Disciplinary Report 1020.109

Report Written by: Service Rooster Ivy Ross

Date: 16 Oct 2020

Employee Concerned: Phillip Graham

Employee Position: Service Chicken

Employed Since: 20 Sep 2020

Disciplinary Action(s): 31 days in a Recreation Room

Infraction(s): Absence without Leave, Accomplice in the Unlawful Assembly of Employees

Report (Managers are to submit as many details as necessary, including but not limited to: Date and Time of events, a play-by-play Account, Audio Transcripts, and Photographs.)

On 16 Oct 2020, at around 7.20am, Phillip was in the men's changing room with another two employees preparing for their 8.00am shift. Another employee entered the room, starting a discussion about organizing a strike taking place the same day. Phillip then left the room and went back to the dorms, skipping out on his shift. In addition, he did not report this incident to me or the on-site Specialist.

At 8.01am on the same day, I was informed by Specialist Susan Spencer of the above mentioned discussion and that the attempted strike was swiftly suppressed before it started. She instructed me to question Zack, Mason, Charlie, and Phillip and sent me a recording of the changing room discussion to use as I saw fit. Refer to R1020.106, R1020.107, and R1020.108 respectively for my report on the other three.

Ben was transported to a different location.

At 8.50am, after questioning the other three, I called Phillip into my office. The Peacekeeper outside escorted him in, seated him on the couch in front of me and untied the blindfold. Obviously making an effort to be inconspicuous, Phillip kept his head unnaturally still as his eyes flicked about to take stock of this unfamiliar environment.

Since he was not directly involved in the attempted strike and never showed any resistance since capture, I requested that the Peacekeeper uncuff him. She complied.

Putting on the airs of a strict manager, I straightened up and asked, "You know why you're here, so I will get straight to the point: why didn't you report the conspiracy to me or the Specialist?"

"I- I can explain!" Phillip began with a stutter. "They would have locked me in the basement with you! Charlie would've beaten me up! I knew they would fail, so I stayed out of it! I know I needed to report it but I couldn't do it while they were on guard, so on my way out I was actually hoping to see you or the other managers but there was no one, so I just returned to my room and waited to report and in fact, I was just about to call you since you are in charge of the next shift but-"

"Enough," I cut his rambling short. "I can see exactly where your excuse is going, and to that, I say that you had more than 10 minutes to get comfy in your rickety bunk bed and call. Unless, you mean to say you don't have our numbers, for some reason?"

Phillip froze up like a deer in headlights, muscles arrested in panic as he searched for the words that would save him.

As if exasperated, I heaved a long sigh and reclined, deflating into my armchair.

"Look, you and I both know the usual punishment for this. It has been threatened and executed numerous times before. However," I paused, ensuring I have his full attention, "I can help lighten your punishment."

I shifted into a more comfortable position. The office was dead silent, save for the hum of the fan. Phillip's breathing turned rapid but shallow, as if he was trying to suppress his presence and escape the unbearable pressure upon him.

"We already know of the plan for today's strike and its participants from an audio recording. What we don't know, is who else might eventually try something again."

"So tell me," I spoke, dropping my tone and leaning forward, "do you know anyone else who hates KFP?"

Phillip looked up, a little light returning to his eyes — a ray of hope.

"I d-"

He cut himself off, mouth already forming the "o" to complete his sentence.

"-o not," he soon added, gaze dropping back to the floor; eyes dimming.

That was obviously a lie.

"That was quite a pause. Who did you think of?"

A stubborn silence followed. The Peacekeeper behind him eyed me, silently asking if I required assistance. I shook my head slowly, making sure that Phillip did not notice our wordless conversation. I had this under control.

I breathed in audibly and straightened up, loosening some of the tension in the air.

"I understand your concern," I spoke dejectedly, with a sigh to mirror his mood, "After all, you don't have definite proof."

"You would rather not get someone into needless trouble. If anything, it's obvious that you just want all this to be over so you can get back to work — keeping your head down and continuing to eke out a living."

"Such a thing can be easily achieved. I can even sweeten the deal for you: if you give me the names of every potential troublemaker you know, I will appeal to have your outside time increased to 2 whole days."

