There is an old saying that “good things come in threes.” That is often true. It is also often true that things which are not so good come in threes, or at least in groups or sets. The reason is simple: like begets like. People who do some things well are likely to do other things well. People who cut corners in some places are likely to cut corners in others.
I was working recently with a client company (on an unrelated project) which was taking bids for some repair work to their building. One of the bids was from a company which did a great deal of that particular kind of work and proclaimed that “we use all independent contractors” because it is easier to control our risk, overtime and insurance costs.” The representative said that he, like the workers who would do the work, was an independent contractor although all of his work, and theirs, was for the company and everyone concerned followed directions from the home office.
I told my client that this company was at least stretching I.R.S. regulations and possibly acting well past them. His temptation was considerable since this company had a great bid price and would begin immediately.
That led us to a discussion of the way that things often come grouped together. If a company is willing to treat the people doing their work poorly, and possibly uncomfortably stretch the law, how much can he really expect them to treat him fairly?
One of my favorite quotes is: “the way we do anything is the way we do everything.”
