We all make mistakes, but having personal values and a moral compass can dictate our actions and our destinies.
Recently, a scenario caused me to reflect on an incident which happened over 25 years ago at my first permanent job.
I was working at a resort with over 1000 other employees. The resort was rated as the best resort in the Caribbean, however, locally in Jamaica, the resort had a disapproving reputation as being a modern-day slavery plantation. That reputation stemmed from the fact that the ownership and managerial staff were predominantly foreign-owned. The irony was, the resort's logo was a minimalist half-black and half-white moon, and the floor tiles throughout the resort were checkered black and white tiles, which of course, Jamaican felt had a cryptic meaning.
It was a massive resort that was spread across 400 acres, with numerous entrances to the compound. At the designated staff entrance, there was a merciless security guard stationed, to who I gave credit because he could withstand daily bickering from disgruntled employees, who objected to his scrutinous manual checks upon entering or exiting.
One unpardonable offence was theft, which resulted in immediate termination of employment.
Well, one afternoon I was exiting the premises and in my bag was a pack of playing cards from the company, that I absent-mindedly had in my handbag.
The security held the pack of cards and said:
"You're always nice to me, but I have to take this pack of cards."
The security dismissed anything I had to say, and I figured that there was no point in me trying to get him to hear my point of view or reason, so when he released the gate, I exited the property.
I returned to work as normal the next day, and someone from HR summoned me to go see the head of security, in the office that was nicknamed death row.
I sat in the office looking at the head of security, with several thoughts racing through my mind. "Does this chief have fluid or crystallized intelligence? Does he have any intelligence at all? Is there an unrevealed human side to this hideous creature? Will he prove to be the reputed c%nt that he's known as? Or worst, is he gonna recite the ten commandments to me?
It was a long wait till my case was called.
Head of Security: This pack of cards was taken from your bag yesterday and you said it is yours.
Me: Correct.
Head of Security: And?
Me: I received that pack of cards, and another pack, which is in my room at the staff quarters. Both packs of cards were given to me by the director of training as a prize for Employee of the Month.
Head of Security: So you live on the property?
Me: Yes, I do.
Head of Security made a call privately, and he then presented the pack of cards back to me and told me to go on my way.
Now, can you imagine the scandal and reputation I would have acquired, on the small island if I'd lost my job with a false record of theft?
It would not have mattered the level or what I might have stolen, I would have simply been known as a thief.
Against all odds, I held many senior roles at that resort for over 10 years, and I proved myself to be not a liability, but a great asset. I also kept an authorised letter in my purse at all times, to show that the packs of cards belonged to me.
I've lost one pack of those cards, and the other pack of cards which I always used as a lucky charm is in storage.
That incident was a lesson, which makes me a wild card in my pragmatic approach and judgement, of dealing with situations as they arise. 🙏
Thank you for reading. Until next time:)
All images are mine