Señor Payroll

Señor Payroll by William E. Barrett

Summary:

"Señor Payroll" by William E. Barrett illustrates the humorous yet poignant tale of bureaucratic rigidity clashing with the resourcefulness of a group of Mexican stokers in a gas plant. Larry and the narrator, both junior engineers, find themselves managing paperwork and payroll, which brings them into direct contact with the Mexican laborers, whom they dub "Señor Payroll."

The story unfolds as the company implements strict rules regarding payroll advances, only paying employees on the fifth and twentieth of the month. Initially, the stokers adapt by creating "genuine emergencies" to receive advances. However, when the company tightens regulations, forbidding advances altogether except in cases of resignation, the stokers find a clever loophole. They resign and reapply under different names, causing chaos in the paperwork and forcing the company to relent.

Ultimately, the engineers, tired of the absurdity and bureaucracy, appeal to the superintendent, who sees the folly in the situation and removes the restrictive orders. From then on, the stokers are allowed to use whatever names they please, and the company avoids unnecessary complications.

The story highlights the resilience and ingenuity of the workers in navigating arbitrary rules and bureaucratic hurdles. It also emphasizes the human aspect of labor relations, as the engineers develop a mutual understanding and respect with the stokers, realizing the futility of rigid policies in the face of practical realities.

Adaptibility Skills:

The story "Señor Payroll" by William E. Barrett prominently showcases the theme of adaptability skills, particularly in the context of navigating bureaucratic challenges and workplace dynamics.

Throughout the narrative, the Mexican stokers at the gas plant demonstrate remarkable adaptability in response to changing circumstances and rigid company policies. When faced with new rules restricting wage advances, the stokers quickly adapt their strategies, spreading the word among themselves and fabricating "genuine emergencies" to access their wages. This demonstrates their ability to think on their feet, improvise solutions, and adapt to unexpected obstacles in order to meet their immediate needs.

Moreover, the stokers display adaptability by leveraging their collective strength and solidarity to challenge the company's authority. They unite to protest against the restrictive policies, ultimately forcing management to make concessions and adjust their approach. This ability to organize and adapt their tactics underscores their resilience and determination to assert their rights in the face of adversity.

On the other hand, the junior engineers, representing the company's bureaucratic apparatus, also exhibit a degree of adaptability as they grapple with the unintended consequences of their decisions. Initially enforcing strict rules, they find themselves overwhelmed by the stokers' persistence and are forced to adjust their approach in response to the evolving situation.

Thus, "Señor Payroll" highlights the importance of adaptability skills in navigating complex and dynamic environments, whether in the workplace or broader societal contexts. It emphasizes the need for individuals to be flexible, resourceful, and responsive to change in order to effectively address challenges and achieve their goals.

Question – Answers (One line)

1. What is the job responsibility of the two junior engineers?

The job responsibility of the two junior engineers is to manage paperwork and payroll at the gas plant.

2. What system of wage payment does the Company have?

The Company pays its employees twice a month, on the fifth and twentieth.

3. Why did the company issue the first memo?

The company issued the first memo due to abuses of the advance-against-wages privilege and to tighten regulations.

4. Why did they start resigning?

The stokers started resigning to circumvent the company's strict rules on payroll advances and reapply under different names to receive payments.

5. What did the company finally do?

The company removed the restrictive orders and allowed the stokers to use whatever names they pleased when rehiring, eliminating bureaucratic complications.

6. Who benefited when the conflict was resolved?

Both the company and the stokers benefited when the conflict was resolved, as it led to a more practical and flexible approach to payroll management.

Short Questions and Answers:

1. What is the job responsibility of the two engineers?

The two engineers did all the paper work of the gas plant and worked liked clerks. They were responsible to do the payroll work of all the employees and hence are called Senor Payroll. The two engineers were responsible to put into effect all the orders that came from the main office downtown. To the Mexican workers they were paymasters.

2. What qualities do the stokers have that make them indispensable to the company?

The stokers were Mexicans who were considered great workmen. The aristocrats among the Mexicans were the stokers. They were big men who worked Herculean eight-hour shifts in the fierce heat of the retorts. They scooped coal with huge shovels and hurled it with uncanny aim at the tiny doors. The stokers worked stripped to the waist, and there was pride and dignity in them. Few men could do such a hard and risky work and that’s the reason that makes them indispensable to the company.

