Does It Pay to Be Above-Average?

 

April 21, 2025

 

Shortly after I started a new position, I noticed several things that could be done to save the company time and money.

 

I implemented them for my own workflow, and mentioned them in case anybody else wanted to try them; but it didn’t seem like there were any takers. Fair enough.

 

A few years later, I went to the supervisor and said, “I’ve done this, that and the other thing, and saved time, money and resources. Any chance I could get a bonus?”

 

He asked me to detail what I had done. When I sent him the list he said, “Well, these are great, but, basically, you’re just doing your job.”

 

My question: “Um—Then what’s everybody else been doing?”

 

If your time-and-money-saving efforts make you average,

then what is everybody else?

 

If it’s easier to NOT to save the company time and money, and everybody gets the same raises and perks—why would you keep it up?

 

I do it because I’m pathological about not wasting time and resources, but I can see where other people might just take the easy way out. After all, there won’t be any negative consequences for you. It’s bad for the company, but nobody is paying attention, so…You do you.