Merry Christmas

Consulting Log of DVD Consulting Group

January – December, 1843

Client Name:   xxxxxxxxx (redacted) known only as “E.S.”

JANUARY:

E.S. came in for his meeting unusually optimistic about the coming year.   He is pleased with some recent sharp reductions in his overhead costs:

·        Cut his utility bills in half by using only half of one log on the office fireplace for the whole winter, requiring employees to wear their winter coats all day;

·        Dismissed two administrative employees on December 25 of last year, reasoning that their salaries could be better used to invest in more real estate ventures;

We counseled E.S. that cutting overhead too sharply could lead to operational failures that would undermine the intended increase to the bottom-line.   He seemed unmoved by the comment and determined to move ahead as-is.

FEBRUARY:

E.S. was his usual agitated self this month.   Employee absence has been a bit of an issue.   E.S. blames it on what people are calling this new “Victorian” generation, with their increasingly liberal ideas and disregard for traditional work ethic.   Profits for January were down, and cash flow especially weak as the collections department had the most absences.   We suggested instituting somewhat more flexible work hours and employee engagement.    E.S. grumbled about it but agreed to consider the idea.

MARCH:

E.S. brought his Operations Manager, “Bob”, to the meeting this month.   We wanted Bob’s input on employee performance and morale.   Discussion centered on two big ideas:   better health benefits and the implementation of a profit-sharing plan.   E.S. doesn’t like the costs, but Bob was excited.  We called in a benefits expert who showed E.S. that, for a relatively small contribution to each employee’s retirement account, he (E.S.) as highest-paid employee would be able to put away significant amounts for his own retirement.   He warmed up to the idea.

APRIL:

E.S. hates tax season.   He complained bitterly about having to fork over 47 pounds and eight shillings to the Crown, even though we showed him that our tax plan from last December predicted that number almost exactly.    He did admit that, yes, at least there are no surprises.     

MAY:

E.S. is not happy at all about the recently Family Leave law just passed by Parliament.

JUNE:

JULY:

The Queen finally made good on her promise to ram a minimum-wage increase through Parliament.