Friday, July 11, 2025

Not So Jolly

In the local news today, a story about the Jollibean franchise being in financial trouble, it seems. Some employees haven't been paid their salaries for some months, and outlets are suddenly closing without warning, leaving the staff involved high and dry. Sadly looks like there is some possibility the workers are not going to get remunerated for their recent labour. Reminded me of Ted Heath's long-ago and faraway comments regarding 'the ugly face of capitalism'. All this in stark contrast to the fact that Jollibean always seemed to me to be doing well, with no shortage of customers.

I'm afraid this sort of thing is by no means unknown in this part of the world. One of Noi's family in Melaka was suddenly 'terminated' by his employers (a school) a year or so ago without receiving payment for the final months he worked for them. Unfortunately the bad guys were lawyered up and he wasn't and isn't. What to do? as they say.

Made me realise my own good fortune in never having had to deal with this kind of rip-off from any of my many employers since I was fifteen. Even when working weekends for Manchester Contract Cleaners, not exactly the most reputable company in the north of England, I got the cash without question.

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