The Ethics of Work

Since this blog is posted on Sunday afternoons, some of you will be reading it as you begin a new work week.  Ah, blah Monday's.  Is that how you feel?  When your feet touched the floor as you got up this morning, did you clap your hands together and say, "Boy, this is going to be a fantastic day?"  What's that?  Are you saying that doesn't sound like you?  Aren't you excited to go to work or be at work?  You may be saying to yourself right now, "I'm thankful that I have a job, but I do not love my job.  I'm not bursting with enthusiasm as I begin a new work week."  Shouldn't you be?  Let's consider a few texts from Proverbs first, make a few observations, and then I will close with that same question, "shouldn't you be?"

Proverbs 6:6-11, "Go to the ant, you sluggard!  Consider her ways, and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.  How long will you slumber, O sluggard?  When will you rise from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep - so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man."

Have you ever watched a trail of ants as they are taking food back to their ant hill?  Talk about organized chaos.  They often bump into one another, and have to go around each other and over and around other obstacles.  Sometimes the ant’s trail is interrupted by a child that drags their feet over the trail.  Sometimes it is disrupted by a predator, or even ant spray sprayed by humans.  There may be a little disruption, when these things happen, and the ants move around more helter-skelter and disorganized for a while, but invariably in no time, they are back in their lines again, following their trails, taking food back to their shelter, and then turning around to repeat the same process, again and again.

What is that work ethic within their DNA that keeps them moving, always gathering, always providing?  I personally believe it was put there by their Creator, just as He has put a similar, but different and considerably more advanced kind of work ethic within humans, yet the verses challenge us to learn from the ant about the ethics of work, interesting.

To narrow our focus, let's clarify something.  Our topic today is about having the right kind of work ethic.  We are not looking at the broader term, work ethics.  Wikipedia defines work ethic as, "a set of values based on hard work and diligence. It is also a belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character. A work ethic may include being reliable, having initiative, or pursuing new skills."  The subject Work Ethics is the foundational theme for this blog.  Work Ethics is synonymous with Business Ethics. Work Ethics involves honesty, integrity, reliability and accountability in our jobs, careers and vocations. 

Work ethic like most things humans are involved with has extremes.  You have the lazy, and you have the workaholic.  I'm not writing this post to pick on the lazy, nor am I advocating being a workaholic.  Both extremes are wrong.  There must be a work-life balance to have the proper work ethic.  Ethics isn't just about how you treat others.  It's also about how you treat yourself - at work, at home and beyond.  There is a balance, and never has there been a time that finding that balance is as critical as it is now.

Inc. Magazine reported a few years back that U.S. employers lose an estimated $544 billion in lost productivity each year.  Surveyed employees average 1.86 hours per eight-hour workday on something other than their jobs.  That figure does not include lunches or scheduled breaks.  The two main timewasters were surfing the internet and socializing with co-workers.  When I analyze the web traffic for a client's site, Monday is always the heaviest web traffic day of the week, with Saturday and Sunday, when people have "free time" being the lowest two traffic days.  I'm sure you have heard of Cyber Monday, haven't you?  The biggest online shopping day of the year is the Monday after Thanksgiving.  Aren't people usually at work on Monday's?

Now with the explosion of Facebook, Linked In and other social media sites, even more time is being wasted.  Did you know there is a website that’s about nothing more than to show readers "how to use Facebook at work without being caught?"  It gives you 5 easily usable tips that will keep you from getting caught while on Facebook at work.  Another report in Business Week says that one third of workers spend time on Facebook at work.  Of that number, 64% have started using their smart phones to check social sites, now that more and more businesses are either blocking access (28%) or limiting access (40%) to social sites on company computers.

Have you ever seen a time when so many people in the work force just show up, punch a clock, and then immediately look for the counter where success is instantly handed out?  Fewer employees are willing to pay the price, make the sacrifice and make a difference.  Too many want instant success and big money.  Now with the continued weak economy and scarce jobs, people instead of excelling are even more miserable and discontent with working.  You would think it would be just the opposite.  One day recently while my wife and I were in the checkout line at Wal-Mart, we were engaging the checkout lady in some light conversation.  When we were leaving, my wife said “have a good day”.  The checkout lady said, “I only have 30 more minutes on my shift, then it will be a good day.”  We walked away, shaking our heads, thinking how sad it is that she could not find satisfaction and enjoy her life, even at work.  Is that how you feel about work?

Let’s look at one more verse before closing.

Proverbs 12:11, “He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,”

It is my belief that if you look at work as an opportunity to serve your fellow man, an opportunity to make a difference in your company, your community, your world, an opportunity to contribute to its success, an opportunity to live a live that honors God on the job, that you will be satisfied.  The verse says satisfied with bread.  For some, it may be more bread than what you have, but the promise is that the portion of bread that you receive by putting forth an honest day’s work will satisfy you.  Isn’t being satisfied what living a fulfilling life is all about?

So, again, I ask you.  Tomorrow is Monday.  Will you not start the day bursting with energy and enthusiasm?  Shouldn’t you be?