The news is rife with examples of companies that have cut salaries and cut benefits as a way to get through the economic crisis.  I certainly respect what any company has to do to survive.  But I believe that the people who got you where you are today should be the absolute last place you go for relief.

At Beryl, we gave all of our call advisors raises during the height of the crisis.  We also doubled our 401(k) match to 100% for all coworkers.  Why did we take that approach?  Because our people are the lifeblood of what we’re about.  I can’t step back from my commitment to them to enhance their lives and still make this the best place they’ve ever worked.  I know that if I ever need them to sacrifice, they would fall on a sword for me.  But if our business needs to cut costs, I would rather recruit their ideas to help make us more efficient rather than drain their pocketbooks.