Imagine ten employees lined up in a row in alphabetical order by last name. You are their boss and at the end of every week you hand out vouchers to each one. The vouchers can be traded in for extra money or extra hours off work or various other tokens of appreciation for a week’s work well done.
With your little basket of vouchers in hand you start the ceremony. “Here’s one for you and one for you and one for you ” you say as you move down the line. Until you get to the last person in line. To this employee you say “Sorry I’ve run out. Maybe next time.”
The same scene repeats itself the next week however and the week after that and every week for months on end. The last person in line — Mrs. Zee — never receives a voucher.
The first time it happens Mrs. Zee is surprised but still optimistic. Perhaps she’ll receive double next week. After a while however she catches on. She’s never going to get her turn. Surprise turns to resentment and resentment turns to rage. One day quiet patient restrained Mrs. Zee grabs a weapon and holds it to your throat: “Give me my vouchers or I’m going to hurt you!” she screams at the top of her lungs.
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