My business partner and I have been employers now for nearly 10 years and one of the keys to owning a successful company is having good, loyal, trustworthy employees. That is not an easy task and after years of experience I can honestly say that for the most part we...
hate hiring Christians.
Our first employee was a Christian college student. She was one of the few "Christian" employees we have ever had we could trust. She was loyal and genuine in how she worked and what she did for us. I wish we could clone her!
Today we have hired hundreds of people over the years and have about 40 that work for us currently. The people that make their faith known to those around them by being outlandish, loud and overbearing are the one's we fear. They usually cover up their lack of character with their obnoxious church-chatter. God this and God that.....church this and church that....believing for this and believing for that. It's really easy to see.
It's a sad truth but my business partner and I would rather have a non-Christian or at least a non-Bible toting believer work for us. It seems the more they profess to be a Christian the worse the behavior they bring to our company.
When it comes to good employees we look for these qualities:
1. Dependable
2. Responsible
3. Good positive attitude (no drama)
4. Does not stir up trouble or gossip
5. Trustworthy
6. Strong work ethic (works 8 hours a day or more and is not late every day)
7. Does not have to be micro-managed
8. Teachable, coachable, flexible attitude
9. Honest and has integrity
10. Goal oriented
Now, one would think these are obvious attributes for a Christian employee to demonstrate. Yet, time after time we see the opposite. Many are tardy daily, many lie and are deceptive, many have stolen from us, many lie and cheat the company work time and materials, most gossip and have poor attitudes, they stir up drama and trouble, and they are only as loyal as their next paycheck. The next time the company makes a mistake they are worse than non-Christians at trying to destroy company reputations and those of the owners.
Funny thing is that these same people expect the company, since it is owned by two Christians, to demonstrate the same qualities they fail to every day! They won't behave that way themselves buy heaven forbid the company makes a mistake. It makes no sense.
We had one "Christian" customer service manager hide work (customer letters and information) in her drawers and made up false reports to make herself look good. (A year later she sent me an email asking for us to donate to her newly formed ministry! lol) We recently had another that had a medical condition she used to take advantage of the company by getting extra time off work so in reality she could sleep in or spend time with her boyfriend that she was also sleeping with. She also used the company apartment to have sleepovers. We have had numerous "Christian" employees that have totally lied to the TWC in order to get illegal unemployment benefits after they quit or were terminated for lack of performance. One just never showed back up to work again (job abandonment) and yet said she was fired. And we have had many "Christians" show no character at all by spreading gossip about the company and giving company materials to competitors after they no longer worked for us. We never expect "Christian" employees to give us a real "two week notice" - those days are long behind us.
Of course, these same "Christian" employees are the ones running to various churches in the area to praise God on Sundays. One used to go to my church! I would expect such actions from those who do not know Christ but not fellow believers. Makes me sick. Really.
Bottom line to me is these people do not really know the Lord. Honest mistakes and failures are the name of game for the normal, true Christian. But habitual actions that show a lack of character or integrity, only to deny so later when confronted, shows me these people never really knew Jesus anyway.
If you are a Christian and you have a job remember these two simple things.
1. You are working for an audience of ONE - Christ Himself. Work as if He was your boss, because in reality He does control your Company, your earthly boss and your paycheck! Give it your all, day after consistent day.
2. Set an example for the others around you. Certainly if you are a believer you should be among the best employees your boss has. Ask yourself, "How would Christ be seen by His fellow workers and His boss if He worked here?" and practice the answers you come up with!
You spend most of time each week at work. If you can't be like Christ at work, what are you saving it for?
Step up to the plate or just make sure you don't apply to work for me.
"Servants (employees), do what you're told by your earthly masters (boss). And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work." Colossians 3:22-25
(c) 2007, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it!"
5 comments:
What a treasure, and how reassuring to see these expectations come from the "younger generation". Not that I doubted it coming from you, big guy!!! What a treasure you are. Keep holding the expectations high and don't "water" them down. You will attain quality.
Mama Pat
I have read your posts and it saddens me to hear what your saying. Perhaps i's not who your hiring put who hired is a bad judge of character. Not to put the person down but you fail to see that we all fall short of theglory of GOD yes even you! Perhaps your expectation of "Christians" needs to be revisited. Have you considerded that God has put you in their lives to help them and not just you and your company? Love your neibor as yourself, take the pole out of your eye before taking the spec out of you brothers. Some of us are drinking milk while others a nature in Christ. So it's our responsability to help the lost instead of labeling. This is not judging you and your company just a different point of view. Are you looking at my spelling errors or are you taking the message? LOOK inside see what HE has put for you to GUIDE or perhaps be GUIDED!!!! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR COMPANY IN HELPING LOST CHRISTIANS!!!!
Tony thank you for your comment and I appreciate you reminding me of those truths. However, when it comes to the lost, surely you know part of my outlook is to be a witness. But my post back then was about people that already claimed to be believers and it is their own responsibility, not mine, to know and practice Christian BASICS. Sadly, many of them simply don't. This article was written in 2007. I have since closed down that company and now work for myself. I can do more good in other ways to reach the lost than be an employer of people who simply have no character. Christ told his disciples at one point to shake the dust from their sandles and move on. After 10 years of doing all I could, that's exactly what I did.
I read your article and understand you hate hiring "people" that don't perform the work or have the integrity or work ethic you do. People in general are fallen and messy and it takes real leadership to build a high performing team with ethics.
You article makes a connection to a larger group that simply isn't true for any one group and may push people away from an eternity with God. You are accountable for that to be a witness and draw people to Christ; not away if you are a believer. I would take a long look in the mirror on your hiring practices, what expectations you lay out each day how you model it, and how you coach individuals before you label Christians. It has been my experience as a Christian executive and 20 years in retail that you get out what you put into employees and they will follow your leadership. Will they (being all employees) disappoint and make mistakes like the few employees you mentioned, absolutely. Hold them accountable; fire them if you have to. Your expectations to perform are respectable.
I recommend you really look at what you wrote and prayerfully consider the implications of it, especially the title. Then consider pulling it and rewriting it about how work ethic and values are falling, even in the Church, and inspiring people to rise up to God's standards, but leading off with “hating to hire Christians” has eternal consequences. I’ll bet the enemy loved your article. Imagine being a Christian employee who is doing a good job reading about how you mock some who were witnessing at work. They may hesitate to witness again if they thought it might upset their employer who in this case is not only evaluating their behavior at work but at home and church as well based on what you wrote. There is the great commission and commandment, never forget what we are called to them. Imagine someone misses out on eternity because you intimidated people into submission.
You may be right that some of these folks are not really committed to the Lord but it is a very fine line for you as a leader in business and a position of authority to constructively share a harsh reality versus create a bold statement that Christians are not worthy of being hired to work. In my opinion you way beyond that line….Please take the time to pray about the message you sent…
Thanks George for your feedback. Sad truth is everything I sad was yes harsh but reality. Jesus himself said very harsh things towards the "believers" of us his day. I don't worry about people who qwear their feelings on their sleeves. I make no bones about my thoughts. We bring people to JESUS not other Christians.
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