The company Marcia works for has a very unusual way of maintaining standards of behaviour and efficiency in the workplace. Misconduct is dealt with by a system of demerit marks, and any employee with four demerits has to take a trip to the Personnel Director's office on the last Friday of the month. On these occasions, employees are verbally reprimanded and offered a choice of dismissal or the option of a painful bare bottom caning. Most employees choose the corporal punishment option, as it is better than an uncertain future following dismissal.

As assistant to the Personnel Director, it is Marcia's job to record all demerits and disciplinary hearing awards as well as witness the punishment of female employees - so imagine her distress when she messes up, accumulates four demerits, and ends up facing discipline herself. The first part of the ordeal is a medical examination, and after that, Marcia and two other female employees line up in front of the desk in the Personnel Director's office. He requests each woman to disrobe and assume the position over the desk. They are caned in turn, and the punishment proves to be highly motivational!

Other stories in this book include: The Sword of Dishonour; Mother and Daughter; Prefect's Adjudication; and Mature Student.