Doing the Right Thing

In the television show What Would You Do?, hidden cameras are used as the show host observes and comments on how people behave when confronted with dilemmas that require them to either take action or just walk away and mind their own business. Various scenarios are created that force people to make split-second decisions such as people noticing a drunken valet trying to park cars, or a waitress being harassed by her boss.

One of my employees came into my office and said “I was almost going to be late to work this morning.” When I asked why he said, “I found a purse right in the middle of the road.” 

I was like — huh?

He said he looked in the purse, found some papers with a phone number, called and left a message. He also found a company name and called the office and advised them of what he had found. They called the purse’s owner to let her know our driver had her purse. She called my employee back and said she and her husband were hiking on a local nature trail and she didn’t know her purse had been taken.

He met the lady, along with the police, and they found that one of the windows of her vehicle had been smashed. She said she had tucked her purse under the seat. While some papers and other items were still in the purse, her wallet was not.

The whole scenario reminded me of the television show, and I was proud of my employee and the decision he made to follow through with attempting to locate the purse’s owner. I know that if it was my purse I would appreciate that extra effort. A follow-up phone call from woman’s husband with a thank you also made my day.

Even in today’s world where cameras are everywhere, you know you’re being watched, and you’re faced with a dilemma, the question still remains — will you do the right thing?