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| Double Take |

None of Your Business

"We keep our religion quiet at the office — why are you rocking the boat?"

“We are hiring!”

I saw the boss’s post when I checked the work chat while getting a coffee. It was nice that they were hiring. So many people I knew were looking for jobs. And it was good news that the company was growing enough to hire new staff.

Underneath the ad, Mr. Smithson had written: Referral bonus for any employee who refers a winning candidate to the team. Details by email.

Referral bonus? That was cool. And hopefully, easy to win.

I screenshot the image and posted it on my WhatsApp status. Lots of good aspiring frum accountants out there would jump at a position in a growing firm in the city. I was lucky; Smithson & Grant was a great place to work, very understanding of things like leaving early on Fridays and taking off Yom Tov. There were a few of us in the office, Sam Green had been there even before me, a few others had joined us over the years, and none of us had ever experienced any trouble as religious Jews.

I checked my status — over 60 views already. Maybe the new hires would be people I knew. That would be nice. And, of course, the bonus wouldn’t hurt at all.

Interview week meant the boss was holed up questioning candidates with a couple of the company executives, with a prominently displayed “meeting in progress” plate on his door. For some reason, the group of hopefuls hanging around the outer office put everyone a little on edge. Even Adam in the next cubicle, who doesn’t stop talking, seemed subdued.

“Who’s looking forward to these new hires just making their appearance already?” he asked, when a few of us lingered by the watercooler after lunch.

“Not me,” Brian from HR laughed.

Right — HR gets loaded with all the paperwork, training, onboarding stuff when new employees join. And here the boss was hiring — what, three, four new guys at once? Fun.

“It’ll be over soon,” I offered, and he gave a small smile.

I soon found out, though, that the new hires weren’t only going to be Brian’s headache.

Excerpted from Mishpacha Magazine. To view full version, SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE or LOG IN.

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