Part 9: Navigating Employee Financial Stress – Pushback and Doubts
Chapter 9: Pushback and Doubts
Before you start, have you read the previous chapters?
Chapter 1: The First Signs of Trouble
Chapter 2: A Tough Meeting with Leadership
Chapter 3: A Heart-to-Heart with Employees
Chapter 4: A Personal Reflection
Chapter 5: The Breaking Point – A Key Employee Resigns
Chapter 6: Shareholder Pressure Increases
Chapter 7: Implementing the First Changes
Chapter 8: Early Signs of Improvement
The initial excitement of our new programs had started to wear off, and now came the harder part, keeping it going despite the resistance.
I sat in my office, listening as Robert, one of our shareholders, voiced his concerns over the phone.
“The latest reports show marginal improvement,” he said, his tone sharp. “We’re still not back to pre-slump productivity, and expenses are creeping up. How do you justify this experiment?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, forcing myself to stay calm. “Robert, we knew this wouldn’t be an overnight fix. But absenteeism has stopped climbing, turnover is slowing, and morale is improving. These are leading indicators of better long-term performance.”
He sighed. “The board isn’t convinced. They want to see faster results. If this doesn’t start reflecting positively on the bottom line soon, we need to reconsider.”
After the call, I sat back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.
Doubt crept in.
Had I made the right call? Were these programs just a temporary bandage instead of a real solution?
I didn’t have long to dwell on it before Lisa walked in. “Hey, you okay?”
“Just some shareholder concerns,” I admitted. “They don’t think we’re moving fast enough.”
She rolled her eyes. “Typical.” Then, she handed me a small note. “Read this.”
I unfolded it.
“Thank you for giving us a reason to stay.”
No name. Just those words.
I exhaled, feeling some of the weight on my shoulders lift.
“Some people do see the change,” Lisa said. “It’s working. It just needs time.”
I nodded, my resolve strengthening.
I wasn’t going to back down.
Not now.
Employees are more stressed than ever. This already has or will negatively impact your numbers. We have something that will help. Check out our digital financial wellness platform, WISE Pocket of Money and our financial wellness speaking option.
Stay tuned for the next chapter to see what this CEO does next. Chapter ten is coming up.
Responses