The Curious Case of a Disgruntled, Young Expert

Mario, 28 years old, is a cum laude graduate of mechanical engineering from a prestigious university and a board topnotcher in a licensure examination.

- REY ELBO

He's a senior engineer with an impressive track record at a Japanese factory.

After seven years, he was sent to Japan for a three-year, all-expenses-paid training program that included an intensive immersion in kaizen problem-solving, culture and a must-learn Japanese language.

He signed a new employment contract that required him to stay in the company for a minimum of three years after the program. Otherwise, he's bound to pay the pro-rata equivalent of about $100,000 investment by the company.

One week before Mario left for Japan, his Japanese boss, Mr. Kenji Suzuki promised him an instant promotion as a manager with a corresponding pay hike of four times his previous pay. After three years, Mario returned to the Philippines eagerly expecting a promotion.

Unfortunately, Mario's promotion did not happen other than being given the minimum 20 percent pay increase and a promotion to a supervisory post, according to existing policies.

The case became complex when Mr. Suzuki died in a car accident while on a business trip to Europe.

There was no witness to support his verbal promise to Mario.

The human resource department elevated the issue to the Management Committee (Mancom), which handed down a decision requiring Mario to prove his worth in two years of service instead of three as required by his contract. After two years, Mancom will decide on his promotion based on existing policies. It was a rare exception to the rule.