I was on vacation with the family last week and we stopped at a little cafe for lunch. The only other patrons were a couple of guys talking in the corner. It was quiet, so while I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, they also weren’t whispering. It was clear that they were involved in some kind of construction or manual trade and were supervisors or foreman. What struck me most was the way they talked about wanting to help their guys. They were openly complaining about the state of their industry and how so many people are taken advantage of. They were discussing ways they could ensure that their guys got good insurance, competitive pay, and solid retirement plans. One said if he won the lottery he’d give all his guys $1M each and say “go have fun. Learn new things and come back in a year and we’ll build a great company together.”
My wife noticed as well and made a comment about how they were talking. As they left they passed by us and I made a point tell them that it was clear they care about their guys and thanked them for at least trying, for whatever it was worth.