It pays to make your moolah the right way

Ask anyone why they work and you’ll get a host of responses. Some of us work to make more money, some for a sense of purpose and others simply “work to live”. If we work to live we need to ask ourselves what kind of life we really want for ourselves and for our family. And does the work we do make us feel proud?

Welcome to Week 2 of the Heartlines Values & Money campaign, spearheaded by the film Nothing for Mahala. This week we focus on the money value, honesty in earning.

Protest action, unethical business, poor service delivery and wage disputes dominate our media. There is a growing sense that corruption is normal and we can bribe our way out of any situation. What’s the point in doing things the right way when there’s an easier way out? Everyone else is doing it so why shouldn’t we?

Being dishonest or unethical in how we work and earn has far-reaching impacts. But earning honestly brings personal and relational dignity to us, our family, our workplace, community and society. It also frees us from the burden of being “found out”.

Here are some of the benefits of honest earning, from an individual level all the way out to a societal or national level:

You & your family > On a personal level, earning honestly results in self-respect from doing our jobs well and treating people fairly. It means we can provide for our families in a legal, honourable way.

Workplace > If we are trustworthy in our work - no matter how insignificant or unappreciated the job may seem – we show people we can be trusted with greater things. A workplace with more honest bosses and diligent workers also leads to improved productivity, which boosts economic growth.

Community > Actively living out the value of honesty can lead to more stable communities: less crime, corruption, injustice and social ills.

Society > The growth of the economy is impacted by the working standard and ethics of everyone in that society. Dishonest or corrupt institutions in society may have benefits in the short term but they are not sustainable in the long term.

When I look at how my work impacts my family and society, am I proud of the way I do my job, earn my money or run my business?

Week 2 of the Heartlines Values & Money campaign.

Join the conversation. Live the values.

#moneyvalues

@HeartlinesZA