Although he had kept his gaze lowered, I saw his eyes raise a little. His shoulders rose higher as he took deeper breaths. I only needed to push him a little more.

Taking the edge off my voice, I raised my pitch slightly and gently reassured him, "Do not worry. I am neither a Specialist nor Peacekeeper. Just like it is for you, work is tough for me."

Injecting passion into my voice, I intoned, "Yet, despite the long hours and grueling working conditions, both of us persevere. We don't deserve to be caught up in this mess. Just like you, I now have extra work on top of my usual workload."

I leaned further forward, such that I appeared to be trying to meet his gaze.

"You deserve a break. People that cause trouble for others should get what they deserve."

A long moment of silence followed. The background noise seemed to disappear completely as the gears in his head shifted, gradually turning in the opposite direction. Glancing behind him, I see that the Peacekeeper is stock still, poised to use her methods of interrogation.

Just as I started to feel a strain in my back, Phillip took a shallow breath and whispered, "Lester."

I relaxed, reclining back into my armchair. Keeping the relief out of my voice, I asked in an even tone, "Anyone else? I suspect there is one more."

Angling his head up slightly, he replied, with more vigor this time, "And Carolina."

Satisfied, I smiled.

"Good," I said, "Now that all that is over, you may return to your duties, Peacekeeper"

After checking to see that Phillip wasn't looking, I made eye contact with the Peacekeeper and mouthed to her that I will take it from here alone. Nodding in affirmative, she stepped outside.

With the embodiment of Kiara's authority gone, I relaxed even further by stretching my back. I made a show of letting loose, letting out a loud pop from my spine as I gave it a good crack. The office remained oddly quiet, an air of solemnity still hanging around Phillip. I may have misread him.

Nevertheless, I prodded him with a question, "How do you really feel about KFP?"

His head snapped up. Confusion, worry, horror, despair. His expression shifted rapidly, clearly telegraphing his inner turmoil as he came to realize that there was yet more to come.

In a strained voice, almost pleading, he squeezed out, "Why?"

His mouth flapped open and close, as if trying to say something more, but never finding the right words.

"Between you and me, I am rather tired of this place," I began my speech, "As I mentioned in front of the Peacekeeper earlier, we work long, grueling hours. It would be nice if we could get out here, would it not?"

"Of course, I'm not saying we should do something ridiculous like go on strike or hold a protest. I'm just saying we should quit." Doubt writ across his face, Phillip stared at my severe expression as I elaborated, "I know a way to get out of this company. With my position, I can get the right forms and nullify your contract."

I paused briefly, gauging his reaction.

"Imagine being free of all this. Being able to find a better job — a job that acknowledges and rewards your hard work."

A knowing look and a brazen, fearless grin — I hold out my hand in invitation and press him, "Getting these forms will rouse suspicion, so I will only get them after I have enough people on board. Will you join us?"

Phillip remained silent. His eyes scanned my face, as if searching for something.

Eventually, he averted his gaze. Though he was looking at the glass coffee table between us, his gaze seemed to go off further into the distance.

He shook his head.

"No," he replied forlornly, "I think KFP is a fine company,"

He did not take the bait.

Conclusion (Managers are to summarize the infractions committed by the employee and the proposed disciplinary action(s). Note that disciplinary action(s) may ONLY be carried out after approval from a Human Resource Manager.)

Service Chicken Phillip Graham was found to have been an Accomplice in the Unlawful Assembly of Employees and Absence without Leave.

As is the standard, I propose that he be sent to stay in a Recreation Room. However, in light of his cooperation in preventing further protests at our branch, his stay should be decreased from 62 days to 31 days. As it is the nearest branch with a Recreation Room, we will arrange for his temporary transfer to the Kentucky branch as soon approval is granted.

Additional Note Attached

From Head HR Manager, Joan M.

I have compared the description of the interrogation with the audio recorded by Peacekeeper Guard Cassandra Knight's phone. Aside from minor embellishments to make herself seem more articulate, I can confirm that Service Rooster Ivy Ross' transcript is accurate.

The efficiency and competence she displayed in this incident are to be considered during her next performance evaluation.