32 Comments
User's avatar
M.E. Proctor's avatar

In other words: things happen for a reason!

Bill Adler's avatar

I like to think so.

MARTYS | The Witness Chronicle's avatar

A wonderfully satirical piece. The endless demotions are absurd, funny, and painfully believable, making the ending land in a way I didn't expect.

Bill Adler's avatar

Thank you very much. I enjoyed writing Jillian Tailor's Demotion and I'm glad you liked it.

David Perlmutter's avatar

From CFO to janitor in one fell swoop. Business people are frustrating- no wonder filmmakers, television producers, musicians and theatre impresarios hate working with them- and have no way of their own of doing without them...

Bill Adler's avatar

Definitely. The business world is cold and cruel.

BetterOffRed's avatar

Glad Jill didn't end up in Hades! ;)

Bill Adler's avatar

I’m glad about that, too. It could have gone that way. ;)

Paul Prothero's avatar

Good one! I was really pulling for Jillian to make it out with her dignity intact.

Bill Adler's avatar

Thank you, Paul. I happy to hear you enjoyed this story.

K.C. Knouse's avatar

This was outstanding, Bill. She was fast-tracked to the bottom where she became the sole survivor. Love the irony. It just goes to show that we don't know what is good for us.

Bill Adler's avatar

Thank you, K.C. I bet Jillian was very happy to have been demoted.

Donna Warren's avatar

Ahhhh, phenomenal story… I loved it!!!

You have such a creative mind, Bill… thank you for your wonderful storytelling!

Bill Adler's avatar

Thank you for your kind words, Donna. I'm delighted you enjoyed this story.

Lana Yakimchuk's avatar

Not sure if dying instantly knowing you are on top is worse than surviving as a janitor. Except, with such a fast demotion and profound destruction of the company, the old resume might still work. IF Jillian still wants to work after this. I, for one, might consider raising goats.

Bill Adler's avatar

It was a frenetic time for Jillian, and it's likely good that she doesn't have to think about working at Bandi Corp again. Goats, yes, and cats, too. There's a lot of better things than the corporate world.

Peter von Gomm's avatar

Great one Bill! 🎉 Housekeeping,Janitor, Custodian. No matter the title, you matter. ❤️🙏🏻

Bill Adler's avatar

Thank you, Peter. I think it worked out okay for Jillian. :)

Yael Gelardin's avatar

Nice of you to spare Jillian’s life.

Bill Adler's avatar

Thank you, Yael. Jillian earned that.

Sharron Bassano's avatar

Great story! One of your best. I read Dawn of Dogs, too. Just Xcellent

Bill Adler's avatar

Thank you very much Sharron. I’m glad you liked these two. Dawn of Dogs was one of my first Substack stories.

Stephanie Loomis's avatar

karma

Bill Adler's avatar

Karma worked for Jillian.

Deirdre Mooney's avatar

A super lesson to all bosses!!

Bill Adler's avatar

Indeed! They've been warned.

John Madrid's avatar

The demotions kept going and I kept thinking surely that's the bottom, and then there was another floor. Lovely last line.

Bill Adler's avatar

Thank you, John. It's darkest before the dawn and also deepest before the daylight. Or something like that.

Virginia Neely's avatar

The bright side of being downgraded.

Bill Adler's avatar

It's not always a bad thing. ;-)

Christina Kinsey's avatar

Justice for Jillian

Bill Adler's avatar

I like that slogan!