Señor Payroll by William E.

Barrett

24 MAR 2018 DERMOT CITE POST

In Señor Payroll by William E. Barrett we

have the theme of control, power,
determination, connection and acceptance.
Narrated in the first person by an unnamed
man the reader realises after reading the
story that Barrett may be exploring the
theme of control. The Main Office of the
company seems to want to rein in the
Mexican workers and stop them from
getting paid so irregularly and frequently.
However no matter what they try to do they
ultimately fail in their task. This could be
important as Barrett may be highlighting
not only the ingenuity of the Mexican
workers when it comes to getting paid early
but more importantly he could be
suggesting that the real power in the
company rests with the workers rather than
with the employer or Main Office. It is also
interesting that the narrator throughout the
story performs his duties without really
taking sides. Though it might be true that
he feels some empathy for the Mexican
workers he still nonetheless implements
each change in policy that the Main Office
issues. This too could be important as it
might suggest that the narrator is
somewhat disconnected from the plight of
the Mexican workers. Though it could also
simply be a case that the narrator wishes
to remain in employment and as such does
not involve himself with the plight of the
Mexican workers.

Despite the Main Office’s attempts to exert

control over the Mexican workers it is clear
to the reader that the real power in the
company rests with the workers. Without
them there would be no work done. Which
at the end of the day will only end up
costing the company money. The ingenuity
of the Mexican workers has to be admired
as they show a level of determination when
it comes to getting paid. Simple things like
resigning and looking for employment the
next day may be considered ridiculous.
However due to the lack of foresight by the
Main Office this practice works. It is a
simple yet affective way of ensuring that
the workers remain in control. It might also
be important that the narrator never
questions any of the workers when it
comes to emergency payments. He
accepts what they have told him and
informs the Main Office. It is as though the
narrator does not wish to been seen as a
stumbling block to the workers. He admires
their ability to work and as such may not
wish to challenge them in any way.

It is also possible that Barrett is looking at

the relationship between American
companies and their foreign workers.
Though the narrator might have admiration
for the workers. The Main Office
themselves would view the workers as
problematic. Hence so many changes in
policy. It is as though the Mexican workers
are a means to an end. Their labour is
valued but nothing else is respected. There
is no mention in the story of the workers
having any rights and it is also noticeable
that many of the workers in the company
are employed on a daily basis. The issue of
whether the workers are in a union does
not seem to be important. The company
appear to have one goal and that is to
make money. Which Barrett may be
suggesting is the true goal of many
American companies. With profit being the
primary focus and everything else including
workers’ rights being secondary. Larry’s
role is also interesting as he remains silent
throughout the story. It is as though he is
non-committal. He will do what he is
employed to do but will not rock the boat
by commenting on the plight of the
Mexican workers.

The end of the story is also interesting as it

becomes clear to the reader that the Main
Office is admitting defeat. Despite their
changes in policy nothing has worked and
they are forced to go back to their original
policy. Something that suits the workers
but does not suit the company. This could
be important as it is only at the end of the
story that the reader senses that the Main
Office is putting the Mexican workers first.
Through their ingenuity and the realisation
by the Main Office that things have gotten
out of control. The status quo that was in
place at the beginning of the story is
reinstated. The company may not be happy
but the workers have won. Which may be
the point that Barrett is attempting to
make. He may be suggesting that should a
worker or a group of workers incur difficulty
with their employer. Through determination
and never losing sight of their goal (getting
paid) they too can claim a victory over their
employer. The final line of the story is also
interesting as it suggests that the Main
Office have accepted they have been
beaten by the ingenuity of the Mexican
workers. Rather than the Main Office being
in control at the end of the story it is the
Mexican workers who are dictating the
direction of policy when it comes to getting
paid.