Azikho izindlela eziningi zokonga imali kwaLowe's. Amadili osuku, amadili emishini, ukuthengiswa kokuklwebha, izaphulelo zopende ezenziwe nge-atomized, ukuthengiswa kokukhipha impahla, i-Black Friday kanye nokunye ukuthengiswa konyaka, izaphulelo zempi, izinsizakalo zokufaka ezishibhile ngokungangabazeki...ngisho nezaphulelo ozithola ekuthengeni okubhaliselwe okuphindaphindiwe — — uhlu luyaqhubeka.
Konke lokhu kuhle, kodwa ngokuqinisekile akukho okufanele uziqhenye ngakho ephathini. Cha, ukuze umangaze abantu abafika ephathini yamabhulokhi emishini yabo yokugunda utshani, kufanele ugqekeze uhlelo ngandlela thile. Cha, ungalugqekezi njengoba i-Crash Override kanye ne-Acid Burn behlekisa nge-Secret Service ku-Hackers. Okunye ngama-hacks okuphila. Amanye amathiphu ethu awavunyelwe, amaqhinga angavunyelwe; amanye avunyelwe ngokusemthethweni yi-Lowe's kodwa azondwa ngabasebenzi be-Lowe's; kanti amanye ayimibono emisha ngamathiphu namaqhinga okuthenga avamile.
Cishe uke wahlangana nezinto zikagesi eziklwebhekile kwaLowe's; iningi lazo lilahleka emabhokisini avulekile esiqandisini, kuma-heater amanzi avuzayo nangenawo amabhokisi, kanye nasemishinini yokuwasha izitsha enephunga elisolisayo le-casserole. Ukunciphisa isaphulelo sezinto ezingasebenzi kahle akuvamile, kodwa kuya ngokuya kuba yinto engavamile njengoba izitolo zibuyisa noma zisusa izinto ezonakele. Kodwa usengathenga ezinye izinto ezingaphelele kwaLowe's ngokufuna izikhwama zokuvuselela kabusha. Ngokusho kukaCollin webhulogi yokuthenga i-Hip2Save, lezi zikhwama zivame ukuba yizikhwama zepulasitiki ezicacile ezifakwa yizinkampani lapho isikhwama sokuqala siqhekeka, futhi udaka, i-mulch noma inhlabathi ephezulu ichitheka phansi.
Ungonga u-10% ezintweni ezisesikhwameni sokuvuselela kabusha, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zichitheke kangakanani, kodwa ungonga futhi kufike ku-50%. Ezinye izitolo ziyaqhubeka, zithengisa izinto ezichitheke kabusha ngedola, noma zihlanganise zibe ama-pallet bese zithengiswa cishe mahhala. I-Lowe's ayikhangisi inqubomgomo yezaphulelo ezintweni ezisesikhwameni sokuvuselela kabusha, kodwa ungathola imininingwane ethile kokuthunyelwe kanye nokubuyekezwa kumasayithi afana ne-Tomtoville. Kodwa ekugcineni lezi zindlela zokwelapha zibonakala zincike ngokuphelele esitolo, ngakho-ke ibanga lakho lingahluka.
Uma kwenzeka udinga ama-joist hangers angu-700 noma amakhilogremu angu-1200 esihlabathi, kuhlale kungumqondo omuhle ukuthenga ngobuningi, njengasohlelweni lukaLowe olubizwa ngokuthi i-Lowe's Buy In Bulk. Kodwa akusikho lokho esikhuluma ngakho lapha. Cha, sikhuluma ngobumnandi kanye nokonga kokuthenga izinto ezinkulu nokuzigcina zahlukene esikhundleni sokuthenga izinto ezincane eziningi. Isibonelo: Uma ufuna induku enentambo engamasentimitha ayi-1.5 (akunjalo sonke?), ungakhokha kufika ku-$2.68 ngonyawo ngobude obuyi-1, 2, kanye no-3 foot. Kodwa umnyango kagesi unesigaba se-strut lapho uzothola khona izinsika ezingamafidi ayi-10 ngo-$16.98, noma u-$1.70 ngonyawo. Qaphela: lokhu akusebenzi ngaso sonke isikhathi. Insika engu-10′⅜” empeleni ibiza kakhulu ngonyawo kunobude obuyi-2′ no-6′.
