Jamboree Tales - Day 5
How to Treat People
Some of you probably have outdoor clothing you wear that
is made from Polartech or Polarfleece material. The company that makes
these materials is called Malden Mills. The owner of the company is a
deeply religious man of the Jewish faith named Aaron Feuerstein. On December
31, 1995 his factory caught fire and burned to the ground. The factory
employed 3,400 workers and was the main employer for two neighboring towns.
The area once had many mills but most had closed and moved to areas where
they could pay people less money to work. Mr. Feuerstein felt that people
should be paid a decent wage and so he wouldn't move his factory. The
fire occurred on his 70th birthday. The workers believed it was the end
of the line for their jobs. Surely Mr. Feuerstein would take the $300
million in insurance money and call it quits. While the smoke was still
rising from the charred remains of the fire Mr. Feuerstein called his
workers together at a school gymnasium and spoke to them. They were about
to discover what kind of man they worked for. He announced that he would
not abandon them. He was going to rebuild the factory. He told them that
he was keeping all 3,400 of them on the payroll for one month and that
each would get a $275 Christmas bonus. Once the factory was rebuilt they
would get their jobs back. Grown men wept in the audience as he spoke.
After the first month ended he paid them for another month. After the
second month ended he paid them for a third month. It cost him $1.5 million
dollars a week to do this. He also paid their hospitalization insurance.
His employees responded by salvaging what equipment they could and in
temporary buildings got production up to what it was before the fire,
while the new factory was being built. Mr. Feuerstein received much praise
from around the country but he said he did only what was the moral and
right thing to do. He used his money to support his beliefs in God rather
than make money his God.
As each of you lives your life try to remember Mr. Feuerstein's
example and treat people you encounter with fairness and kindness. You
will be amazed at how much better you will be treated in return. Goodnight
Gentlemen!
Day 6 =>
by David L. Eby
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