so disparagingly about are the backbone of this company. Your snide remarks and aloof attitude are causing disharmony within the company and I’m afraid I can’t allow it to go on a moment longer.’
‘What about the way they talk to me? I’m assuming you’ve heard the names they call me?’
Mel had the good grace to blush. ‘That’s a fair point, but there are also the clients.’
‘What about the clients?’
Mel cleared her throat.
‘You said there’d been complaints from clients?’
‘Yes, several have commented on the abrasive nature of their interactions with you. Some have said you seem unwilling to problem-solve, that your communication style often verges on rude.’
Sarah laughed again, which was not the reaction Mel was hoping for. ‘So what is this? A warning? A slap on the wrist? Am I going to be sent on some training course in the arse-end of nowhere?’
‘I’m afraid it’s not that simple. You may not be aware, but the double glazing market isn’t what it once was. We’re having to make cutbacks, streamline staffing, that sort of thing.’
‘You’re sacking me?’ The room spun. This couldn’t be happening. Not the day after her family life had imploded.
‘I’m not sacking you. I’m offering you a very competitive redundancy package. You’ll stay on at the company long enough to find a new job, and we’ll offer you three months’ salary at the time you leave.’
Sarah felt her chest tighten, her breaths coming too shallow, too fast. Desperate to leave the claustrophobic office, Sarah stood, pushing back her chair with such force it fell to the ground. ‘How about this, Mel? Why don’t you shove your crappy job where the sun doesn’t shine?’
Mel’s mouth dropped open and Sarah stormed from the room, grabbing her coat and bag from behind reception and ignoring the curious glances of Miriam and Cathy. It was only as she stormed out of the building and down the street that tears fell.
Chapter 6
Sarahsatonaconcrete bench in a concrete square surrounded by concrete buildings, eating a sausage roll. It was only midday and too early to go home. No way could she burden Cynthia with the news that she’d lost her job. An awful realisation flooded Sarah, and she swallowed down the overcooked pastry to avoid it coming back up. She had resigned. She had resigned and, in doing so, missed out on the chance of a redundancy payment.
At least you can hold your head high, she told herself. But pride would not pay the bills. She already struggled to pay the amount Cynthia demanded in rent. Now she would have no income for God knows how long. What would she do? Her business studies degree wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on. She stood zero chance of getting a good reference from the company she’d been with since leaving university. She was screwed.
Sarah pulled the balled tissue from her pocket and wiped her eyes. She would need to compose herself before heading home to Cynthia. Her mother would spot the red-rimmed eyes a mile off and demand to know what was wrong. A sudden longing to call her father caused more tears to spring to Sarah’s eyes.
‘You all right, dear?’
Sarah looked up in surprise as an old lady creaked down beside her on the bench.
‘Um, yes, fine. And you?’ Sarah groaned at breaking one of her own rules.Never engage strangers in conversation.
‘Can’t complain. Just need to take the weight off these useless legs of mine.’
