Usually, I don’t ready business mailouts. Usually, they are just sending special offers that really aren’t that special, the usual PR/marketing things.
Last week, I was surprised to receive a mailout from M&S – stating that not only were all their foothalls/outlets still open but all staff still working are receiving 15% pay reward for the extra pressure they are under due to this unprecedented time. in addition, M&S have not furlonged their remaining staff for the Government to pay 80% of their salary. Uniquely, M&S are paying 100% of wages of all staff forced to stay at home.
Impressed? I was. What a fantastic employer M&S is, thought I. What will the result of this action be? Maybe staff will be more committed and positive and their customers during this time will remain long after Co-Vid19 is history.
Hopefully we will also remember those huge businesses who didn’t behave as honourably and take our custom elsewhere.
The Government brought in these fantastic support mechanisms to help small businesses yet large businesses with deep pockets and huge salaries want the Government bailout for themselves.
Take the world of premier football. The argument for not sacrificing a percentage of premier players salary to support their frontline club staff seems to be they aren’t sure where the money would go and how it would be managed.
If we can set-up a hospital start to finish in 9 days, why can’t they set up a charity to pay their staff from these wages. They can then offset their ‘donation’ against their taxes – everyone is a winner, aren’t they?
Integrity will shine through times like these. As will those whose intentions are to abuse the situation for their own ends.
Let’s not forget. We have an opportunity to make business kinder whilst still being profitable as well as an opportunity to carry-on the community spirit and be kinder to each other once this is over.
I wonder where we will all be on the other side of Coronavirus? Will lessons have been learned?
Jane James's Consultancy Limited 