"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

I was training for a company a couple of years ago and learned that one of their long-time employees was having problems with carpal tunnel and low back pain. She had asked for a better keyboard to help with the carpal tunnel and an ergonomic chair to help her back.

The management turned down her request. Do you want to know why? They said that they couldn't grant her request because then they would "have to buy new equipment for everyone." It was a page right out of "Stupidity 101." This is why the Dilbert cartoons have become so popular---they portray things that employees see every day.

The woman eventually went on workmen's comp resulting in increased premium payments for the company. A lawsuit was filed and settled out of court for "an undisclosed sum." The employee was lost, money was wasted and substantial expenses were incurred because of management's shortsightedness.

But the real—albeit undocumented expense—of this debacle was what it cost the company in low morale and distrust of management. It sent a loud and long-lasting message to every employee that the company didn't really care. It will take many years to counter the negative perceptions this action created.

It matters not whether we are a company or an individual; every action we take either increases or decreases our stature. Nothing is ever equal. With everything we say and everything we do, we're either promoting or demoting the opinion of others.

The biggest problem facing business in the next 12-20 years is finding and keeping good people. Money is not at the top of the list. Being respected, being treated well and being appreciated are what matters. People want to be cared about.

It's as simple as that and yet the people who "get it" are still in a great minority.