Izaphulelo zalosayizi zingatholakala yonke indawo kwaLowe's: Ungathola ipayipi le-PVC elingamamitha amabili ngo-$13.15, noma ipayipi elingamamitha ayi-10 ngo-$21.91. Okufanayo kusebenza kumabhodi amafushane, i-quarter plywood. Vele, uma okudingayo nje ucezu lwe-PVC olungamamitha amabili oluyi-2″ 40, ungonga u-$9 ngokuthatha ipayipi elifushane. Leli cebo lincike ekutheni uqala kangaki ukudinga izinombolo ezinkulu.
Cishe uyazi izingodo ezimbi kakhulu eLowe ezishibhile emnyangweni wokugawula imithi, futhi cishe uyazi ukuthi bazokusika izingodo ezibizayo. Kodwa bewazi ukuthi ungathenga izingodo ezibizayo zomunye umuntu ngemali encane kakhulu noma ungathengi lutho uma othile eshiya izinsalela? Njengoba kunjalo nge-Home Depot, lokhu kubonakala sengathi kwenzeka lapho ikhasimende le-Lowe lithenga izingodo okokuqala nokokugcina, noma lapho umuntu enemali eningi kangangokuthi akakhathazeki ngokugcina ingxenye yeshidi lezingodo. Njengoba i-Aisle of Shame ikhomba, i-plywood ibiza cishe ama-$60. Kuye ngokuthi ubani obuzayo, udoti womunye umuntu ungaphenduka owakho...ikakhulukazi uma ukhuni lubiza kakhulu.
Kodwa-ke, lokhu kungase kungabi yindlela engcono kakhulu ngokusebenza kahle. Uma usuyingane nomphathi endaweni (ngokwenza ubuciko yi-Hunts), ungayithola ngokuvamile ezingodweni ezahlukene zamahhala ezilahliwe ezindaweni zokwakha. Lokhu kuzofaka phakathi ama-cutoff, kodwa namabhodi angasetshenziswa nhlobo (ngezinhloso zawo), futhi ngezinye izikhathi athenga amabhodi amaningi kakhulu.
Ngezinye izikhathi uzobona imibiko yokuthi ungathola izitshalo zamahhala kwaLowe's ngoba ezinye izitolo zibeka izitshalo zazo ezisusiwe (mhlawumbe ezidlule ezithengiswayo ngonyaka) ebhinini ukuze abantu bazithwale. Lokhu kubonakala kuphambene nenqubomgomo yenkampani kaLowe, noma ngabe uthola imvume, futhi kufana kakhulu nomkhuba ongekho emthethweni "wokuphanga," lapho abantu bandisa khona ezinye izinto zezitshalo ezilahliwe zibe izitshalo ezintsha.
Lokho ovame ukukufinyelela izitshalo ezifakwe emabhodweni epulasitiki, kanye nama-pallet ezithunyelwa kuwo. Lezi zinhle kakhulu ekuzaleni, kanti iLowe's inohlelo lokuvuselela kabusha oluzigcina zingangeni ezindaweni zokulahla udoti. Eqinisweni, zizothatha amabhodwe ezitshalweni ezithengwe kwenye indawo. Lezi zimbiza namathileyi zivame ukutholakala mahhala kwaLowe's naseHome Depot (ngoMavis Butterfield noBrie kwaTerraForums). Kwezinye izitolo, le mikhiqizo incintisana kakhulu, ngakho hlola kusenesikhathi futhi kaningi.
Ngokusho kwe-LBM Journal, ngisho nangaphambi kokuntuleka kobhubhane, ikhwalithi yokhuni yayisehlile, ngakho-ke ukuqonda ukuthi ungalikhetha kanjani ipulangwe elihle enqwabeni yokhuni kaLowe kuphuthuma kakhulu kunanini ngaphambili. Ukuthenga ukhuni olugobile, olugobile, oluqhekeziwe, olugoqiwe, olusontekile, olugoqiwe, oluqhekekile noma oluqhekekile kudala imfucuza eyengeziwe ekhulisa izindleko zakho. Ngokuqonda ukuthi ungakhetha kanjani ukhuni esitolo, ungasusa izingozi eziningi zokugoba.
