The Efficiency Company – First and Second Strike Warnings

Scene: The CEO, Kadija Nilea, is in her office reviewing emails when she comes across a second violation from an employee. Ava Sterling, the company’s Senior Operations Manager, and James Carter, the Head of Compliance, are also present as the offending employee, Alex, is called in.

Alex enters the office, looking slightly nervous.

Alex: You wanted to see me?

Kadija: Yes, Alex. Close the door and take a seat.

Alex sits down. Kadija slides a printed email across the desk without a word.

Alex: …What’s this?

Kadija: Read it out loud.

Alex: “Good morning, I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to follow up on the report we discussed…”

Kadija leans back, arms crossed, while Ava and James exchange unimpressed glances.

Kadija: What the hell is this?

Alex (nervously): Uh… an email?

James: It’s a violation.

Ava: A blatant violation.

Kadija: Oh no, Alex. This isn’t just an email. This is an offense against efficiency. A slap in the face to streamlined operations. You’ve read the company policy. What’s Rule #3?

Alex: …No pleasantries in emails.

Kadija: Exactly. Yet, here you are, wasting valuable company resources on words that do nothing.

Alex: I was just trying to be polite.

Kadija: Polite? Is politeness increasing our revenue? Is politeness driving efficiency? Is politeness preventing profit loss?

Alex: …No.

Kadija: Let’s break this down so you understand exactly what you’ve done.

1. You wasted your own energy typing out meaningless fluff.

2. You forced the recipient into a situation where, if they’re insecure, they’ll feel obligated to respond with their own unnecessary pleasantries, wasting even more time.

3. Company electricity? Drained while you sat there typing this nonsense.

4. Office heating, rent, and general operational costs? Increased because interactions like these extend unnecessary engagement.

5. And most ridiculous of all—

6. You put yourself one step closer to carpal tunnel syndrome for nothing.

A beat of silence. Ava smirks, shaking her head.

Alex: I—I didn’t realize it was that serious.

Kadija: Oh, it’s serious. Let me put it this way: You want to know what’s not a waste of time? An efficient email. You could have written:

“Following up on our discussion. Do you have the report ready?”

Boom. Done in less than five seconds. No fluff. No filler. No keyboard strokes wasted. Straight to the point.

James: And this is your second strike. You have one more warning. After that?

Ava: You’re gone.

Kadija: Out. Done. Fired. Permanently removed. You’ll be out there looking for a new job where you can waste all the pleasantries you want—on your own damn time.

Alex: I understand. It won’t happen again.

Kadija: It better not. You may go.

Alex quickly stands up and leaves the office. The door shuts behind him. Ava leans back in her chair, shaking her head.

Ava: Carpal tunnel for “good morning.” Can you imagine?

James: That’s what happens when people type without thinking.

Kadija: And that’s exactly why this company operates at maximum efficiency. No fluff. No nonsense. Just results.

The scene ends as they return to work, ensuring every single second is spent on actual work.