The Golden Rule of Employee Relations
By Rich Lindblom, YSN
My father told me something nearly 40 years ago that is just as relevant today, if not more so, than the day he said.
He said, “There are just some people who it doesn’t matter how much money you pay them; they will never be happy.”
The problem is that there are a whole bunch of employers out there today that believe the exact opposite, and I actually feel sorry for them. These businesses think that if you pay people enough money it doesn’t matter how you treat them, or perhaps more precisely, mistreat them. Hopefully this doesn’t describe your company.
Let me share with you the tale of a very large retailer that I won’t name but know fairly well. This company pays its employees substantially more than anyone else in the industry, and I’m talking about a premium of 50 percent all the way up to 100 percent over their local competitors.
I’m sure you’re already asking yourself, “Why so much?” The answer is, they must. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to retain any employees. The problem is that because they pay so well, they apparently believe they can treat their workers like something less than human beings — mentally and verbally abusing them, and running them ragged by forcing them to work nights, weekends, holidays, or whenever. All in the name of a fat paycheck.
As I said, I hope this doesn’t describe your company, because it doesn’t matter how much you pay an employee. Sooner or later, it simply won’t be enough to keep them happy, productive and satisfied. Sooner or later, they will leave. And that is the case with this retailer. They have a huge turnover rate and are constantly in need of new employees. But that’s not all. They also have a company full of truly unhappy staff.
Odds are you have all heard of the Golden Rule, the one that teaches, “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” Well, I think that also applies very well to employees. Let’s call it “The Golden Rule of Employee Relations.”
Now for starters, without getting all preachy, isn’t that whole Golden Rule thing the right way to live your life and run your company in the first place? Seriously, if you treat people well, it’s reasonable to assume they will treat you well in return. And for the record, I believe that this applies to both employees and customers. But we’re just going to talk about employees right now.
When you treat your employees right, I believe the overwhelming majority will do the same in return. And when I say treat them right, I mean being fair, honest and respectful. Don’t be a jerk to them, don’t take out your frustrations on them, and don’t ever force them to do something you wouldn’t be willing to do yourself.
Now here’s a little secret the company I referenced has clearly not learned: When you treat people properly, they are happy to work for you, and happy people aren’t nearly as concerned with how much they make per hour as unhappy people are. Translation: Happy employees aren’t going to be knocking on your door looking for a raise every three months.
But it goes far beyond that. Happy employees are also more productive, and are far more likely to refer your business to potential customers and potential new hires. What a concept!
The bottom line is that if you start practicing the Golden Rule of Employee Relations, I think you’ll find yourself with fewer headaches at the end of the day and probably more money in your pocket to boot.
I have three goals in mind with my columns: To motivate, educate and entertain. If I have achieved at least one of those, then I have done my job. Don’t be shy about letting me know if you agree or disagree. You can always reach me at egvrich@gmail.com.
