The purr-fect employee
May 29, 2008 by Fred HosierPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, That's how they do it in ______
As an HR pro, you know one employee can make all the difference. Such is the case at Japan’s Kishikawa train line.
The train line has been losing about $4.9 million a year.
Enter Tama, a nine-year-old female tabby cat.
Tama is now the station chief at the otherwise unstaffed stop, according to wire reports.
Tama sits at the entrance to the station wearing a black uniform cap and poses for photos for tourists who are now flocking in droves. The tabby lets passengers pet her all day long.
Visitors can buy souvenirs, too: postcards, notebooks, pins and a photo book, “Diary of Tama, the Station Master” for $13.
Recently, ridership is up 10%.
Just in case the numbers are up because of the station cat, Tama just got a bonus - payable in cat food.
