Integrity in the Workplace
Integrity in the Workplace
There was a note in my mail slot at work instructing me to come to the Mr. Miller's office. Mr. Miller is the owner of the company so this is kind of like being summoned to the principal's office. It almost always means admonishment. I am a finish carpenter employed to run the installation department for a custom door and window company. I pulled myself together and advanced toward his office. My mind was searching through everything that I had done in the last few days trying to determine what I might have done wrong. Times are hard right now so I just knew that this could not be a pat on the back or an increase in pay. As I approached Mr. Miller's office I took a deep breath before knocking firmly on his solid oak door. "Come on in" he called to me. He was sitting at his desk with that fatherly look on his face as if I had just done something and now it was time to come clean. Even more concerned now I quickly found a seat. "Michael, how long have you been working for me now?" he asked. I said about three years next month. Mr. Miller said that he should just get right to the point and he did. The other crews are completing their work sooner than mine, which means he has to pay each man on my crew more money for the same job. Since each crew has three or more men he explained that I needed to pick up the pace to get the job done quicker. Mr. Miller even suggested that I learn to cut corners. This made me shutter just thinking about such a request. He continued to tell me that if he was going to stay in business he needed to pay close attention to his employee's time management. My mind was on the defensive now trying to determine the best response to his comments about my work ethic. He paused and asked me if I had anything to say. I started slowly at first with a quiet voice, and explained that I was a perfectionist. It was important that my workmanship not cause the company additional dollars or the need to send
There was a note in my mail slot at work instructing me to come to the Mr. Miller's office. Mr. Miller is the owner of the company so this is kind of like being summoned to the principal's office. It almost always means admonishment. I am a finish carpenter employed to run the installation department for a custom door and window company. I pulled myself together and advanced toward his office. My mind was searching through everything that I had done in the last few days trying to determine what I might have done wrong. Times are hard right now so I just knew that this could not be a pat on the back or an increase in pay. As I approached Mr. Miller's office I took a deep breath before knocking firmly on his solid oak door. "Come on in" he called to me. He was sitting at his desk with that fatherly look on his face as if I had just done something and now it was time to come clean. Even more concerned now I quickly found a seat. "Michael, how long have you been working for me now?" he asked. I said about three years next month. Mr. Miller said that he should just get right to the point and he did. The other crews are completing their work sooner than mine, which means he has to pay each man on my crew more money for the same job. Since each crew has three or more men he explained that I needed to pick up the pace to get the job done quicker. Mr. Miller even suggested that I learn to cut corners. This made me shutter just thinking about such a request. He continued to tell me that if he was going to stay in business he needed to pay close attention to his employee's time management. My mind was on the defensive now trying to determine the best response to his comments about my work ethic. He paused and asked me if I had anything to say. I started slowly at first with a quiet voice, and explained that I was a perfectionist. It was important that my workmanship not cause the company additional dollars or the need to send