When your boss says 'we are like family' but the salary says otherwise

My director called a meeting yesterday. He stood in front of us with that serious face, the one they use when they want to say something that sounds important but means nothing. He said, 'This organisation is a family. We eat together, we suffer together, we grow together.'

I looked around the room. The air conditioner has been broken since February. The generator runs on our personal contributions. And my colleague, Fatima, has been acting as head of department for eight months without the title or the pay. I just nodded and smiled.

Later that day, I saw the budget for his end-of-year retreat. Let me just say, the amount they set aside for that one weekend could pay three staff salaries for a full quarter. Family ke. In my father's house, if you are family, you share what you have. But in this office, family means you endure while the father enjoys. Interesting definition.