Ungacwaninga ngezigaba zokhuni usebenzisa izinsiza ezifana ne-primer enhle kakhulu kaThomas Publishing, kodwa amazinga ngeke akutshele ukuthi ugobile, okudingeka ukwenze nje ukubheka amabhodi, kusho uBrett McKay we-The Arts eluleka uManly. Okokuqala, hlola ipulangwe ukuze ubone ukuthi alinamifantu (imifantu ibonakala kuphela phakathi kwepulangwe), ukuqhekeka (imifantu yonke ipulangwe), ukuxega (ukuhlukana eceleni kwendandatho yokukhula), kanye namafindo angazinzile angase awe. Bheka isithombe esingenhla bese ubheka phansi (noma "umugqa wokubona") phansi kobude bebhodi ukuze uhlole noma yiziphi zalezi zinkinga. Okokugcina, hlola ama-telomere bese ulahla noma yimaphi amapulangwe lapho ungabona khona izindandatho zokukhula ezigcwele, njengoba ukugwema i-pith/heartwood kuyindlela enhle yokugwema ukugoba esikhathini esizayo (nge-blog ye-Growit BuildIt).
Indlela eqinisekile yokonga imali umkhuba odumile wokushintsha izinto "ozidingayo" ngento eshibhile noma etholakala kalula. Uma kukhulunywa ngamathuluzi, ungagcina ngokushesha nangokukhulu ngokusebenzisa ezinye izindlela ezishibhile kodwa ezinamandla, kunokuthenga amathuluzi akhethekile abizayo ongawasebenzisa kanye bese uwagcina unomphela. Ungenza njalo izinto zokushintsha ekhaya noma eshabhu nganoma yisiphi isikhathi, njengokushintsha amathuluzi (ngezinye izikhathi okuyisiwula) okuphakanyiswe yiSparetoolz, kodwa funa ezinye kuzo zombili izinkontileka zikaLowe bese uthuthukisa izinketho ezitholakalayo kuwe.
Cabanga ngesidingo esingazelelwe nesingenakugwenywa sokudala imbobo eyindilinga esitsheni sokhuni. I-Lowe's inikeza izindlela eziningi ezinhle zokwenza lokhu (ama-spade drill, ama-forstner bits, nama-hole saw), futhi mhlawumbe ezinye ezimbi (njenge-carbide burrs). Lezi zinezindlela zazo zokusebenzisa: amafosholo nama-auger (ama-spiral noma ama-helical bits emigodi emikhulu, engcolile engadlula noma ingxenye ebhodini); Ama-foster bits emigodi ecocekile enephansi eliyisicaba; nama-hole saw, angasikwa ebhodini elilodwa kuphela (nge-Empire Abrasives). Ake sithi udinga imbobo engu-1″ ebhodini elingu-2×4. Dlulisa amehlo kulezi zinketho ezintathu zokubhoboza ezivela e-Lowe, futhi ama-spade bits cishe ayisigamu sentengo yezinketho ezibiza kakhulu—kuhle ukwazi uma ufuna ukonga imali.
Empeleni, kunezinhlobo eziningi zetheyiphu nezinamathiselo esitolo sehadiwe kunezinkanyezi eziseMilky Way, okungase kungabi yiqiniso ngokuphelele, kodwa njengoba ubuchopho bethu bungakwazi ukukuqonda ngokugcwele, kungaba kuhle ukusho. Ngezinye izikhathi ubambeke ufuna into ethile, eqondile kakhulu, njengebholthi yekhanda lesokhethi lensimbi engagqwali engu-¾” ¼-28. (Ngikufisela inhlanhla!) Kodwa ezimweni eziningi, ezinye izindlela zizosebenza kahle, futhi zivame ukukongela imali enkambisweni. (Khumbula, lapho ufuna izinto zokufaka esikhundleni, amantongomane, amabholthi, nanoma yiziphi ezinye izinsimbi abahlangana nazo kufanele zifaniswe ukuze kugwenywe ukugqwala kwe-galvanic, kutuswa yi-APP Manufacturing.
