The Kerr-ching! of virtue. Why honouring your staff pays.

I recently attended an organisation’s away day.

Future plans for their building were explained from the front, with placid group acceptance; but things suddenly kicked off when the subject of parking arose.

The atmosphere in the room was like an exploding volcano, the lava of rage and frustration pouring out.

In a busy city, parking was an issue for all the employees; and they felt they’d been treated badly.

What had happened?

Restrictions on their parking rights had appeared, with no consultation, at the end of an email sent late on Friday evening.

‘I can understand why the issue needs looking at,’ said one employee. ‘But I don’t feel it’s been handled well. In fact, it’s disgraceful. I don’t feel we’ve been honoured.’

And there was the rub.

‘I don’t feel we’ve been honoured.’

It’s a powerful statement and one her employers will need to hear and attend to; clearly there was a breakdown in trust in the room.

They don’t feel valued.

People will go to extraordinary lengths for the company if they feel honoured.

If they don’t, they may stay in post – but destroy through the withdrawal of creativity, inertia, negativity or passive non-cooperation.

Honouring your staff is a virtue that pays.