Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Echaves: ‘Teething’ the law By Lelani P. Echaves Thinking Aloud
IT'S now a common sight in business, even government offices—proud declarations of these organizations’ “Vision, Mission and Values.” Actually, most of these are motherhood statements—brave and chest-thumping aspirations of directions in some distant future.
Except that some companies do mean what they say. Here was this company in Mandaue of which I was the personnel manager for Visayas-Mindanao operations some moons ago. The sales manager of its Cebu operations was discovered to have padded receipts. I submitted that report to the regional manager, the company president and the board chairman. I endorsed the investigating committee’s recommendation to fire the sales manager.
The Vis-Min regional manager, however, did not agree. Huffing and puffing, he said the sales manager should not be sanctioned, because he was the highest achiever and best producer in the entire Vis-Min sales force.
The company president approved the termination, and the board chairman said, “How unfortunate that our best sales manager violated one of our corporate values—‘To do business with morality.’”
He also ordered that employees involved in the cover-up or whitewash should leave the company as well. The corporate value of honesty demanded that subordinates should refuse to obey instructions, even from superiors, to commit illegal acts and report such instructions to the legal department. I remember feeling very proud of belonging to that company.
About two years ago, Metaphil president Roberto “Bobby” Aboitiz spoke during the Business Summit for Future Leaders organized by Aboitiz companies for outstanding college students. During the open forum, a student asked how to get up in the corporate ladder. “Hard work and honesty. We pay our taxes and don’t make deals. If any of our employees offers to make deals, report him to us,” he said.
Employees of organizations, which refuse to give senior citizens their rightful 20-percent discount for specified products and services should be reported, too. What business firm is in its right mind to risk a fine of P50,000 to P100, 000 plus imprisonment of six months to two years, rather than give senior citizens their authorized discount?
Repetition of the violation should also be reported. Second violations merit a fine of between P100,000 and P 200,000 plus imprisonment ranging from two to six years. And violators should be reported in media to the full knowledge of everyone.
With escalating prices of everything, refusing senior citizens the 20-percent discount is adding insult to injury. How many are we talking about, really--these Filipinos who once served their country well and for a great length of time were very productive members of society?
In year 2000, the elderly numbered 4.6 million. In two years, they’ll go up to 9.4 million, and 22 million by 2040. Clearly, they’re the fastest growing population group in the country. Issues surrounding their support and care should be addressed. Quickly, implications are urgent on how best to add teeth to the law, to protect this growing older population.