Into eyodwa ozozithola uyenza ngokuphindaphindiwe emhlabeni we-DIY ukuvula, ukugoqa, nokugcina izintambo zokwelula. Ngaphandle kokuthi uthanda futhi usebenzise indlela ye-chainring yokugcina intambo yakho (nge-Wirecutter), ungagcina une-coil futhi udinga kakhulu intambo ezungezile. I-Velcro ingasetshenziswa kulo msebenzi; i-Lowe's ithengisa amaphakethe amathathu angu-12″ ngo-$3.98. Kodwa zama amatheyiphu omdwebi oluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka okungenzeka ukuthi usunawo kakade. Iqinile impela, ayishiyi insalela yokunamathela, futhi uthola ubude obuphindwe ka-720 (60″) ukugoqa izintambo ezingaphezu kwezintathu ngesikhathi. Ukushintsha akupheli; hlola noma iyiphi ividiyo ye-Youtube yamathiphu namaqhinga ukuze uthole izeluleko ezengeziwe.
Uma sicabanga ngezinto ezingasetshenziswa, sivame ukucabanga ngokupheka. Izinto zokuthuthukisa ikhaya azikwazi ukushintshwa njalo. Lokhu kuvame ukuba yinkinga yokuphepha ngakho-ke ngokuvamile kuba yinkinga yekhodi yokwakha. Izinketho ezifana "nomugqa omncane" noma "ipayipi le-DWV esikhundleni sika-40" azizona izinketho, zidala inhlekelele. Kodwa ezinye izindlela (ubuningi nekhwalithi) ziyamukeleka. Ngawo-1970, indlela yokwakheka kohlaka esebenzisa ukhuni oluncane yathuthukiswa (ekuqaleni eyayibizwa ngokuthi "ubunjiniyela benani elihle kakhulu", kamuva yashintshwa yaba "ukwakheka kohlaka oluphezulu" ngabanye abathengisi abanengqondo), okuvumela uhlaka oluphakathi lwama-intshi angu-24 lomthwalo - Izindonga ezithwala umthwalo nezinye izindonga zisebenzisa amabhodi amancane, ngokusho kwe-USDA Forest Products Laboratory. Ungasebenzisa indlela efanayo (isibonelo, usebenzisa u-2×3 esikhundleni sika-2×4) ukunciphisa izindleko zamaphrojekthi amaningi.
Akukhona nje ngokhuni. Isibonelo, iLowe's ithengisa ipayipi lensimbi njengento yokulilungisa (ngokuyisisekelo ithatha indawo yefenisha), kodwa ipayipi elingamamitha ayi-10 libiza u-$45.92, futhi kumaphrojekthi anganciki kakhulu, ungase ucabangele amandla epayipi le-PVC elipendiwe noma elentambo.
Uma kukhona owaziyo amandla okushintshana, umphakathi we-DIY. Nasi isibonelo. Emuva ekukhuleni kokuqala kwe-.com, amabhodi amhlophe ayeyinto ebalulekile ukumboza izindonga zenkampani. Awusoze wazi ukuthi uhlelo olukhulu oludinga umdwebo ongama-square-foot angu-200 luzofika nini. Amabhizinisi amancane asheshe athola ukuthi izindleko zazingenangqondo emakethe yawo encane engamaRandi ayizigidi ezingama-200, ngakho abanye ochwepheshe bathola ukuthi amaphaneli okugeza angenza amabhodi amhlophe afanayo futhi ashibhile kakhulu, inqobo nje uma ungakhathazeki ngezinto ezifana "nokuqina." " kanye ne-"Susa". Vele, lokhu kusasebenza nanamuhla, noma ungapendi yonke i-intshi yesikwele ngawo, njengoba kuboniswa yi-Fairy Dust Teaching.
Eminye imibono ihlanganisa ukupenda udonga esikhundleni sokutshala imali esikrinini sephrojektha (ngeProjektha Central), noma ukwenza isikrini esiluhlaza ukuze ukwazi ukukhombisa umndeni wakho uvakasha enyangeni. Ngezinye izikhathi okunye esikhundleni salokho kuphelele, njengokusebenzisa i-caulk ye-silicone engu-100% esikhundleni seresiphi eqondene ngqo nokwenza isikhunta (nge-Instructables).
