(no subject)
Please read this before applying to THE MURDER GANG -- VANCE CORPORATION STRANDED IN CHINA
WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS
Vance Corporation is located in Seattle Washington. All the Department Heads must reside in Seattle. The Western Regional Office is located in San Francisco, the Midwest in Chicago, and the East is in Miami.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
Vance Corporation operates a chain of stores called "Vance Home Goods." It has thrived on a 'Mom and Pop feel' -- Indeed, the entrance to the store includes a picture of the Vance family in 1986 happily sitting down to a big meal in a roomy dining room. They sell 'home goods' primarily -- furniture, wall decor, kitchen appliances, etc. They have tried to 'expand' their business over the past few years by including more of a 'gardening' and 'hardware' focus. Vance Corporation has begun building their own factories to produce materials that they sell instead of relying on buying from other companies. This has brought frustration to the acquisitions department and put more stress on them to get goods at a cheaper price.
HOW RICH ARE THEY?
The Vance Corporation isn't nearly the size of Wal-Mart -- but they are a rapidly growing company with 214 stores in America with six being built. The company is making millions and those involved in high authority are living more than comfortably.
AND THEY WORK IN A BUTTON FACTORY..
Vance Corporation started building factories in China in 2000, in Indonesia in 2003, and Vietnam in 2005.
BUT THE FACTORY BROKE LABOR LAWS
Reports began surfacing last month regarding the practices of the factories that Vance Corporation has hired to make their products. They were reported as hiring underage workers, not paying overtime, and paying under the minimum wage in China. Vance Corporation's competitors have made sure that this information has gotten lots of press coverage. No one knows who the whistle blower was. Was it someone in the company or someone outside the company? Many employees are suspicious of each other -- especially those who are being dragged to China and don't want to go.
DOG-EAT-DOG-WORLD
In order to promote better business and a company full of people constantly striving to improve their standing and position, it hasn't been uncommon for President Vance to create trouble between his various employees. This pitting others against each other has been especially true when it comes to his regional Vice Presidents.
WHO WILL TAKE OVER?
Until the past year President Vance had always told his employees that he would pass the company on to one of his Vice Presidents, as both his children had chosen other occupations that did not necessary entail working with Vance Corporation. This year, however, the two Vance children have been seen more around the office. Rumors have been circulating that he is planning on giving his company over to his son or daughter, and he refuses to answer any questions regarding his intentions at this time. The fact that he has brought his daughter and son along on the trip to China may be even more cause for alarm for those invested in the turnover and some have speculated that this could be the time where President Vance may announce his successor.
WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING?
Both the East Coast and West Coast have been unable to account for thousands of dollars being lost. The Vice Presidents are pointing their fingers at the Head of Accounting, and the Head of Accounting is pointing their fingers at the Vice Presidents. President Vance wants answers.
SPEAKING OF MONEY...
Further rumors surrounding the Vance Corporation suggest insider trading on the part of company figureheads. Such rumors have not been confirmed or even publicly addressed yet, but the Acquisitions and Accounting divisions of the company are beginning to feel the heat from the increasing whispers.
DO AS HE SAYS, NOT AS HE DOES
Fidelity is always an issue and apparently someone has been telling Mr. Vance that his wife has been unfaithful to him. He is getting angry about this, and the rumor seems to be spreading. Could it be that she is sleeping with someone else in the company?
NEW
RECENTLY FIRED...
Harrison Knopf was the last Head of Marketing, and was replaced on February 1st, 2008 after public statements that went against the image that the Vance family was attempting to produce. The statements he made were especially ill-timed as they coincided with the TIMES newspaper article that listed Vance Home Goods as one of the worst examples of a growing business building their success by exploiting other countries. Knopf gave insensitive remarks about business efforts in China saying, "They're better off with what we're giving them. They don't have a reason to complain."
Members of the company would remember that Knopf's attitude and abilities as a CEO were rapidly disintegrating after a drawn-out divorce battle and his kinship with spirits. Knopf shoot himself in the foot and most of those in his department were glad to see him go.
Many people may have speculated that it was actually ASSISTANT #1 who would take over for Knopf. Employees have quietly wondered if the young woman got the role because of her merits, because of her ethnicity (to help counterbalance Knopf's remarks), or if she has some secret clout.
COMPANY PARTIES
Every high-ranking employee (everyone cast) with Vance Corporation is required to attend two parties each year, even if they must fly in (obviously paid for by Vance Corporation). Those parties include the yearly WINTER HOLIDAY PARTY (held the Saturday before Christmas) and the SUMMER PARTY -- held on the second Saturday in June. Alcohol abounds -- as do the stories that fly around in the weeks after.
HE'S A HARD TO PLEASE ASSHOLE
Everyone knows that it's hard to stay on President Vance's good side. He is famous for constantly making people feel uncomfortable by giving them random slights to show his disapproval (calling them the wrong name even though he obviously knows their name, 'forgetting' to take them off hold), but the perks of being his favorite are very nice (pay raises, random gifts [tvs, dvds, cellphones]).
INTERN, INTERN, INTERN
Interns are hired in JULY of each year and are on a contract that lasts until JUNE. (They have been working with Vance for 8 months at this point)