You are the owner of a local restaurant. For twenty years, this place has been your life. It has made you something of a local celebrity. And through every high and low, your first hire, Darryl, has been there with you.
Darryl has worked by your side since the beginning. He saw you when you had nothing, when you scraped together enough to keep the lights on. He stood by you when you rose higher, when you were elected to the local town board. He was even there when you welcomed your first child into the world. Darryl isn’t just an employee. He’s a friend.
But things changed when you hired Cindy. Young, ambitious, and sharp, she became the best manager you’ve ever had. Her presence allowed you to finally loosen your grip on the business and reclaim time with your family. For the first time in years, you were able to tend to your health, your relationships, and your life outside the restaurant.
Cindy brought fresh ideas and new technologies that helped the business flourish. Under her leadership, sales grew from $700,000 to $2.4 million in just four years. The business has never been stronger.
But there is a problem.
Darryl and Cindy cannot stand each other. A power struggle has been brewing. Darryl, with his seniority, has influence over newer employees. He undermines Cindy constantly — bad-mouthing her behind her back, dismissing her instructions, and planting doubts about her leadership. His behavior is spreading. New hires are beginning to follow his lead.
Cindy, though, is not without fault. For all her talent, she is ruthless when challenged. Once, when a line cook botched an order, she spent the entire shift mocking him, calling him “mentally handicapped,” and even tried to rally others to join in the ridicule. It was Darryl who stood up for that young cook.
Cindy has other flaws too. She shows up late, yet writes up others for the same offense. One day, she arrived an hour late, only to discipline a new employee who came in twenty minutes behind schedule. And when you aren’t around, she sometimes brings her kids, letting them run wild in the kitchen despite repeated warnings.
The tension has reached a breaking point.
One day, Cindy approaches you. Her expression is cold and resolute. She recounts every instance of Darryl’s disrespect, every moment of insubordination. Then she gives you an ultimatum.
“It’s him or me.”
If Darryl stays, she will quit.
If Cindy leaves, you lose the best manager your business has ever had.
If Darryl goes, you fire your most loyal friend — the man who has stood by you for two decades.
So what do you do?
Do you fire your longest-tenured employee, a man you consider family? Or do you lose the manager who turned your restaurant into a success story?
This… is The Burden of Choice.