edible food | sales clerk

How would the world operate if nations told the truth to one another? "Our country doesn't like your country," one leader might tell another. "And we never did. We're thinking of wiping you off the face of the earth." This just doesn't strike me as sound foreign policy.

When I read the story about the company's honesty policy, it reminded me of those encounter groups wherein people are supposed to reveal how they really feel about one another. The encounters start out all touchy-feely, but wind up in a brawling mosh pit of oatmeal-colored sweaters and relaxed-fit jeans.

In a civilized society, friends don't let friends tell them the truth about themselves.

In the workplace, especially, honesty just breeds chaos. One of the time-honored ways for employees to spend their workday is grousing and scheming. Management has committed many crimes against workers, but how, in good conscience, can it take away the one thing that makes the workplace bearable - kvetching about the boss behind his back?

What's next? Promoting people based on merit? Providing edible food in the company cafeteria? You see where this leads, don't you? Personally, if I were a boss, I'd pay my employees fifty bucks to keep it to themselves.

I blame casual Fridays.

Letting people dress down only encourages them to become more relaxed. Next thing you know, they think they can let their hair down, too, figuratively speaking. They come to believe that the company atmosphere isn't quite so rigid, that they really are supposed to think outside the box, to invent new paradigms and all that.

Think of what would happen to the service industry if honesty were adopted as an operating business premise. "Are you sure you really need that high-priced kitchen gizmo?" a sales clerk would ask. "It's expensive, takes up valuable space on your counter, and breaks down after two and a half months."