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BE IN THE WAY

     Of course, we now have a battle between employers and employees about whether to physically return to the office or shop on Mondays.  Before I dig into this, let me unpack a few things.  First, the title of this column refers to a tradition among Pastors and up-and-coming preachers in their churches.  Old Pastors would make their selection of younger ministers for preaching and ministry assignments based upon those who ‘showed up’ for pastoral training and church functions.  As the Old preachers would tell it, a young preacher had to ‘be in the way’.  This simply means that young preachers had to be around the church and the Pastor more than ‘just’ on Sundays.  I’m not saying that this was a ‘perfect’ method of determining the quality of a minister—but it went a long way in showing who was willing to put in the work.

     The same may be said for those employees willing to ‘be in the way’ by arriving to the office instead of always working from home.  The pandemic is over and its time to get back in person.

     Hear me out on this one, young employees.  Your employer isn’t trying to ‘punish you’ by reminding you to come into the workplace.  This is what you signed on for when you agreed to take their paycheck—you agreed to abide by their rules, not yours over theirs.  In fact, if I may be so bold, there are a number of states—between 25 to 30—that are called ‘at will’ states.  This means that the employer can fire you for a variety of reasons.  Plus, if you are a probationary employee, if you can’t (or don’t) cut it during your probationary period you can be shown the door, whether you’re in a union or not.

     Employees that stay on the job—rather than finding excuses NOT to show up—increase their chances of NOT being laid off, NOT being fired and FOR being promoted.  Don’t kid yourselves young folks.  This has NOT changed in generations.  WE had to go through it to get to it.  Real life does NOT play favorites.

     I understand that we as a nation went through the Wuhan Virus (Covid 19) lockdowns.  However, those days are behind us, and the economy is slowly returning to normal.  Employers kept the engines of commerce rolling with employees returning to the office.  I also understand that in some cities due to the rise in crime and street level homelessness the office or the shop is not the safest place to be.  This simply means that you are going to have to earnestly seek out another job.  NO employee should have to ‘fight their way to work’ through criminals and ‘street zombies’.  THOSE issues can best be solved at the ballot box by electing candidates who are pro-law enforcement and pro-public safety—even to those who go to work and pay taxes every day.

     What are other benefits from going back to the office?  First, it lines you up for extra training ON the job that others OFF the job would not have access to.  Next, it gives you access to older employees that will give you advice about the company that you will NOT find in the corporate earning statement.  And, of course, you will be able to build your industry network WITH the help (hopefully) of a mentor you have made through your workplace.  ‘Old School’ rules still apply in a ‘Nu School’ work environment.  The company MUST make a profit to keep you employed.  The employee that helps the company make THEIR bottom line will not only BE employed and (should) earn good raises—word of their contribution to the bottom line will spread out to other companies, which will in turn lead to offers FROM other companies down the road.

     Let me toss this in for free.  Think of YOU—one day—having your OWN company.  The owner: the entrepreneur you hope to be STARTS with the employee you are today!  Be in the way today, and you will likely reflect on the lessons learned when you have the keys to your OWN doors.

     Mike Ramey is a Retired Minister, KJV Bible Teacher, syndicated columnist and Bible Prophecy Specialist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  “The Quick Scan” is one of a variety of his columns appearing and abounding in print and cyberspace, written from a biblical, business, and common-sense perspective since 1996.  To drop him a line—or a whine—the address is still the same: mgmikeramey@yahoo.com.  ©2023 Barnstorm Communications International.