Hobby Lobby. Ethics. Criticism. Assumptions. Eating Crow, er, um, acknowledging a change in perspective. A reader brought to my attention, last month, a product she saw at Hobby Lobby. With a turn of a word, it was my poem. Unattributed and without permission. Led by Lisa Vetter and encouraged by my niece, Heather Lynn Lewis Schaub, I contacted Hobby Lobby Corporate headquarters. I left a message. It was returned within half a day. And there begins a process that was filled with courtesy, professionalism, ethical bearing and flat out kindness. Each person narrated next steps. The pass along was limited. I was assigned one person who took responsibility for researching my authorship and objection. She was swift, again I have to say, professional and completely informative. The resolution they offered was swift, appropriate and kind. And involved not ordering the specific product again and providing me access to information on the manufacturer. I have been critical of Hobby Lobby in a public setting. I object to some of their hiring and Human Resource practices. And, just like our friends with whom we cannot hope to agree on everything, I have to say that Hobby Lobbys dealing with this issue surprised me at every turn. EVERY turn. Their corporate behavior challenged a set of assumptions I had sloppily formed about them. So I tested myself and walked into a Hobby Lobby last week. Heres what I noticed: I was greeted. The store was meticulously clean. Easy music was gently playing. The lighting was not harsh but three times brighter than most box stores. I was greeted in the aisles. The aisles were clean, well stocked and informative and interesting. The aisles were wide and would have easily accommodated me had I been in a wheel chair. The restroom sparkled and they provided a generous portion in their auto-dispenser of paper towels. The products were well priced and there were lots of sales going on. I noticed several men and women in in there shopping with multiple children. My take away? I sometimes participate in triangulation of an issue. I declare first to those who have no authority over the outcome when my first responsibility is to speak to the people whose policies are causing consternation. How will this change what I do in the future? I am reminded that if I wish to publicize an opinion, I should be first willing to act on it directly. Last week I wrote the NFL headquarters. Next week Im calling the NFL headquarters to see if someone will take a meeting with me in November regarding instituting a personal responsibility curriculum throughout the league. Action earns a brief spot on a soap box. I have previously announced I will no longer shop at Hobby Lobby. I do not know if that is still true. What I do know is that my assumptions are under my own serious scrutiny.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 20:34:03 +0000