Microinsurance

Monday at Noon

Alan punched in his code above the door handle, heard a faint click, and opened the door with the "Employees Only" sign. He left the showroom and headed up a staircase to the second floor of Big Al's Electronic Emporium. He passed a security room where a bored guard watched customers through one$-$way glass on the floor below.

"Any action today?" Alan asked him. The guard turned slowly, shook his head, and turned away. Alan passed two managers' offices and came to the break room, which also offered a view of the first floor through one$-$way glass.

"Kid!" Alan was enthusiastically greeted by a man in a plaid blazer. A gold name tag on his coat pocket read "Morty" in large capital letters and $"25$ years' service" in smaller letters below. "Siddown!" Morty patted the chair beside his, and Alan wandered over to it$.$ "How are ya$,$ kid?"

"Fine, Mr$.$ Johnson."

"Mortyl How many times do I have to tell you it's Morty?"

"Fine $...$ Morty."

"There you gol" Morty took a heroic bite of a ham sandwich. A small dab of mustard was left clinging to his lower lip."So$,$ kid. How's business today?"

"It's good, Mr$....$ Morty," Alan said. "I sold a refrigerator and two HDTVs this morning."

"Say, that's greatl How big?"

"The TVs$?$ Ah $...46$ inches."

"Not bad! What kind?"

"Sony."

"Sony!"

"Yeah.I think I$\text{'}$m starting to get the hang of this. One of the women told me that her friend bought a TV from me last week and that she ought to$..."$

"Yeah, referrals are great, kid," Morty interrupted. He trailed off and took another bite of his sandwich. Alan decided not to continue with his story and ate in silence.

"Hey, kid. Lemme ask you a question:"

$"$OK$,$ sure."

"How long do you want to work here?"

Alan paused and gave a quick glance at the $"25$ years" part of Morty's name tag. $"$Um $...$ well, I guess at least until I graduate. I$\text{'}$m a sophomore now. The money's pretty good, and it would be nice to take out smaller loans. I $..."$

"I was talking to Big Al about you a couple days ago." "You were?"

$"$Oh$,$ sure. Big Al and I have been tight from the beginning. I was the third person he ever hired, you know. We talk about everybody."

$44$

Ethics in the Workplace