What the hell is wrong with you?!

The other night I had a customer exclaim that I could make a bit of extra money. We have a few items that are sold both individually and in packs. His assertion was that I could sell a few of the singles and pocket the money, hiding the shortage in the multi-package sales.

Indeed, there are ways that I could exploit weaknesses in the store's operation. If I so chose, I could siphon a good amount of cash into my pockets.

However, and this is huge, to engage in such activities is to shoot myself in the foot. Repeatedly. With a shotgun. I have the trust and confidence of the owner. I have a steady paycheck and benefits. Even if I was such a low and craven wretch to throw that trust and faith back in the teeth of one of the coolest employers I've ever had, it's still not worth it. I've been at places where someone felt it worth it to risk their job for the sake of a couple bucks. And when they did get terminated for theft, offered that firing as justification for skimming the store in the first place.

I had another person stare at me in total amazement that I have an unregulated internet connection at work. I think this is directly related to the subject above.

People seem to display less and less of a work ethic. They're interested in immediate rewards and not the long-term. They can't recognize why stealing even little things from work is ultimately self-defeating. They cannot understand why their computer access and abilities are so sharply curtailed.

"To those much is given, much is expected." I have the perks, the access, and the latitude I enjoy at work because I meet my responsibilities for work. I am where I am because they can invest trust in me.

Really sad that is in such short supply these days.