3. What system of wage payment does the company have?

The company followed a bimonthly wage system. They paid salary two times in a month once on 5th and next on 20th of every month.

4. Why did the company issue the first memo?

The company issues the first memo as there had been too many abuses of the advance payout wages. So to prevent such abuses of the advance payout the company issued the first memo.

5. Why did the stokers start to make excuses?

The stokers started to make excuses because the company had stopped giving the advances and had come up with a new rule/order that no worker will get advance and advance will be given only If there is medical emergency at home. So to get advance the Mexican workers began to make different excuses of medical emergency.

6. Why did they start resigning?

They started to resign because as per the second order/rule issued by the company employee would get advance only when he resigns from the company. So to get advance money the workers started to resign as they had no ther option or choice due to the strict rules/orders of the main office.

7. Why did they start assuming new name?

The Mexican workers started to assume new names because the  company had issues a order that a employee cannot rejoin the company before 30 days after leaving the job. Since the workers didn’t have any job and had to work, they assumed a new name to rejoin the work. 

8. What did the company finally do?

The company finally took back all the orders they had issued. They accepted that they could not win over the Mexican workers and new rules were not helping them but creating a chaos in the company environment. The company accepted their defeat and rolled backed all the orders.

9. Why did a situation of conflict arise?

The situation of conflict arose as the company wanted to rule over the workers. They wanted that the workers should obey and follow all the orders given by top management of the company. In doing so, that ignored the needs and difficulties of the Mexican workers. They could not understand the Mexican workers needed money every 3rd or 4th day of the work and so the workers tactfully found ways to get the money bypassing the orders of the company. So a situation of conflict arouse between the workers and company.

10. Who benefitted when the conflict was resolved?

The conflict between the workers and the management gets resolved when the junior engineers meet the superintendent to apprise him of the real situation The workers and the company both were benefitted when the conflict was resolved. The workers no longer needed to give fake reasons, or names to get advance payout money. Also the company’s work would go on smoothly without any hassle. Thus both the parties were benefitted.

11. In light of the story ‘Senor Payroll’ explain the adaptability skills?

In the light of the story we can say that the workers, management and junior engineers adapted themselves and this helped to resolve the conflict.  The narrator and the Larry both were good at managing Mexican stokers and the management of the company. The junior engineer understands the problems and difficulties of the workers that they need to get advance every 3rd or 4th day. The management makes new rules so that they could change the situation and keep the workers under their orders. However Larry and narrator are exceptions and help the workers. The workers in order to get advance invent new excuses to deal with each new rule/order issues by the company.

If the workers and the company did not adapt themselves they could face problems and be at loss. So the need of adaptability is seen from both the sides and at the end we see they adapt themselves to the situation. The Mexican workers portrayed their adaptability skills to handle all the difficult situations. The determination and patience of these workers is admirable. The company accepted the defeat adapted and accepted the workers as they needed workers to run the gas plant for profit. So both company and workers adapted themselves to the changing circumstances. So we learn in the story that adaptability skills is needed and required in life.

Short Notes:

Issue of Payroll Regulations and Worker Behavior

Introduction: In the story "Señor Payroll" by William E. Barrett, the gas plant faces a significant issue regarding payroll regulations and the behavior of its workers, particularly the Mexican stokers. The company's strict policies on payroll advances and payment dates clash with the workers' need for more flexible access to their wages.

Conflict Escalation: Initially, the company issues a memorandum restricting payroll advances, leading the stokers to devise creative ways to obtain their wages, including fabricating emergencies. As the company tightens regulations further, the workers resort to repeatedly resigning and reapplying under different names to circumvent the rules, causing chaos in the payroll system.

Resolution: Ultimately, the engineers managing the paperwork appeal to the superintendent, who recognizes the impracticality of the strict regulations. The company removes the restrictive orders and allows the stokers to use whatever names they please when rehiring. This resolution eliminates the bureaucratic complications and restores harmony in the payroll system.

Conclusion: Through a combination of worker ingenuity and managerial pragmatism, the issue of payroll regulations is effectively addressed. The resolution highlights the importance of flexibility and understanding in labor relations, ultimately benefiting both the company and its workers.