“You lie professionally now?”
“Management training.”
Daniel laughed.
It was the first genuine laugh he had heard all morning.
Then another employee recognized him.
Then another.
Within ten minutes, Daniel had six people around him.
He did not give a speech.
He asked questions.
“How’s work?”
“Busy.”
“Good busy or bad busy?”
That distinction opened the door.
The answers came carefully at first.
Then honestly.
Targets had changed.
Teams were leaner.
Supervisors spent more time documenting output.
Experienced employees were being asked to train replacements while quietly wondering whether the replacements were there to eliminate them.
An older machinist said, “Nobody tells us anything until it’s already decided.”
A shipping clerk said, “People used to fix problems. Now they make sure the ticket proves they fixed them.”
Daniel listened.
He asked about safety.
Training.
Scheduling.
Benefits.
Customers.
He took no notes.
He remembered.
One younger employee surprised him.
“Honestly, Mr. Mercer, some changes are good.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Tell me.”
“New inventory software is better.”
“Good.”
“The old purchasing process was terrible.”
Daniel smiled.
“I helped design that.”