Reborn in the red age

"Chairman, I think that directly giving money to employees cannot unite the company's employees, nor can it make them feel a real sense of belonging to the company."

At the year-end meeting held in Huaxin Building, when Li Qingfeng proposed the plan to distribute money, Wang Lin, the human resources director transferred from the Hong Kong headquarters, looked at Li Qingfeng seriously and put forward his own opinions.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the conference room focused their attention on Wang Lin's face.

Facing everyone's gaze, Wang Lin had a confident smile on his face, his eyes locked on Li Qingfeng without moving.

Qingfeng Li leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the tabletop, and looked at Wang Lin with interest: "Oh? Tell me what you think."

"Chairman, I think giving money is only a short-term incentive and is easily forgotten by employees. We should organize more team-building activities. For example, we can use the budget for giving employees extra bonuses to rent some islands and resort hotels in Hainan, and hold a two-day grand team-building annual meeting. This will not only enhance the relationship between employees, but also let everyone feel the warmth of the company."

"In addition, in order to ensure that the annual team-building meeting does not affect the normal work of the company, my suggestion is to hold the annual meeting two days before the Spring Festival holiday."

“In the week before the Spring Festival holiday, we can work overtime on the weekend and move the original Saturday and Sunday to the Spring Festival holiday. In addition, we can use one of the employees’ Spring Festival holiday to ensure the complete implementation of the team-building activities.” Human Resources Director Wang Lin explained with sincerity and clarity.

Listening to the words of Wang Lin, the overseas returnee human resources director, Li Qingfeng couldn't help but frown.

Well, he is really a human resources director who doesn’t do personnel work.

Although Wang Lin’s starting point may be to enhance team cohesion, this plan does not take the employees’ perspective into consideration.

Employees come out to work for the money. Using the bonuses that should have been given to them to hold annual team-building parties is putting the cart before the horse.

Working overtime on weekends and taking up the Spring Festival holiday to hold an annual meeting is even more ridiculous.

Moreover, for Chinese people, the Spring Festival is the most important festival of the year and a sacred moment for family reunion.

These days are not like the past. People still have a strong sense of homesickness. Going home for the New Year is the thing that all employees look forward to most throughout the year. After being busy all year, everyone just hopes to spend more time with their families.

Wang Lin's plan undoubtedly touches the bottom line of grassroots employees.

The problem is that this obviously inhumane plan was actually recognized by many senior executives of the company.

"I think Director Wang's proposal has merit. Our company is too big. Let's not talk about the various branches. The domestic headquarters alone usually works independently and there are many problems in communication and collaboration. If this team building can effectively improve it, it will be of great benefit to the company's future development. As for the holiday arrangements, it will be a bit hard for everyone, but we can get through it with a little bit of grit."

"Yes, in the long run, team cohesion will be improved, and work efficiency will also increase. Before the Spring Festival, everyone can have fun together and spend a vacation, which can be regarded as a perfect end to the year."

Looking at these executives who spoke in agreement, Qingfeng Li felt somewhat disappointed.

Sure enough, when the position is too high, you can’t see below.

You are paid the highest salary in the country, and have wives and children to support you every day. How can you understand the feelings of grassroots employees who look forward to going home for the Spring Festival reunion all year round?

Li Qingfeng's eyes slowly swept over the executives in the conference room, and his expression gradually became serious.

“Everyone,” Li Qingfeng’s voice came out, and the conference room, which was bustling just now, suddenly became quiet.

Looking at the crowd of people looking at him, Qingfeng Li's voice sounded faintly: "What has enabled our company to reach its current size? It is the hard work of every employee, especially those grassroots employees who work hard on the front line. I hope that when you sit in this spacious and bright conference room and discuss development and strategy, don't forget the foundation of the company."

For those who can sit in this position, observing people's words and expressions and changing course according to the situation are basic skills.

When Li Qingfeng's words showed dissatisfaction, someone immediately jumped out to agree: "Dear colleagues, I have worked my way up from the grassroots level. I know what frontline workers think. Our frontline workers all come from all corners of the country and leave their hometowns to work. They just hope to spend the New Year with their families."

