For store merchandisers (disers) in the industry, jobs are usually contractual and work can be quite unstable. For efficiencies in cost, companies of brands found in supermarkets would usually work with a third-party agency for the hiring of disers. This allows the companies to access their services without having to hire them full-time, thus dispensing with offering benefits required by law that come with regular employment (paid leaves, health care, retirement coverage). While this is beneficial to companies, it is not necessarily the same with disers who get trapped in the cycle of endowhen after their 6-month contract ends, they get transferred to a new client or would need to look for a job elsewhere. 

So when Human Nature decided to expand to the retail sector in 2010, it was a conscious decision to hire disers directly and not partake in the culture of endo. Along with providing disers with the living wage, regular employment in Human Nature assures them of job security which allows them to thrive. Such was the case for Reymar Mendiola who was one of the first hires for the team. Owing to Mar’s own initiative and drive, within one year, he was promoted to team leader. His quick rise encountered quite a hitch when he made a wrong decision.

An Unforeseen Violation

As part of a diser’s  SOP while out on field, Mar is required to get his Daily Time Card signed by security personnel at the supermarkets he visits as proof of his attendance. But there came a time when he decided to give in to temptation and take the easy way out. Mar took matters into his own hands – inputting work details on his Daily Time Record and signing it himself instead of the security personnel.

“As a merchandiser, we work mostly in the field. So it’s quite easy to not follow protocol since no eyes are on you. But one time, our chairman Dylan Wilk, caught me cheating on my time records.”

No Firing Policy

The Human Resources Department conducted further investigation, and Mar soon admitted his wrongdoing with all humility and remorse. 

In other companies, Mar’s actions would have been grounds for immediate dismissal. However, being a faith-driven company, one commitment of Human Nature with its people is its No Firing Policy – believing that if God does not give up on us then we should not give up on the people he sends to us. 

“I’m fortunate to be in a company that believes in second chances. When our HR Head, Sheryl Aspacio, talked to me, she said if they had let me go, I wouldn’t have changed my ways. I would have continued doing the same thing in any company I join in,” Mar related.

As Sheryl guided him through this, Mar felt her genuine compassion and that she held no judgment towards him. She made him realize that he wasn’t just working for himself – he was also working for his family. 

The Road to Redemption

Mar had to go through the painful process of the company’s disciplinary action : he was demoted from his team leader role and had to go through a 1-week suspension where he served at the GK Enchanted Farm working with farmers. While his violation was a great blow to the trust his team had placed in him, the commitment to being a good shepherd to Mar helped them journey with him through this time. It was within this environment that Mar found the strength to push forward.

“I was motivated to continue with my life, my work. After eight months, I was promoted again to Coordinator.”

The New Road Ahead

12 years later, Mar continues to serve Human Nature–paying kindness forward and working with complete honesty.

His journey is a testament to how powerful second chances are. In 2016, he was awarded “Person of the Year” in Human Nature which was a huge milestone for him. Mar now handles Human Nature’s provincial accounts in Cebu, Iloilo, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

It was in Human Nature where Mar learned that accountability and taking responsibility for one’s decisions can lead to a better sense of self, and practicing integrity in the workplace is a way to honor God, the people you work with and ultimately yourself.