Labor and Management - A Catholic View

Labor and Management – A Catholic View
 

By Thomas Stidl on Labor Day 2022

         How do we view labor and management?  Let’s find the proper way to see things from a management, a worker, and God’s point of view.

         Let’s start with the worker.  First, it is the worker’s responsibility for punctuality on the job.  Now, there will be instances where circumstances prevent him from fulfilling that obligation both at the beginning of the shift and at the end.  Hopefully, these are the exceptions to the rule.  Second, the worker must strive to give an honest day’s labor to management with enthusiasm.  This means putting effort and energy into the job.  Third, the worker should complete all the hours assigned and leave the place of employment at the end of the shift.  Fourth, if asked to work overtime or if the work demands it, the worker should comply.  If someone is expecting the worker at a specific time, the worker should make a short phone call why they will be delayed.  When that does not happen, usually the meal will be cold and someone’s temper hot!!!  Let us all try to avoid that condition.

         Now, let us consider management’s role.  Management should provide a worker with a decent, clean place to work.  They should also treat the worker with respect and dignity.  Management should also expect mistakes to be made on the job.  We are all human including management.  Management should not continuously holler at all workers.  The worker is not a slave; he or she is a person with free will.  I once told a president that he should stop hollering even though mistakes are made.  After ten minutes, he called me into his office and told me that if I ever said that again to him our work relationship would be over.  He said that he was boss and does whatever he wanted.  That is the wrong attitude to take.  He is not God and will face judgment on that.  Possibly when he goes through The Warning before the end of the age, he may be able to correct his ways.  At any rate the job ended about nine months later.  Yes, I missed the paycheck but I did not miss the booming headaches at the end of my shift.  I could write a book about what I have been through in the workforce and you dear reader can probably do the same.  The important thing to remember is that we must forgive our fellow man so that Our Heavenly Father may forgive us.  When a boss asks or orders you to do something immoral or illegal or if there is too much tension on the job, the worker should start looking for a new job.  Once the worker finds one, the worker should give the boss the usual two weeks notice, train the replacement and leave quietly.  One more thing for management, they should not cheat their lower echelon workers out of hours to be worked so they can save money.  I could tell stories about this too numerous to mention.

         Finally, what is God’s point of view?  The guide we have to determine that is the Holy Bible and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  With peace and patience, both management and workers should cooperate to avoid and solve all problems and be mutually beneficial for all.

         Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe.  Deo Gratias.  Praise be to God.  See you in Paradise.