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Max DePree, former CEO of Herman Miller, once discovered factory workers discussing his compensation. They believed he deserved more than they earned, but felt the disparity had become excessive.
Rather than reacting defensively, DePree listened, researched, and prayed. He eventually established a policy that the CEO’s compensation could not exceed twenty times the average factory worker’s wage.
Over time, that decision helped raise wages throughout the company.
James 5:4 warns, “Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.” (NIV)
Pay differences can reflect responsibility and performance, but leaders should examine whether compensation is fair. Those who help create an organization’s success deserve to share in its harvest.
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