Power pirates
We have an outdoor break area for our employees. Really, it is just a picnic table and an umbrella so our folks can enjoy the sunshine when it is available. Earlier this week I noticed a couple, who were not employees, sitting at the table.
This is not something we normally see, but I figured they were enjoying the warmer temperatures, so what would it hurt to let them sit there for a while?
However, as I started to enter the building I noticed a cellphone plugged up to one of our external power outlets. Since there was no one else around, I deduced that the phone must belong to the couple taking the sun at our picnic table. So, I spun around, went up, and asked the couple if it was their phone. They responded with, “Yeah, it’s ours. What’s the problem?” I asked them who told them they could charge their phone there. The woman said, “Nobody. We just needed to charge our phone and saw the outlet there and thought we could us it.”
I told current stealing Bonnie and Clyde that this was private property and they needed to move on. Clyde had a few choice words for me as he yanked the charge cord out of the outlet but they eventually moved on down the road to pirate power from someone else.
This incident had me thinking if people just took everything within a business as public property.
What would happen if someone used the KFC bucket to haul water? Imagine someone just walking up, grabbing a bucket, going to the waterspout, and filling it up in order to refresh his or her petunias. I am sure the Colonel would be cool with it.
Speaking of water, anyone could use McDonald’s golden arches as a bathtub if the opportunity presented itself. They could rub a dub in Ronald’s fancy tub the Hamburglar would certainly join in since they both have a penchant for taking things they do not belong to him.
Next time someone gets tired of walking they can just hop in one of those idling FedEx trucks and drive it wherever they need to go. I guess they figure they absolutely, positively have to be there so why not borrow the truck. Fred Smith would understand.
The next time you have a problem I am sure there is a business out there that can solve it for you. Of course, purchasing something from that business would go a long way to ensuring it is still around the next time you need it.