What’ s Tom’ s purpose of speaking to Mr. Clinton?

Tom: Mr. Clinton, I have been with this company for five years. And I’ve always been very loyal to the company. And I feel that I’ve worked quite hard here. And I’ve never promoted. It’s getting to the point now in my life where, you know, I need more money. I would like to buy a car. I’d like to start a family, and maybe buy a house, all of which is impossible with the current salary you’ re paying me.
Mr. Clinton: Tom, I know you’ve been with the company for a while, but raises here are based on merit, not on length of employment. Now, you do your job adequately, but you don’t do it well enough to deserve a raise at this time. I’ve told you before, to earn a raise you need to take more initiative and show more enthusiasm for the job. Uh, for instance, maybe find a way to make the office run more efficiently.
Tom: All right. Maybe I could show a little more enthusiasm. I still think that I work hard here. But a company does have at least an obligation to pay its employees enough to live on. And the salary I’m getting here isn’t enough. I can barely cover my expenses.
Mr. Clinton: Tom, again, I pay people what they’re worth to the company, not what they think they need to live on comfortably. If you did that the company would go out of business.
Tom: Yes, but I have... I have been here for five years and I have been very loyal. And it’s absolutely necessary for me to have a raise or I cannot justify keeping this job any more.
Mr. Clinton: Well, that’s a decision you’ll have to make for yourself, Tom.