Shutdown …but never shutout

This week hundreds of government facilities will begin to come back online following the 35-day partial closure.  It was nice to see an end, even if only temporarily, to the government shutdown.  More than 800,000 people affected (plus all the government contractors, small businesses, extended families, etc.).  Let’s hope the hundreds of thousands of furloughed employees awaiting back pay (the administration promised) will see their lost wages arrive by the end of the week (and thankfully, the rash of delays at airports from understaffed security checkpoints and reported holes in the air traffic control system on the east coast subsided over the weekend).

I am proud of our Gannett team, especially our journalists, who came to us with the idea to offer a pay advance for our employees with spouses, partners and significant others who were currently on furlough or who are/were working without pay. 

We were not the only company trying to help. REI urged people to help restore national parks after the shutdown ends. The North Face suggested donating to the National Park Foundation.  Last week, the restaurant chain Sweetgreen tweeted an offer of a free salad to anyone showing a government ID, and Kraft foods opened an outlet in Washington, D.C., stocked with free food for federal workers. USAA, the insurance provider to military service members, said it would donate $15 million in interest-free loans of up to $1,000 to Coast Guard workers with dependents and $750 to single members.  Provident Bank announced it would cancel mortgage and credit card late fees for federal workers and allow them to break their certificates of deposit early without any penalties.  Fazoli’s Italian restaurant offered free pizza and baked spaghetti to Federal employees during the shutdown.  The restaurant &Pie offered a free pizza daily (3-5pm) for government employees.  Carmine’s, The Meatball Shop, and others followed suit.  Alamo Drafthouse (a movie chain) offered free movies.  AT&T offered flexible payment plans, BOA/Chase/Citibank/Discover and others were all open to help with payments.  There were so many local DC based retailers and food establishments that also opened their doors to assist.   When the Navy-Air Force game was about to be canceled due to the shutdown, United Airlines stepped up, offering to fly the Air Force team to the game for free. The team wanted to honor their contract to fly with Delta. In the end, United Services Automobile Association (USAA) picked up the $230,000 tab for the team to fly with Delta. Due to these outside organizations stepping up, the game was not canceled.  It was great to see.

Additionally, people helped people.  Amid all the news of this bad thing and that bad thing – we have great people in this country.  Chris Cox, a chainsaw sculptor from South Carolina, gathered up his lawnmower and some other supplies and headed to Washington, D.C., to clean up the memorials.  In Rowan County, an anonymous donor provided $10,000 to local charities to help out with families in need of food due to lack of government benefits.   Philanthropists John and Laura Arnold of Texas spent $10 million to keep the Head Start program open in six states, helping 7,000 kids who would have been affected.  In New Hampshire, the Rumney Climbers Association took over the maintenance of a state park when the Forest Service workers were furloughed.   Private donors in Arkansas gave donations to fund Our House, which assists unwed mothers and their children in Little Rock, AK.

And let us not overlook the many employees affected by the shutdown who proved their mettle by using their time to volunteer, giving back to their local communities – a tribute to their service and hardworking character.  You don’t need a reason to help people.  The happiness you can give to someone is the best gift you can give to yourself.  When you start giving, you get more than you ever wanted.  By purposefully giving and expecting nothing in return, we can alleviate some of the unnecessary burdens that arise when we help a fellow person{s} in need. Companies have learned this, and our friends and peers show this every day.  Giving and expecting nothing in return simply breeds better, happier results for all.

You will never be disappointed if you think this way.  Karma will have your back.  Trust me. Do good things and you will be on the receiving end in the future.  Kindness IS currency.

Connect people. Refer people. Forward that interesting article.  Share the job opening.  Send a simple note.  Drop an unexpected gift (truly listen to people and you will know what they value).  And, more importantly, when others do these things for you – please let them know you appreciate it. It both closes the circle and starts the circle anew again.  I will leave you with this great quote I read:  “Give.  Share.  Do.  Expect Nothing in Return. This is Future Economics.”

Together.  We.  Win.

Dave Harmon
People Division
“Kindness is Currency”
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidharmonhr

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