Straight to the point. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you choose business over your employees, they will leave you.

Let me explain…

June 1st, 2020. Broward County, FL, USA.

Curfew starts at 9pm. Protesters were targeting our area. Some places closed at 2pm. Others were ready to close by 8pm. All the stores around us were closing. And I was… just waiting. For a call that never came.

At 8:30pm, I called my boss. It wasn’t safe to stay there anymore. Of course he was aware of the situation. Still, his answer was: “You have to stay. Nothing is going to happen. If the gas station across the street closes, you can leave by 10pm”. [PS: how could he be so sure nothing was going to happen?!]

I questioned him. And I knew most of the stores were already closed because my friend had just informed me. However, my boss insisted: “No, everything is open. You’ll be fine”. I was like WHAT???

Our store was supposed to stay open until 11pm. That was never the answer I expected to hear from him. I admit. I was scared. Disappointed. Angry. Meanwhile, my phone was buzzing with texts like “Hey, are you aware of the situation tonight?”, “Be careful”, “Go home as soon as possible”, “Be safe”. Well, I just took a deep breath.

By 9pm, I looked across the street. The gas station turned their lights off. This time, my boss didn’t answer his phone. I waited a few minutes to try again because, surprisingly, I still had 2 customers inside.

Now picture yourself all alone, inside a store. In the middle of a busy avenue, but at that moment, it was super dark. And empty. Hello, curfew night! When we’re scared, our mind turns into a negative magnet. We think about the worst possible scenarios. Every silly noise is terrifying. Every shadow is a nightmare.

Thankfully, a Police Officer showed up. “Why are you still open?”, he asked, “It’s not safe! You have 5 minutes to close and go home”. I called my boss again. Although he couldn’t say anything, he wasn’t satisfied. Anyway, I was finally on my way home.

With this uncomfortable situation, I learned 3 things about professional relationships:

1. NEVER CHOOSE MONEY OVER PEOPLE

“More than anything else, people want to know they matter. Do you keep this in mind in the workplace?” - Lee Cockerell, Former Executive VP, Walt Disney World Resort

Remember: Your employees are people just like you. Just like your family. And people come first.

My situation might not be the scariest episode on earth, but I know many employees out there face real challenges. Have empathy. Compassion. Put yourself in their shoes. It might mean nothing to you, but it might do to them. Ask how they feel, how you can assist, or just if they are doing fine. I had another episode at the same company. I called in sick a day in advance, for the very first time. Instead of asking how I was feeling or if I needed anything, my manager’s reaction was “I can’t believe it. I have nobody to work at the store tomorrow”. By the way, she never asked anything. Just hung up on me. Needless to say: Take care of your employees. Respect them. We all go through unexpected situations. If you want them to go above and beyond for your company, do the same for them. Show that you care.

Look out for their well-being in the first place. Please, don’t ever take your employees for granted and put business first.

“Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat them well enough so they don’t want to.” — Richard Branson

2. BE HONEST

Honesty is key in every relationship. In the workplace, building trust prevents poor performance, improves engagement, and reduces turnover. I couldn’t trust my boss anymore. He said most of the stores were open to convince me to stay. I knew it wasn’t true. That’s when I lost respect for him.

During the following days, I felt super discouraged. Yes, I was still completing all my tasks, but not as efficient as I have always been. Negative thoughts were spinning in my mind, for instance, “If he doesn’t care about me, why should I care about his business?”.

I knew it wasn’t right… It wasn’t right with my coworkers. It wasn’t right with our customers. It wasn’t right as a professional. That’s why I quit. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I wasn’t doing my best. Knowing that I wasn’t happy. Knowing that I was feeling uncomfortable and stressed. So, yes, sometimes the best option is to let it go.

The main lesson was: It doesn’t matter the situation, BE HONEST. Of course, it’s a two-way relationship, so this goes to employers and employees.

As an employer, it is important to communicate effectively with your staff. Be open to listen to their concerns. Tell them the truth when a problem arises. Build trust.

“Trust is difficult to regain when it has been lost. Managers must understand that their behaviors can severely alter the efficiency, productivity, morale, quality, and culture of their organizations if they damage workplace trust”. - Maureen L. Mackenzie

3. SHOW APPRECIATION

Appreciate all your employees do for your business. Show them you value their time, effort, and hard work.

As human beings, we all make mistakes. Even when things don’t go as expected, thank them for trying. Then, provide guidance and correct what went wrong. According to Heidi L. Kurter in Forbes, “more than anything, employees want to be valued and appreciated for their contributions. Thanking employees for a job well done goes a long way”. And she continues,

“Research shows praising employees regularly boosts productivity as well as their confidence in themselves. When employees believe in themselves, they feel more encouraged to think creatively and suggest innovative ideas for the business”.

I have always appreciated when my leaders recognize my work and provide me constructive feedback. Not only I feel more motivated, but I also want to do better and make them prouder.

There’s a great different difference between a Boss and a Leader. Be a Leader. Build a team. Create a positive environment.

As professionals, a respectful relationship is priceless.