"Yes, for grassroots employees, the Spring Festival holiday is not just a simple rest time. It is a precious time to reunite with their families after a year of hard work. If our company occupies this time, they will feel uncomfortable even if they don't say it on the surface."

Wang Lin, who made this suggestion, saw the wind direction in the conference room change instantly, and a look of uneasiness suddenly appeared on his face.

I know that my proposal has displeased the chairman, and what I just said was a warning to myself.

Just as he was about to open his mouth to defend himself, he saw Li Qingfeng waving his hand: "Director Wang, I understand your original intention of wanting to improve team cohesion through team building, but we cannot only make decisions from the perspective of managers, sometimes we also have to look at it from the perspective of grassroots employees."

"Chairman, I understand. I was not thoughtful enough to fully weigh the pros and cons and neglected the needs of grassroots employees." Wang Lin lowered his head slightly and quickly apologized.

"Well, this is indeed your problem. You should pay attention to it next time. Also, your suggestion can still be used, but not all of it. You can only use half of it."

"Half of what you said?"

"Extra bonuses should still be given out, and an annual meeting can also be held. It seems that our company has not held a large-scale annual meeting since its establishment."

As for large-scale annual meetings, Qingfeng Li seldom goes to Hong Kong that often, and the company has sizable branches all over the world.

Therefore, it has never been held. Each branch has held its own event independently.

It is unrealistic for Lemon Company to hold a large-scale annual meeting, but mainland enterprises can hold one.

It is possible for Huaxin, Feichi Automobile, Satellite Company and the domestic branch of Lemon Company to get together and hold an annual meeting of unprecedented scale.

The scale of domestic enterprises has been growing rapidly in recent years. Not to mention the middle-level managers, even the few senior managers in many places have never seen Li Qingfeng.

Li Qingfeng needed to show his face in front of those middle and senior management who had recently joined and get closer to them.

Thinking of this, Li Qingfeng turned to look at He Guangqin and asked, "Secretary He, if all the companies under Lemon Company in the mainland hold an annual meeting in the capital together, how long will it take to prepare?"

As Qingfeng Li's chief secretary, He Guangqin was undoubtedly qualified. Even if he was not prepared in advance, he could answer Qingfeng Li's questions right away.

"It is definitely not possible for all employees to gather together. Huaxin is fine as they are all in the capital, so there is no big problem. However, our Lemon Company has more than 4,000 employees in the mainland, and 60% of them are scattered across the country. Feichi Enterprise has also entered a period of development in the past two years, and the number of employees has increased sharply to nearly 20,000. It is still difficult for these people to come to Beijing at the same time, and there is no such large venue." Having said that, He Guangqin paused and continued, "If only the middle and senior management of each company and some outstanding employee representatives come to attend the meeting, plus local employees, it is estimated that there will be about 6,000 people. For the venue, you can consider the Capital International Convention Center. The venue there is large enough and the facilities are relatively complete. It will definitely be possible before the holiday."

"Okay, let's put it this way. The annual meetings planned by each branch this year will be cancelled. All middle and senior management and outstanding employee representatives will come to the capital to attend the annual meeting. For grassroots employees who cannot come, in addition to their year-end bonuses, each will receive an additional welfare bonus of 1,000 yuan."

"Ok"

At the following year-end meeting, the preparations for the annual meeting were not mentioned again. The top management only decides whether to hold the annual meeting and how to hold it. The people who do the work are the grassroots employees below, so how can they talk about it all the time in the meeting?

At the following year-end meeting, in addition to determining the company's strategic development for the next year, Li Qingfeng also decided to increase salaries for all employees.

Starting in 1997, all companies under Lemon Company received a % salary increase for lower-level management and front-line employees, and a % salary increase for middle and senior management.

This policy received a warm response from all participants, and thunderous applause instantly broke out in the conference room.

How much is the total salary of grassroots employees? It’s just that much money a month, and a 10% salary increase is not a big amount.

Even if the annual salary increase for these executives is only 5%, the absolute increase is much higher than that of front-line employees.

The year-end meeting had just ended, and the news that the company would hold a collective annual meeting this year began to spread rapidly through the radio waves.

In just two days, the decision made by Qingfeng Li at the meeting reached everyone's ears.

