The Cherry Trap

Summary

At the year-end company meeting, I was announcing the bonuses when a new employee suddenly raised her hand.

"Over at the other company, they handed out two boxes of imported cherries at their annual party," she said, shaking her phone. "And we only get performance bonuses?"

The video, maliciously edited, went viral online and hit the trending list the very next day.

I had the finance department cancel all the year-end bonus transfers.

"If cherries are what really count as a gesture of goodwill," I said, "then this year's year-end benefit will be cherries—fifty boxes per person."