Leading from the Brink

On an early November evening, the weather had begun its shift to the wrong side of the thermometer. Our prior attempts to hire for this position had come up short. We had been through dozens of applications, toured multiple facilities and been outbid by a couple of other employers where we felt we had found our dream candidate. Our search committee had grown weary, like we had been looking at the same type of candidates, with the same type of experience, and the same background. We were about to put our search on hold when our HR Manager stumbled upon a pair of dark horse candidates.

What made these candidates different was their penchant for survival. A few weeks earlier they were scheduled for execution simply because their previous employer felt they were disposable. Fortunately, a recruiter one province over felt otherwise. How often have candidates been overlooked simply because they weren’t the “right cultural fit”? At a time where the job market was struggling to keep pace with the volume of employees, companies were looking for the strongest candidates with complimentary pedigree.

As we all know, searching for employment can have devastating consequences on our mental health. It takes an emotional and psychological toll to be repeatedly rejected only to have to press on despite limited success. Even earning an interview isn’t guaranteed, yet somehow these two persevered. How many interviews did they have to endure? They were only a couple of weeks removed from the roulette wheel of death. Yet here they were… survivors. Fighting for their next opportunity. A fight that would soon reward one of them.

Given our needs at the time, we were forced to conduct a group interview with the pair, a daunting task even for the most experienced candidates, yet these two hadn’t even reached adulthood. But they had promise. What they lacked in experience, they made up for in tenacity. Well at least one of them.

We watched as she stalked around, eyeing us with curiosity as we gathered our first impressions. He laid there, lethargic and largely oblivious to our presence. Nope, not oblivious, just asleep. For one of the most important moments in this young cat’s life, the guy was asleep. Not a great start.

It wasn’t until we opened the enclosure that he lazily roused himself to attention. We reached in to test the waters. She was demure and affectionate, presenting a calm and composed personality, one that could welcome clients and possibly mentor young coworkers. He tried to take my hand, instantly attacking with kitten teeth and claws. This little guy had spirit and now he also had a job.

The kitten formerly known as Zorro acclimated as well as one could expect to new surroundings. Unfamiliar smells, unfamiliar food, unfamiliar employers and for a couple of days, the cat didn’t even have a name. As his employers we were as unprepared as he was. Each of us tested the boundaries of what was and wasn’t acceptable behaviour.

And then the unexpected costs of training a new employee entered the equation, a lesson we learned the hard way. Prior to his hiring, we were informed by the employment agency that we would be inheriting a short term insurance policy to protect us and him against any productivity loss during his onboarding process. Unfortunately, for all parties involved, we neglected our duties as an employer to provide appropriate protections for the business. Wouldn’t you know it, a day after the policy lapsed, during the waiting period for a new permanent policy to come into effect, Onyx, as he was now known, became gravely ill.

We filed a claim on his behalf for worker’s compensation. Unfortunately the claim was denied because it was deemed that Onyx had a pre-existing condition and struggled for three years with a gastrointestinal condition. Finally, management adapted and introduced gluten free and shrimp free options in the cafeteria, resolving primary causes of Onyx’s digestive issues.

With his dietary concerns solved, Onyx blossomed into the employee we always knew he could be. He demonstrated persistent intelligence, cost efficiency, product innovation and development, and the required emotional intelligence to manage up. He has developed the insight for targeted defiance when he doesn’t agree with management’s position and has developed the foresight to drive the company founders forward in a new entrepreneurial fashion.

Without Onyx’s influence, it’s quite possible that our company would have been among the 95% of startups that fail. His positive disposition, budgetary creativity, and ability to balance work and play has established him as an emerging leader within the company. We are fortunate to have found such a dedicated young talent and that is why we have nominated Onyx for EmPawyee of the Month.