As business leaders, many of us think that if we say something once or subtly; our team will pick up our message and work toward our goal.  However, Paul wrote, “Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8, NIV)

We need to sound a consistent and clear call of what must be done by whom and by when. Unfortunately, a few words will never suffice.  Just like the trumpet sounded a clear alarm in the days of Paul, we must sound a clear call to action.

All of us like to be understood.  A recent study by Businessolver, titled “2019 State of Workplace Empathy” documented that 93% of employees would stay with an empathetic employer. Furthermore, the study indicated 82% of employees would leave their position to work for a more empathetic organization. 

When you drive down the street and see help wanted signs everywhere, you recognize the critical problem that employee retention is.  However, it’s not always about the money.

Hiring staff is one of the most important decisions we make. We trust our staff with our customers, our money, and the reputation of our business. A break in trust in any of these areas will have a major negative impact on our business. In some instances the wrong person can literally bankrupt a company.

The Lord gave us the following model for hiring staff.  “In those days, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in praying to God. When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles.” (Luke 6:12-13, NIV)

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that 2.3% of workers tested positive for drug use, according to a survey by Quest Laboratories, the largest drug testing facility in the country.

As marijuana becomes legal in more states for medical reasons or simply recreation, the reality is that usage will likely increase. The study indicated a 10% growth in workers who tested positive to drugs over the last year. If the sample predicts a 10% a year increase in the years to come, the problem will clearly intensify.

I believe that drugs of any kind should be prohibited from the workplace. Businesses will benefit by instituting a zero-tolerance policy. While marijuana may be legal at state levels, there are still federal laws against marijuana usage. Additionally, I have never seen anybody’s work improve while on marijuana, alcohol, or other illegal substances.

I've written a number of times about the decline of print newspapers magazines and other media, the chart, from Wikipedia tells the story requiring very few words: