Adults work for various reasons- money, achievement, personal interest, contribution to society, self esteem. We are compensated for that work, and we generally think of compensation as money, but there are several types of compensation.
Money is certainly one, and it is important. A Chinese proverb says 'Moh ching moh meng'. No money no life. We all work to eat. Some earn far more than needed to eat, and look for special treats, whether vacation, savings or private jets. But money alone cannot be the measure of full compensation.
Another category is what are generally called benefits. These included health insurance, disability, retirement income and other compensation that is not directly monetary. Depending on the position, benefits can be up to 35% of income. They are typically about 20%. Calculating the value of benefits is difficult. The value of health insurance is different for a 25 year old without children than it is for a 50 year old with a heart problem. Retirement benefits are also hard to assess. The amount of money needed to be put aside to reach a given level fo retirement benefit is one good way, but a simpler way is to count only the amount actually put aside, which tends to decrease the impact of a retirement plan.
Work satisfaction and interest are also important. There is a clear difference between work that engages the mind and the soul, and work that is repetitive and without intellectual or emotional input. Setting salary and benefits equal I think most people will choose the more interesting work every time.
All these things are important to me, but the most important one is being valued. There is a terrific study out looking at the impact of relative value on perception. A person who is offered a 65,000 salary knowing everyone else makes 60,000 is much happier than when offered an 80,000 salary knowing everyone else makes 85,000. Clearly then raw income is not as important as making more than your peers. We all want to be valued, and money is a clear way of expressing value.
But what about personal value? That is most important to me. This is expressed perfectly in two quotes, one from 'The Godfather' and one from a song by Cheap Trick-
-With every word, with every gesture, the Don made Luca Brasi feel valued. he saw his face lose its mask of fury, swell with happiness and pride on hearing the Don's flowery thanks.'
-I'll shine up my old brown shoes, I'll put on a brand new shirt. I'll get home early from work if you say that you love me."
I need to feel personally valued. I have been in situations where I was clearly valued, and I was and am willing to do almost anything asked of me in such a situation. I would have dropped anything I was doing to sing for Robert Shaw, resigned my job and come to work with my residency chairman. And I have been in situations where I was making great money and treated badly publicly. And I did not stay. I am not willing to be abused just for being valued, but to be paid without being honored is just a form of prostitution.
Benjamin Franklin was the colonial agent for Pennsylvania in the run-up to the American Revolution. In making a plea for the colony he came to England. There, in what was called the Pit of the House of Lords, he was subjected to two hours of sarcastic questioning by Lord Wedderburne, who clearly thought of Franklin as a colonial bumpkin, while Wedderburne's friends sat in the gallery and laughed. And Franklin never forgot it. When he signed the treaty bringing France into the war as an ally of the colonies, he wore the same suit of plum colored velvet he had worn while being tormented by Wedderburne.
I confess here that I am an unforgiving man, and a sensitive one. When dishonored and mistreated I don't forget and I don't forgive. If the offender comes before me and apologizes, and does not give further offense, I can forgive. An honorable apology was given for poor behavior. But for those who insult, lie, trick, deceive and manipulate, those who mistreat me personally, I do not forgive, and I don't forget.
There always comes a day when the insolent need a favor, or are in trouble. On that day they will find no help. Read it in the Bible.....
Money is important. Work conditions are important. The value and interest in work is important. But none of that justifies being personally dishonored or insulted. It is every bit as important to treat employees, teachers, supervisors, indeed everyone, with honor and respect. And without that respect the other emoluments are just bribes to let someone mistreat you. And I am very hard to bribe.
Ted
Money is certainly one, and it is important. A Chinese proverb says 'Moh ching moh meng'. No money no life. We all work to eat. Some earn far more than needed to eat, and look for special treats, whether vacation, savings or private jets. But money alone cannot be the measure of full compensation.
Another category is what are generally called benefits. These included health insurance, disability, retirement income and other compensation that is not directly monetary. Depending on the position, benefits can be up to 35% of income. They are typically about 20%. Calculating the value of benefits is difficult. The value of health insurance is different for a 25 year old without children than it is for a 50 year old with a heart problem. Retirement benefits are also hard to assess. The amount of money needed to be put aside to reach a given level fo retirement benefit is one good way, but a simpler way is to count only the amount actually put aside, which tends to decrease the impact of a retirement plan.
Work satisfaction and interest are also important. There is a clear difference between work that engages the mind and the soul, and work that is repetitive and without intellectual or emotional input. Setting salary and benefits equal I think most people will choose the more interesting work every time.
All these things are important to me, but the most important one is being valued. There is a terrific study out looking at the impact of relative value on perception. A person who is offered a 65,000 salary knowing everyone else makes 60,000 is much happier than when offered an 80,000 salary knowing everyone else makes 85,000. Clearly then raw income is not as important as making more than your peers. We all want to be valued, and money is a clear way of expressing value.
But what about personal value? That is most important to me. This is expressed perfectly in two quotes, one from 'The Godfather' and one from a song by Cheap Trick-
-With every word, with every gesture, the Don made Luca Brasi feel valued. he saw his face lose its mask of fury, swell with happiness and pride on hearing the Don's flowery thanks.'
-I'll shine up my old brown shoes, I'll put on a brand new shirt. I'll get home early from work if you say that you love me."
I need to feel personally valued. I have been in situations where I was clearly valued, and I was and am willing to do almost anything asked of me in such a situation. I would have dropped anything I was doing to sing for Robert Shaw, resigned my job and come to work with my residency chairman. And I have been in situations where I was making great money and treated badly publicly. And I did not stay. I am not willing to be abused just for being valued, but to be paid without being honored is just a form of prostitution.
Benjamin Franklin was the colonial agent for Pennsylvania in the run-up to the American Revolution. In making a plea for the colony he came to England. There, in what was called the Pit of the House of Lords, he was subjected to two hours of sarcastic questioning by Lord Wedderburne, who clearly thought of Franklin as a colonial bumpkin, while Wedderburne's friends sat in the gallery and laughed. And Franklin never forgot it. When he signed the treaty bringing France into the war as an ally of the colonies, he wore the same suit of plum colored velvet he had worn while being tormented by Wedderburne.
I confess here that I am an unforgiving man, and a sensitive one. When dishonored and mistreated I don't forget and I don't forgive. If the offender comes before me and apologizes, and does not give further offense, I can forgive. An honorable apology was given for poor behavior. But for those who insult, lie, trick, deceive and manipulate, those who mistreat me personally, I do not forgive, and I don't forget.
There always comes a day when the insolent need a favor, or are in trouble. On that day they will find no help. Read it in the Bible.....
Money is important. Work conditions are important. The value and interest in work is important. But none of that justifies being personally dishonored or insulted. It is every bit as important to treat employees, teachers, supervisors, indeed everyone, with honor and respect. And without that respect the other emoluments are just bribes to let someone mistreat you. And I am very hard to bribe.
Ted
As a volunteer who has not received a salary in a dozen years (nor job benefits like health insurance, retirement, or disability), I can testify to the importance of work satisfaction and personal respect. The six-figure salary I earned in the U.S. did not give me the contentment I have had while working for $0.00. It is not that the challenges, difficulties, or moments of exasperation have disappeared: any work with worthy goals will have those. It is that I haven't minded tackling them because the place where I work and the people with whom I work have made everything worth it.
ReplyDeleteAnd as Robert Frost wrote, "That has made all the difference."
-D-