Kuye ngokuthi yiziphi izindawo ezithile zasePinterest ozibandakanya kuzo ngengozi, ungathola kalula imboni yonke ethanda ukonga imali ngokwenza izinto ngokwakho, ezivame ukuthengwa ezitolo ezinkulu zokuthuthukisa ikhaya. Ngokusho kwe-Chalk & Apples kanye ne-Fstoppers, abathwebuli bezithombe, abathwebuli bevidiyo kanye nothisha baziwa ngokonga nge-DIY emasikweni angawahloniphi kahle imfundo noma enza amavidiyo e-Minecraft e-YouTube, ngakho-ke kunamathuba amaningi laphaya. Isibonelo, hlola le ngxoxo ejulile ephetha ngokuthi i-PTFE thread sealing tape iyireferensi enhle kakhulu (futhi eshibhile!) yabathwebuli bezithombe (nge-FastRawViewer). Noma zama lesi sizinda, esisebenzisa ngobuhlakani i-toilet plunger ethobekile kakhulu (nge-DIY photography).
Uma kukhulunywa ngezifundo ezinkulu, abaculi bavame ukuba ngabantu abangenamali, ngezinye izikhathi “abangochwepheshe” ngoba bazochitha imali kunoma yini, futhi banamasiko e-DIY anempilo, acebile ngezinye izindlela, njengabanye bakwaLowe. Uma ithalente lakho lokukhuluma selikhathele ukudonselwa ekhabetheni njengesoka lakho lebanga leshumi lapho umama efika ekhaya kusenesikhathi, i-macProVideo isikisela ezinye izindlela zokushintsha amakamelo okuzihlukanisa namazwi abizayo, njengokuwagoqa ngezingubo zokupakisha. Ungavikela umsindo ekamelweni lonke nge-insulation yoboya bedwala.
Okwamanje, abaculi bangathola izimpahla abazidingayo ngenkathi behlala kude nebhokisi likadoti ngamathiphu avela komagazini abanjengo-Artspace Magazine, njengokuthi ungayenza kanjani indwangu yokudweba eshibhile ngendwangu.
Izindlela zokuzenzela ezifinyelele esicongweni somkhuba wokuqasha amathuluzi futhi manje sezitholakala ezindaweni eziningi zaseLowe. Ukuqasha amathuluzi inqubo lapho uqala khona iphrojekthi ongayazi futhi uyiqashe kunokuthenga amanye amathuluzi abizayo ayidingayo. Hlela ngokucophelela. Ukuqasha amathuluzi avamile kungaba nzima, ngakho-ke udinga ukuhlela amaphrojekthi akho lapho ungakwazi ukuqasha amathuluzi owadingayo. Uzofuna futhi ukuqinisekisa ukuthi noma yiliphi ithuluzi oliqashayo liyasebenza, futhi uma ungakaze ulisebenzise ngaphambili, kuzodingeka ufunde ukuthi ungalisebenzisa kanjani ngokuphephile. Noma kunjalo, lindela ukonga okufika ku-2% uma kuqhathaniswa nokuthenga ithuluzi ngqo.
Ngokusho kwe-O'Reilly Auto Parts, kwamanye amathuluzi, ungacabanga nangesitolo sakho sezingxenye zezimoto sendawo, esivame ukuba nababoleki bamathuluzi mahhala (abanediphozithi enkulu). Iningi lala mathuluzi liqondene ngqo nokulungiswa okuzenzakalelayo, kodwa amanye (njengezimpompi ze-vacuum) nawo afaneleka ezimweni zokuthuthukisa ikhaya.
Kubalandeli abaya eLowe's bengazi ukuthi bazokhokha ngani intengo, isitolo sinikeza uhlelo olucishe lucabangeke lokufanisa amanani olukunikeza intengo ephansi kakhulu ozoyithola phakathi kwabancintisana nabo. Ukuqhathaniswa kwamanani amaningi kudinga izinombolo zomkhiqizo ezifanayo, okungaba yinkinga. Abathengisi abakhulu ngezinye izikhathi badinga amamodeli ahlukene omkhiqizo ofanayo ukuze bagweme izibopho zokulingana kwamanani, kusho uCheapism. Ngesikhathi zonke izinto ezikhishwe ohlwini sezihloliwe, cishe akunakwenzeka ukuhlangabezana nesidingo sokulingana kwamanani, ngakho-ke kuzodingeka uthembele emuseni womcashi noma abasebenzi benkonzo yamakhasimende, abavame ukuba negunya lokwenza lezi zinqumo. Nazi ezinye izindlela zokuthola ukuhambisana kwamanani okungcono kakhulu, nokuthi ungakwenza kanjani kusebenze.
