WORK: Standards apply to businesses

I appreciate the editorial headlined "Listen up: Work ethic calls." I have some very legitimate questions and answers to this editorial.

Let me say this first as to not offend those businesses that are managed with high ethics in every aspect. Those companies which have been successfully built on high ethics, customer service and professionalism should be commended. BUT LET'S GET REAL. There are many businesses that are not managed with these high standards of ethics in mind.

It is most unfortunate that companies can still rake in huge profits by not only managing the business with poor ethics but also hiring those individuals that you spoke about who all too frequently render poor service and are highly unprofessional. The bottom line is companies in many cases will hire an employee who simply is not qualified and pay that individual substantially less than what the actual value of that job should require.

You simply cannot convince me that with so many good folks unemployed out there, that there is not a huge selection of individuals who have based everything they do on HIGH ETHICS. Those are the folks who are not only educated but practice high standards of ethics who give absolutely nothing but 100 percent, yet are sitting on the unemployment line. LET'S GET REAL. How many businesses are raking in huge profits at the expense of good employees by cutting benefits, not matching 401K plans, cutting hours and falsely decreasing wages? How many companies are ruining good people by giving them the worst news of all, YOU'RE FIRED, then replacing those dedicated individuals with unqualified employees? My personal opinion and backed by first-hand knowledge: This happens far too often.

I personally can answer your question as to at least one reason why far too many times we hear about poor service, lazy and unprofessional employees who are highly unqualified for not only their position, but likely should not have a job at all.

I worked for a local company that is not built on those HIGH STANDARDS. I am one of those employees who gave 100 percent, educated (Lewis & Clark State) and backed by years of experience specific to the trade. Yet on a day in August when at the last straw, I reported an employee for violating a list of company rules that would remind one of a prolific criminal, the hand was turned against me and I was fired. Those violations included alcohol and drugs on the job, destruction of company property, insubordination to a supervisor and a host of work ethic issues far too long to list. Yet instead of retaining a dedicated employee and one who had exceptional work ethic backed up by company evaluations and records, the employee was fired. The very same individual who violated so many rules was not even disciplined and was given my job.

I for one believe these type of WORK ETHICS are far too common with companies.

Kudos for Lewis & Clark State in trying to educate people the right way. But in my opinion the business itself is the real problem. How about let's educate the company in proper WORK ETHICS. How about teaching a company to build their infrastructure on good work ethics and moral standards and bring qualified workers in to meet those standards? There are a lot of us out here so why don't you hire us?

BOB PAYNE

Coeur d'Alene