My brother worked for the Her- man Miller furniture company for 42 years. At his retirement dinner he said, “This is my company. Where else could a production worker like me participate in the management of the company?” What had instilled this kind of loyalty? In part, it was the leadership of D. J. De Pree, long-time president of the company.

One day a worker in the plant died suddenly. When Mr De Pree visited his widow, she told him of her husband’s poetry and of his witnessing to the night watchman. This impressed De Pree with the value of each of the workers in his plant. From then on his attitude towards the business changed. “I realised,” he said, “that the manufacturer’s first priority was to make his product the best he could for the one who would use it; the second was the man in the factory who made it; and the third was the ownership.”

This attitude is rooted in Scripture. Christians in labour and in management all work for one Master. Employees must therefore serve with diligence. Management must do the same—with two additions. They must be fair and just (Col. 4:1) and must not threaten (Eph. 6:9).

Integrity, concern for others and mutual respect make any company a people company.

Author

Dennis J. DeHaan

Topics

Our Daily Bread