I-Cheapism itusa ukuthi ulethe ubufakazi bokufaniswa kwentengo, njengepheshana lokuthengisa noma ikhasi lewebhu efonini yakho. Ungasebenzisa futhi izinsizakalo ezifana ne-PriceCase ukulandelela amanani omkhiqizo ngamunye kusuka kubancintisani bakho futhi uthole izexwayiso lapho kwenzeka izinguquko ezibalulekile. IBrickSeek izothola wonke amanani endawo omkhiqizo othize futhi ikubonise intengo yamanje ephansi kakhulu ezitolo ezingase zifanelekele i-Lowe's Price Match.
Uma unesithupha esiluhlaza futhi ungakwazi ukubulala izitshalo zakho ngokwakho, iLowe's iyajabula ukukwenzela lokho futhi izokunikeza isaphulelo esingu-50-90% ukuqala! ILowesEmployees.com ithi ukususa izitshalo kuvame ukuba ukuntuleka kokunisela, futhi noma ubani onesithupha esiluhlaza esiphakathi kufanele akwazi ukuzibuyisela empilweni. Vele, ungathengi noma yini ebonakala ifile. Izitendi zezitshalo zokususa izitshalo ziyatholakala phakathi koSuku lweSikhumbuzo noSuku lwaBasebenzi.
Izitshalo zokususa izitshalo ngokuvamile azibuyiselwa imali, ngakho-ke uma ulangazelela ukubuyiselwa imali egcwele, kuzodingeka uzibulale wena izitshalo. Izindaba ezinhle, ngokusho kukaLowe's, ukuthi iLowe's inikeza inqubomgomo yokubuyisela izitshalo yezinyanga ezingu-12 yezihlahla, izihlahla kanye nezinye izitshalo ezihlala isikhathi eside. Uma uyibulala kungakapheli nonyaka, bazoyithatha ngaphandle kokubuza imibuzo. Okunye ukuthengwa kwezitshalo kufaka phakathi inqubomgomo yokubuyisela yezinsuku ezingu-90. Le nkampani igcizelela ukuthi kufanele ulethe irisidi lakho.
Ukubuyiselwa kwemali kuyinto enkulu, hhayi nje ezindaweni zokulima kuphela, ngakho-ke yize leli cebiso lingeke likugcinele imali ngokuphelele, lizokushiya nemali eningi ephaketheni lakho ekupheleni kwephrojekthi. Imfihlo? Vele uthenge kwaLowe's. Esinye sezizathu ezikhanga izitolo ezinkulu zamabhokisi uma kuqhathaniswa nezitolo ezifana nogesi kanye nabaphakeli bamapayipi ukuthi laba bamuva abavami ukubuyisa imali ngaphandle kokukhokhisa imali yokubuyisela impahla. Isibonelo, phakathi kwabaphakeli abakhulu bezohwebo, iFerguson ikhokhisa imali yokubuyisela impahla ngokubuyiselwa kwayo. I-Quality Plumbing Supply izokwamukela ukubuyiselwa kwemali zingakapheli izinsuku ezingama-30, kodwa kumele ube ne-Return Material Authorization (RMA); imali yokubuyisela impahla engu-15% ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-15, imali yokubuyisela impahla engu-25% uma ungenayo i-RMA, futhi isayithi libala ezinye zezinto ezinkulu ezingafakwanga. Njengoba kunerisidi noma indlela yokukhokha efanele, iLowe's izokwamukela ukubuyiselwa kwemali ngaphandle kokuhlupheka.
Ibhonasi: Uma unomuzwa wokuthi udinga ukubhekwa eduze kakhulu kwaLowe uqobo, cabanga ngokuzama ukuthola umbiko wabo wokunciphisa izindleko kusuka komunye wabasebenzi. Lo mbhalo odumile, okungenzeka ukuthi uyinganekwane ubala zonke izinto ezithengiswayo esitolo, futhi ngisho nokwazi ukuthi kungabangela indoda egqoke ijazi eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka ukuthi iqale ngokushesha ukuthumela umlayezo kumphathi. Kodwa uma uphumelela, umbiko wokunciphisa izindleko kufanele ube yindlela ewusizo yokonga isikhathi (nge-LowesEmployees).