The Retreat Got Canceled

Veyron Corp was in its sixth year.

Back then, four of us crammed into a rented house. Three brutal years later, we finally built something real.

I made one rule for myself.

"Every year, fifty percent of the company's net profit goes to employee benefits."

Not free break room snacks. Not sad little afternoon teas. Real money.

Last fall, every employee got a $1,200 holiday bonus and three extra paid days off.

Last year, our company retreat was skydiving in New Zealand. $4,300 per person. Fully covered.

The core team that had stuck with me from the start got more in annual benefits than they made in salary.

And it paid off. Company culture was solid. Revenue doubled every year. Our turnover rate was low enough to make competitors cry.

So this year, I went bigger for the long weekend.

Seven days in the Maldives. All expenses paid. Overwater villas included.

A $2,000 stipend per person. Senior employees could bring family. Flights and hotel deposits had been paid two weeks ago.

Then Sophie Rowe, an intern who'd joined last month, nuked everything with a thirty-second video.

Michelle, who'd been with Veyron Corp since day one, held her phone in front of me.

"Mr. Tyley, the comments passed fifty thousand."

I glanced at the screen.

[Bloodsucking boss exploiting employees.]

[A company retreat over a holiday weekend? Isn't that just forced OT?]

[Employees have lives too. Report him.]

Insults flooded in. Every one of them dragged me by name.

Sophie had tagged the video [exposing workplace abuse] and tearfully accused Veyron Corp of forcing employees into a holiday retreat.

She made herself look like some brave hero fighting corporate oppression.

In forty seconds, the video hit three million views.

I stepped out of my office.

The hallway was packed.

Henry, who'd joined around the same time as Michelle, stood by the water dispenser, waving his phone and cursing with a few senior employees.

"She's seriously biting the hand that feeds her. She missed the New Zealand skydiving trip last year, but she had no problem taking the long-weekend bonus."

Zack from sales rubbed his hands together. "So are we still going to the Maldives? My wife already took time off."

Henry smacked the table. "Going? The Department of Labor's already involved. Boss just sent the notice. It's canceled."

The hallway blew up.

"That ungrateful traitor Sophie—does she even know what she just ruined?"

I said nothing.

I turned and walked back into my office.

Michelle followed, voice low. "Mr. Tyley, are you really not responding? The comments are getting uglier."

"No response. Pull the profit distribution records, employee benefit acknowledgment forms from the past year, and the Maldives flight and hotel deposit receipts. Put everything together."

Michelle froze.

"The Department of Labor is coming to investigate. Let them see everything."