Breakroom Blues
A novel on the human behavior paradox that exists behind company closed doors
by
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“Do you like what you see?” Lucy asked Nevil as she sensed his eyes scanning her body while standing in front of him waiting to order an omelet.
“Excuse me?” Nevil asked dumbfounded.
“You know what I’m asking and why I’m asking,” Lucy responded. “I felt your eyes pop out of their sockets and plant themselves on my gluteus maximus. Am I lying?”
“Well, I don't know Lucy. What is that?” Nevil asked shrugging his shoulders and laughing as Lucy walked away angry.
When both Lucy and Nevil had received their breakfast orders, Nevil joined Lucy at the table where Wise was sitting.
“If it was anyone other than you Wise, I’d start to feel jealous,” Nevil said.
“What do you mean?” Wise asked casually.
“It seems as if all the pretty ladies like to sit with you.”
“That’s because he minds his business,” Lucy inserted.
“I guess they feel safe with a harmless guy like you Wise,” Nevil jeered.
Wise did not respond, but continued to drink his chocolate milk.
“Any man who drinks chocolate milk and hangs around the breakroom of a company where he doesn’t even work must have a story. So what’s your story Wise?”
“Don’t say anything to him Wise. He’s just a nosey body looking for information to circulate. It’s best to remain mysterious around here. The little they know about you, the better off you are,” cautioned Lucy.
“Lucy, you have some nerve labeling me as a nosey body when the truth is that you are the highest paid female in this company with the least amount of credentials,” Nevil responded grinning.
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About the Book
Get ready for one of the best and most valuable reads for everyone: students, employees, teachers, guidance counselors, entrepreneurs, coaches, business leaders, jobseekers, government officials, church goers, spiritual leaders, and human resources and training managers. Loaded with humor, substance and valuable lessons that propel readers to examine and rethink their own "breakroom" behavior.
Breakroom Blues, a fun and easy-to-read novel, beckons employers and recruiters to go beneath the surface of a job candidate’s tailored resume, rehearsed interview, crafted smile and impressive handshake to seek the candidate’s soul—true character. The philosophy employed is simple—once the candidate’s soul is discovered, one can make better employment decisions that lead to heightened levels of success for organizations.PJ Pennington brilliantly seeks the soul of six characters using as the main setting the breakroom of a dysfunctional company that is spiraling downward--"sinking in quicksand." All of the characters are employed by this company and markedly demonstrate many of the customary good, bad and ugly employee behaviors that are present in real-life organizations.Breakroom Blues, a precursor to Breakroom Blues Exploratory Workbook and Journal, encourages us to look at our lives and examine our behavior especially when we are “on break”—away from work responsibilities or those we seek to impress.It is a call to daily “workout” our virtues in order to keep ethically fit and a reminder to "never rest on our laurels
About the Author
Who is PJ Pennington?
PJ Pennington attained a M.S. in Human Resources Management and Urban Policy and a B.A. in English and Journalism. Renowned for her effective use of creative media and over 20 years of breakthrough HR practices, her tools help shift entrenched paradigm thinking and ideological tendencies in organizations. Author of Breakroom Blues, Breakroom Blues Exploratory Workbook and Journal, 24-7Peekaboo Street, and soon to be published I’m Glad About It, PJ Pennington has nearly two decades of senior management experience in human resources management, diversity relations and equal employment opportunity. A tireless public servant, she has worked for two Mayoral Administrations in New York City and in several Director positions with both the City of New York and Transit Authority in Atlanta. She is a licensed mediator, executive coach, motivational speaker, facilitator-trainer and playwright who has written and produced several theatrical productions that respond to the critical “new era” challenges in the workplace and social dilemmas. She has written for many newspapers. A native New Yorker, PJ Pennington, her husband, and son now reside in Atlanta.