My husband had the opportunity this week to really show what true integrity is. He finished a job and took the tank to a scrap metal place where they handed him $1160 in cash. It would have been so easy to pocket some or even most of this money. It would have been the popular thing to do since the guy with him urged him to turn in a couple hundred of it to the company and split the rest between the guys who worked the job. No one in management would have known.
This was especially tempting in light of the fact that we have had many hard to budget for expenses in the last few months, the company changed the pay schedule so that we now have a couple hundred dollars less to work with each month, and this company treats it's employees so badly that most feel entitled to get whatever they can from it with no thought of loyalty. I can't say that the thought didn't cross my husband's mind that it wouldn't hurt anything, or that it wasn't tempting to keep some of it to help with our bills.
But in the end he stood up against all the other employees who did that job with him. They let him know how incredibly stupid they thought he was and harassed him for his integrity, especially for being loyal to his ideals when his own employer would (and does) take every advantage of his employees every chance he gets.
When David let the corporate office know that he had $1160 in cash on him, and that he wasn't comfortable holding it until next Wednesday (when he has to go to a 2 1/2 day manager meeting) they told him he couldn't give it to any of the other guys because it wouldn't make it back to the main office. They couldn't trust any of the other men to actually bring the money back. In fact, they were very surprised to find out a tank was worth that much because they usually only see $50-60 of the cash when other guys dispose of tanks.
If anyone doubts how hard it really is to have real integrity and to be honest in their dealings... go work with my husband sometime. He is a single light shining in a dark place. And I am so proud of him. I'd rather be destitute and still be able to hold my head up because my husband is an honest and real Christian than to have riches and worldly acclaim and know that it came through the loss of integrity.
I can't help but wonder how much more the employees would be willing to do for their employer is they were only treated like worthwhile human beings who contribute greatly to the success of the company. You can't treat people like crap and expect them to give their best. And, as this story proves, only one out of many will be loyal in spite of it.
We hope and pray for another job opportunity to open up within the next couple of years. For now, we feel that we are supposed to be here and that David is doing good where he is at. But we hope that someday he'll be able to have a job where his good deeds don't go unnoticed and where he'll be appreciated for his integrity, work ethic, and experience. Until then, I can still count on him standing up for what is right. What a huge blessing!!
4 comments:
In so many ways, turning in all the money would be a tough thing to do. On the other hand, as a man with integrity it is easier to do the right thing - and having made the decision to be honest and have integrity BEFORE being faced with such an issue makes a big difference. What a great guy you married, Patty, and what a blessing!
I can testify that even though the pay scale might not increase, having a job where you are appreciated and it is expressed is possible to find! That is one of the reasons we are here...
Obviously those coworkers are so used to pocketing money that should go to their employer that they must have been terribly annoyed in not being able to do their usual split.
But that's what happens when people become so hardened.
I'm glad your husband was honest! Good for him!
Go David!!
That is really sad! Good for David for sticking to his guns. I can't imagine how hard that would be to have all of your co workers taunting you the rest of the day. I would of been watching my back all day. ( I wouldn't of taken the money wither)
I think a lot of their taunting was because they were afraid of they were going to be exposed because of the times they had done that job and pockets hundreds of dollars with the boss being unaware.
Good for David. I have no doubt he will influence someone with his integrity. Maybe not right now, but some day they will look back and remember him and his example.
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