章 13: Chapter 13: Taking Over
When Xia Yu and Ding Shengwu were close to the newspaper office, employees had already gone inside to notify others. Everyone was anxiously waiting for the outcome, their work abandoned in their nervousness.
Upon entering the office, Ding Shengwu felt the atmosphere and gathered all the employees. He briefly thanked them for their contributions and then announced that the newspaper had been sold to Xia Yu.
Despite their prior mental preparation, seeing Xia Yu's youthful appearance still shocked the employees. They had little hope for the newspaper's future and were concerned about their own prospects.
Seeing the employees' reaction, Xia Yu realized he couldn't let this negativity spread. Even though the likelihood of employees leaving was small due to the tough job market in Hong Kong, he still needed to address their concerns.
"Cough, cough! Please quiet down!"
Xia Yu's stern tone finally silenced the employees. Once they were completely quiet, he allowed himself a smile.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Xia Yu. Xia, as in summer, and Yu, as in the historical figure Yu the Great. From now on, I am your boss."
"I know seeing me might make you worried. You might fear that I don't understand the industry and might mismanage 'Famous New Newspaper,' causing you to lose your jobs."
Xia Yu directly addressed their concerns. Though the employees didn't speak, their worried expressions were evident.
"I understand your concerns!"
"But!"
"Why do you think my money comes from the wind?"
"Since I bought 'Famous New Newspaper,' I am determined to develop it. I am committed to making it a success. What about you?"
"Even if 'Famous New Newspaper' ultimately fails, I will gain valuable experience and have the capital to try again. However, the impact of the newspaper closing on you, in today's job market, will be greater than on me!"
"So, you should focus on working hard rather than worrying about losing your jobs. If you adopt a negative attitude, I will clearly tell you that you will definitely lose your job, because I will fire you. My newspaper doesn't need people who are just filling space!"
A murmur of unease spread among the employees. Many looked anxious, worried that Xia Yu might lay off staff, which would threaten their livelihood.
As Xia Yu had mentioned, finding a job in Hong Kong was challenging.
Observing the employees, Xia Yu didn't say much but instead watched them quietly. This was all part of his plan.
The saying goes, "The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment."
Likewise, the greater the disappointment, the more cherished the hope becomes when it returns.
After a while, seeing that Xia Yu remained silent, the room quieted down again. Many employees adjusted their attitudes.
"Great! It seems everyone's attitude is improving!"
Seeing that most employees now appeared more resolute, Xia Yu nodded with satisfaction and smiled.
The stick approach worked well, so now it was time for a carrot!
He announced, "I have good news for everyone. Starting today, everyone's salary will be increased by 20%!"
"Wow! Really?"
...
Hearing that the new boss not only wasn't laying off staff but was also giving a raise, everyone was incredulous. Once they saw Xia Yu nod in confirmation, they could no longer contain their excitement and cheered, their gazes towards Xia Yu filled with warmth and gratitude.
"This is the effect I wanted!"
Xia Yu smiled to himself, thinking.
In fact, Xia Yu had carefully considered the salary increase.
As Grandpa Zhao once said, "Don't look at the advertisement, look at the results!"
When a company changes ownership, it's inevitable that there will be some unrest among employees. The simplest and most effective way to stabilize their hearts is to raise salaries. Although it is a simple and crude method, it is highly effective and universally used.
Xia Yu values efficiency above all and lacks time, so a simple and effective approach suits him.
Furthermore, regarding "Famous New Newspaper,"
The salary increase will be issued next month, so Xia Yu doesn't need to prepare cash immediately. If he gave out bonuses now, it would require immediate cash and could set a bad precedent.
With only about 20 employees at the newspaper, and given the industry's salary levels, a 20% increase would only bring salaries up to the level of major newspapers.
Xia Yu is confident he can transform the newspaper into a major publication quickly, and salaries will definitely be increased in the future.
Rather than waiting until the company grows and increasing salaries due to pressure, which would align with other major newspapers, Xia Yu preferred to increase salaries proactively.
This way, when the company grows, employees will feel that salary increases are a natural progression and not something to be taken for granted.
Proactively increasing salaries helps win employees' loyalty, whereas increasing salaries out of necessity later might not elicit the same gratitude and could demotivate employees.
The choice is clear!
One is proactive, the other is reactive. Xia Yu prefers to keep control in his hands.
Currently, salaries in Hong Kong are around 300 HKD. Even with a 20% increase, it's only an additional 60 HKD per person, which totals an extra 1200 HKD for the 20 employees. Xia Yu can afford this small expense.
Moreover, this increase will only be implemented next month. If the company fails before then, his commitment will be nullified.
However, if the newspaper prospers within the month, Xia Yu wouldn't mind the additional 1200 HKD in salaries.
After the employees' initial excitement, they looked at Xia Yu again, their eyes now full of hope.
Time for another stick and carrot approach!
Light the first fire of the new administration!
With that thought, Xia Yu's smile faded as he fixed a sharp gaze on the employees and spoke slowly.
"Don't get too excited. As I said, my money isn't from the wind. Why should I give you high salaries?"
"So, don't think you can relax."
"To keep your jobs, you must provide enough value. If I believe you don't deserve the salary, then I'm sorry, you'll be out. There are plenty of people who want this job!"
Upon hearing Xia Yu's words, everyone stiffened, realizing that the salary increase came with expectations.
However, no one was ready to give up. They were determined to make an effort, understanding that losing this job without trying hard would be a significant loss.
Thus, everyone resolved to work diligently and not be a typical example of someone who fails to meet expectations.
Seeing the employees' response, Xia Yu nodded, knowing they had taken his message to heart. His authority had been established.
"Of course, you don't have to worry about arbitrary layoffs. As long as you do your job well, I will be satisfied!"
"And I am generous. I don't skimp on rewarding those who contribute. Those who make significant contributions to the newspaper will not only receive their salaries but also additional bonuses. And the bonuses will be substantial!"
"Is that clear to everyone?" Xia Yu raised his voice.
"Yes!" The employees shouted in unison.
"Good!" Xia Yu nodded and continued, "Alright, get back to your positions. Department heads, come to my office."
After returning to his office, seven employees came in one by one. Once the last person arrived, Xia Yu asked them to close the door.
"Let's start introductions from the left."
With that, Xia Yu looked at a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance on the left.
"Boss, I'm Liu Zhong…"
"Boss, I'm…"
...
After all seven introduced themselves, Xia Yu nodded, remembering each one.
These seven were:
- Liu Zhong, 40 years old, handling both finance and cashier duties. An ordinary-looking middle-aged man who seemed reserved.
- Sun Xin, 38 years old, the head of the News Department with fifteen years at "Famous New Newspaper," overseeing reporters and writers.
- Zhao Cheng, 42 years old, the head of the Editing Department with over ten years of experience, responsible for text editing, news comments, graphic design, and proofreading.
- Sun Changfa, 34 years old, the head of the Distribution Department, overseeing newspaper distribution with only three staff due to low sales.
- Li Bin, 36 years old, head of the Communication Department, responsible for implementing publicity plans and managing external reporters.
- Huang Wenxian, 37 years old, the head of the Advertising Department, handling ads and production with only one employee due to low sales.
- Zhang Lei, 42 years old, head of the Printing Department with nearly 20 years of experience in printing, responsible for the printing center.
Despite its decline, the newspaper had all the necessary departments, and the staff had been there for at least ten years, ensuring they had both experience and connections. Xia Yu was satisfied and felt ready to reform the newspaper.
Next, it was time for Xia Yu to announce his plan…
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