Small Story 285.

Small Story 285: When Welfare is Respected Radhika took the metro train to reach her office at the Jayanagar stop. She works as an Administrative Manager at a private pharmaceutical distribution firm, which handles the distribution for leading pharma companies across the entire Karnataka state. With 50 employees under her supervision, Radhika plays a crucial role in the organization. Despite being provided with a car, Radhika prefers the metro, as it saves time and helps her avoid the heavy traffic. She stays in Judicial Layout and commutes from the Silk Institute metro station to the office. Her daughter, Shobha, is married and living in Singapore with her husband, Ram, who holds a senior position at Google. Radhika reached her office at 9:30 a.m. As she walked into her cabin, a few staff members were waiting for her. They handed her a memorandum requesting a salary increase, citing the rising cost of living. Radhika accepted the memorandum and assured them she would speak to the management. After lunch, Radhika knocked on the Managing Director’s door. Mr. Vittal, the MD, welcomed her warmly. She explained the staff’s request and presented the memorandum. Mr. Vittal smiled and said, “You are the best judge of our financials—how much profit we make and what raise is feasible.” Using her expertise as a gold medalist in Cost Accounting, Radhika proposed a uniform salary hike of ₹275 for all employees, stating that the company would still retain a reasonable profit margin. This increment would also help cover the annual staff bonuses. Impressed by her clarity and calculation, Mr. Vittal immediately approved the proposal and signed the document. He applauded her ability to balance both the employees’ welfare and the company’s interests. As a token of appreciation, he offered her a bonus of ₹1,000. Radhika humbly declined the full amount and agreed to ₹750, considering her senior position. The next day, she posted the announcement on the office noticeboard. The staff was overjoyed and deeply appreciated the management’s thoughtful decision. Radhika, too, felt a sense of satisfaction seeing their happiness. Her quiet wisdom shone through—when mutual respect exists between staff and management, problems rarely arise. She truly understands the secret: a good leader is both an expert and an empath. K.Ragavan 22-6-25