The mood is not the best in the North American branch of Christie’s auction house. The reason? The employees of the company received a memo this week, saying that the $6 they receive daily to cover food expenses will be suspended. This order came from none other than Francois Pinault, Christie’s owner and whose fortune estimated at $ 8.7 billion.
* In a memo to employees, the explanation for the suspension of benefits is simply "cut costs", which is ironic since the sales at Christie’s rose by 43% in the first six months of 2010 totalling $ 2.57 billion.
* A protest against the controversial measure, and even a possible strike, are not out of the question. If this happens, the damage to the image of Christie’s, founded 244 years ago, is expected to cost far more than the $ 6 lunch employees.