The enthusiasm of grassroots employees is unprecedentedly high. They are willing to work overtime to do their jobs, hoping to be elected as employee representatives.

This time we went to the capital to attend the annual meeting. We stayed in star-rated hotels, ate luxurious meals, and there was a lottery at the annual meeting. The minimum prize for a single person was 10,000 yuan.

Only a fool would be unwilling to go for such a good thing.

"Teacher Li, I saw the report about the preparations for the annual meeting. The logistics department plans to invite two song and dance troupes and some celebrities to sing and dance at our annual meeting. What do you think?"

Listening to He Guangqin's request, Li Qingfeng raised his eyebrows and said unhappily: "Why invite celebrities and dance troupes? There are so many girls in our company, can't we find a few talented employees to perform?"

He Guangqin was speechless for a moment; he didn't expect Li Qingfeng to react like this.

After a long while, he finally said, "Ah, this. Our company's employees are very interested in inviting the song and dance troupe to attend the annual meeting. The internal voting data ranks first."

"Internal voting? What does that mean?"

"It's a small program made by the technical department," He Guangqin explained quickly, "employees can vote on various proposals for the annual meeting. Everyone is very enthusiastic about inviting a song and dance troupe, especially male employees."

After a moment's silence, Qingfeng Li spoke up and said, "Reject the dance troupe. The annual meeting is a grand event for the company. Why invite outsiders? All the performances at the annual meeting will be performed by our employees. In this way, I will take the lead and start the first performance at the annual meeting."

"Ah? You want to perform?" He Guangqin widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

In his perception, Chairman Li Qingfeng has always been an image of a Confucian businessman who is able to plan and control the overall situation. It is really hard to imagine what the scene would be like when he stands on the stage and performs.

Qingfeng Li smiled slightly: "Yes, since we want the employees to actively participate, I, as the chairman, cannot stay out of it."

"So what kind of performance are you going to perform?" He Guangqin asked, his jaw dropped in shock.

"Get me a rock band, I want to sing "Nothing" at the annual meeting"

"."

"By the way, the rock band should also be selected from within our company. Find some high-level ones. I will shock the whole audience. In addition, I will also say hello to those executives and ask them to perform a show as well."

"good"

Before the end of the get off work day, a solicitation post appeared on the internal tire of Lemon Company regarding the annual meeting.

The title is eye-catching and enthusiastic: "The chairman invites you to the annual meeting stage, and rock band members are being recruited!"

As soon as the post was released, it exploded instantly, and replies poured in like a tide. In just a few minutes, there were hundreds of replies.

Not only employees of the mainland branch, but also employees in the headquarters, Japan and South Korea have paid attention to this news.

Without exception, all the replies were full of praise and flattery, as well as people wanting to team up with Qingfeng Li. After all, the internal forum was a real-name system, and everyone's position information in the company was clearly displayed on it.
Just when all the employees of Lemon Company were frantically flattering Qingfeng Li in the post, a reply appeared, and the originally lively and one-sided comment section suddenly became quiet.

"Who? Li Qingfeng wants to sing? What's he thinking? Doesn't he know that his singing is out of tune? How dare he go on stage and sing?"

The account that made this comment does not have any job information or introduction, and its avatar is the system default gray color. Only an ID nickname called 'Hu Jiabao' can be seen.

The comment section was silent for less than two seconds before a new round of heated discussions surged in.

"The chairman put aside his busy schedule to personally participate in the preparations for this annual meeting, but you are here to make sarcastic remarks. What qualifications do you have to question the chairman's courage? Which department are you from? Who is your leader?"

"I don't know which company you work for, but based on your unfounded slander, I know you are an irresponsible person. You said the chairman sang out of tune, have you ever heard it? You don't even have a chance to carry the chairman's shoes, yet you are speaking nonsense here."

"Bah, what the hell, how could I get a bug like you from cracking sunflower seeds?"

"That's right, what kind of person is this? How dare he insult the chairman and the people in the technical department? Check the information of this idiot."

Hu Jiabao got off work from the hospital early today and went home. He was browsing the forum in his study. When he saw the reply to his message, his face suddenly turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. (End of this chapter)