 NEW JERSEY (AYP)—Citing high gas prices, Samsung America CEO J.H. Lee issued a companywide memo: “Carpool to work, even if it means having to sleep with a colleague.”
But to some, the memo seemed more of a mandate. Take Jon Walker, for instance, who drives more than 35 miles to the office on the Garden State Parkway from his home in Montvale.
“Every day, I get these stares from upper-level management when they see me driving into the parking lot alone,” said Mr. Walker, who drives a Ford Five-Hundred. “It’s not even a gas guzzler, but still, they want me to save more gas! I mean, give me a break! Have you seen the women in my department? It’s not a pretty sight.”
Jamie Williams, 38, drives her Mitsubishi Montero solo into work, but has only a 5-mile commute. “Heck, I don’t mind hooking up just to save a little gas,” she laughs. “If someone is willing to pay my portion of the gas also, you can be sure I’ll rock that boy’s world!”
On the bulletin board just outside Samsung’s corporate lunchroom are hundreds of 3X5 index cards, some with their pictures on them, all wanting a piece of—well—carpooling ass. “I’ll give it up if you pump it up!” reads one. “Take me home. I’ll take you home!” reads another. “Help America save gas! Take a look at my @%$!” reads yet another.
Asked how the company’s new “policy” has affected morale, Tanya Kim, spokeswoman for Samsung America, said, “Dude, have you seen the happy faces in this office? Tell me it’s not good for morale. I mean, just look at them happy campers! Can you believe it? I’ve got men lining up to take me home! And I just had no idea that Ron in accounting even looked at me!”
Ms. Kim said the company is planning to hold several after-work parties in the lunchroom, complete with deejay and free soju, a Korean alcoholic beverage similar to vodka and sake combined.
“It’s the ‘60s all over again,” she said. “Except instead of free love it’s free booze, drive me home, have some fun, then drive me to work and save gas.”
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