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Chapter 45: For Retirement Benefits, Go All Out!
At this moment, in the office of the director of the Federal Tax Bureau in Sabin City, another conversation was taking place.
On one side was the owner of this office, the local tax bureau director, while on the other side was the highest-ranking official of the state office.
The structure of the Baylor Federal Tax Bureau was relatively simple. The highest authority was the Baylor Federal Central Tax Bureau, with the highest official being the director-general of the central bureau. Apart from the various offices of the bureau, there were the federal tax administrative offices of each state.
These state-level administrative offices didn't handle any tax-related services. They were merely a simple administrative body. While in some aspects their authority wasn't as significant as the federal tax bureaus in various regions, they had a relatively greater hidden power, overseeing the assessment of local tax officials.
Within a day from the incident, it had already alarmed the director-general of the Federal Central Tax Bureau, demanding a swift resolution to the matter to prevent public outrage.
In another world, there's a saying, "He who tied the bell to the tiger must take it off." In this world, there were similar thoughts, perhaps expressed in different languages and manners, but human thinking and reasoning were alike.
"Michael's work over there can be put on hold. Let him temporarily disappear from public view. Additionally, I heard he suspects this Lynch might have some issues?"
The voice of the commissioner from the state office carried a hint of indifference, causing the director to feel somewhat nervous. He was already in his fifties, and even if he didn't want to let others take his place, he couldn't hold the position for much longer.
Especially if his successor was promoted from below, he would only be able to work here for two or three more years at most. After all, the successor also needed time to familiarize themselves with the work to better serve the federal government.
So, he had a small problem to solve. During his approaching retirement, should he enjoy the time when he was going through the retirement process or should he struggle to do strenuous work that wasn’t appreciated?
Although it was also considered as a kind of promotion, some jobs were easygoing; such as the advisory group under the state office, which didn't even require one to be present at the workplace and only needed to show up and say a few words when required.
These places were prepared for the soon-to-retire management. They were relaxed, paid well, and offered better treatment. After a lifetime of toil for the federal government, it was a comfortable retirement position.
However, there were places less pleasant, like the state-level archive and evidence management office, where all kinds of records and evidence from the entire state converged, allowing no room for error. The thought of it was terrifying; it was truly a position that would require one to work to death.
How he progressed and where he was transferred after promotion—all of it was decided by the state office. Currently wiping the sweat off his face, he nodded repeatedly, "Yes..."
"Then investigate Lynch thoroughly. If we can prove that Lynch is indeed a criminal, it might help calm the public outcry."
"Furthermore, there are some concerns from higher-ups about your handling in Sabin City. I know you're retiring soon, but that's no excuse for inaction. We're a federal government department, not a private enterprise. If there are suitable reasons found against you in this final stretch, it's not impossible to have you ousted before retirement."
This statement made the director's heart skip a beat. The retirement benchmark for the Baylor Federation was fifty-six for females and sixty for males. After retirement, they could receive pensions based on social insurance standards.
This standard had three main levels: fifteen years, twenty-five years, and thirty-five years, each with four sub-levels. If the director could work in the tax bureau until the age of sixty, he could receive the highest federal pension, roughly around seven hundred and fifty bucks per month.
This amount might not seem significant to people in many large cities, but in Sabin City, it was a substantial sum for retirees, considering that the average income for workers there was only around two hundred bucks. His income alone could equal that of three workers.
But if he fell just short of paying social insurance for thirty-five years, he would only qualify for the second level of retirement benefits, receiving approximately four hundred bucks per month, about half of the full amount.
The retirement pension system had always been highly praised. What was more unimaginable was that it was not pushed through by the federal government, but rather by major emerging or established capitalist conglomerates.
Some said it was a policy with hidden agendas because the vast majority of people were unlikely to pay insurance premiums for a full thirty-five years. Life had its unforeseen circumstances, such as changing jobs or unemployment.
As soon as there was a slight gap in payment time, the maximum benefits would be immediately cut off. This allowed capitalists to exploit employees without worrying about any radical reactions. If employees wanted a less miserable old age, they had to accept oppression obediently.
Once a person lost their ability to work and their income source, their value in society would plummet to zero. In a society where valueless individuals couldn't survive, ordinary people would bear any unfair treatment and exploitation for retirement benefits. Moreover, when facing an investigation, they still had to look like sacrificing their personal interests for the company was nothing; they were doing it willingly.
The director also had this anxiety. Therefore, he had to salvage his later life.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then the voice continued, "Let me see some action from you as soon as possible. Understand?"
The director nodded forcefully. Whether for his reputation or future retirement benefits, he would fiercely defend everything he had. "Understood!"
In the following days, news and public opinion continued to ferment. Some well-known upper-class individuals in society gradually began discussing concerns about the unchecked law enforcement powers held by various enforcement departments. They believed that what happened to Lynch or others might potentially happen to them as well.
The statements of these people received affirmation from many lower-class individuals in society. However, these lower-class individuals would never realize that those taking such stances were representatives of the Federal Dream who had risen rapidly in recent years or over the past decade or so. Ironically, they were also the ones who both needed and feared authority.
However, all these matters were distant from Lynch. After resting in the hospital for three days, Lynch returned to work. Richard and the others had saved a considerable amount of money. After they exchanged them all at once, they started working busily again.
Vera also returned to the office. She and her husband had been in a cold war, sleeping in separate rooms for several days.
The more such situations escalated, the more she felt a sense of crisis. If she couldn't achieve financial independence, she would be left with nothing if there were any family changes.
"Bos, here's five thousand..." Richard once again showcased his value at an incredibly high speed.
During this period, he finally gained some recognition in front of his family. The daily income, ranging from tens to a couple of hundred, left his family speechless with amazement, and it also allowed him to see a bright future ahead.
Lynch nodded and poured the loose change into a small cart. After issuing a check and handing Vera a receipt, Lynch pushed the cart into a small room behind the warehouse.
The moment he turned on the ultraviolet light, a dazzlingly bright green light burst forth!
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