Who Benefits?

Sometimes, you feel like something is wrong but you can't decide what to think because of what you are told about the situation.

A strategy that can help you determine what to think in this type of situation involves seeing who benefits from the situation and who is hurt by it.

Christians,

Sometimes, you feel like what someone is doing is wrong, but you still aren’t sure what to think about it because of factors such as the person’s reasons.  For example, they might say they are trying to be compassionate.  A strategy that can help you determine what to think in this type of situation involves seeing who benefits from the situation and who is hurt by it.

Imagine a cashier reports to a new manager that a few of her coworkers are always criticizing the baggers in front of the customers when they are actually doing a decent job. The manager answers by saying that the stressful nature of the job can cause that kind of behavior and that we need to be compassionate and forgiving.  Also, the manager soon after promotes the cashiers who have continued to embarrass the baggers in front of everyone.  The mistreatment of the baggers increases and now extends to new cashiers as the promoted cashiers become more controlling with their new level of authority. The baggers and new cashiers are mistreated directly under the manager’s watch at times.   

The cashier who reported the first incident couldn't decide how she felt about the manager's actions in relation to the reasons he gave because she knew from experience that a stressful job can cause negative behaviors and that it is good to be compassionate. However, the people who benefit from the management style at this supermarket are the ones who take advantage of the more vulnerable employees.  This management style also increases the mistreatment of the more vulnerable employees. The reality of who benefits and who is hurt reveals that what is happening is wrong regardless of the supposed reasons for the management style.