There’s nothing better than a Feel Good Underdog/Good vs. Evil story this Labor Day holiday to put faith (and appreciation) back into the workplace.
Since when does a high power CEO really care for the people responsible for the foundation of their pyramid? An individual who looks at its employees as people and not as unnamed, replaceable objects? Because of Market Basket’s CEO Artie T. Demoulas’s compassion for others, history was made.
Arthur (Artie T.) T. Demoulas is the CEO of the family owned/operated New England based, Market Basket grocery store chain. According to the LA Times: “Artie T was fired in June by his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas after he gained control of the board. Members of the board had accused Artie T. of ignoring them; he said they were greedy and wanted a big share of profits he said should go to employees. The two sides of the family have warred for years in and out of court; at one point there was even a fist fight between cousins.”
Artie T. is the type of corporate leader who spends much of his time dealing with the day to day operations. He can be seen behind the counters, in the deli, in the warehouse. He knows many of his employees names, their children’s names, their activities. He’s even attended funerals of his employees family members. He genuinely takes a vested interest, and takes care of his people. Yet, all this comes naturally to him. It isn’t forced, it isn’t done on cue. His sincerity isn’t overbearing or shadowing. He is one of his people. The simple task of showing appreciation, and sincere interest in others can most certainly go a long way. The person pushing a broom, preparing your meal, fixing your car or taking care of your children know sincerity, they most certainly can see through the bullshit.
We’ve all worked with, or for, individuals so wrapped up in themselves they often forget the humanity side of work relationships. Not everything is black and white. It doesn’t take high IQ points to detect someone only vested in themself, their company interest or avenues that only benefits their pockets. So, when news spread that Artie T. was terminated, in protest, Market Basket employees quit their jobs. Imagine a business that employs over 25,000 people, quitting their jobs because of the love and loyalty of one person. Some employees fed their families by waiting in lines at food banks. There were no paychecks coming in, their own bills went unpaid.
This story really hit home for me. I’ve always believed that what really matters is how we treat others. No job titles, no salary base, sexual orientation, color of your skin, who you marry, whether your car is foreign or domestic, level of education, dog or cat lover…I don’t care. If only more leaders in business, or any workplace, would take Artie T’s lead. You can still have a hard nose for business and still care about your people.
For six weeks, this non-union group of employees managed to go against all odds, break all the rules and models of business and make a statement that took notice…With board members profits. They organized protests, developed websites and used social media. The customers vanished, shelves were completely empty, employees were gone. Without people and product, there’s no profit. After six weeks, the current board members of Market Basket rehired Artie T. Artie T and all Market Basket employees are anxiously back to work. Well done Market Basket employees. You have refreshed and redefined the basic premise and foundations of Labor Day!
“Everyone here has a purpose. You have demonstrated that everyone has meaning. And no one person is better or more important than another. And no one person holds a position of privilege, whether it’s a full-timer or a part-timer…whether it’s a sacker or a cashier, a grocery clerk or a truck driver or a warehouse selector, a store manager, a supervisor, a customer, a vendor or a CEO, we are all equal. You proved, all of you, that your grass-roots efforts to save your company and harness thousands and thousands of people was not about a family conflict or a Greek tragedy, but more about fairness, justice and a solid moral compass that unites the human soul.” Arthur T. Demoulas