Here's a thought: we're told over and over how employers sing the praises of their JW employees, sometimes with a vague quote about how 'if we could only hire JWs, we would as they are so honest'.
However, while some JW employers themselves may hire JW employees (usually cheap entry level positions), most don't. In fact, many JW's in general who have businesses have a rule NOT to do work with JWs, even those in their congregation.
Something doesn't jibe here: could it be that JWs aren't the shining beacon of employee model that they want to project? I've had JW workers in construction show up late, or not at all, with no real excuse and no big concern about disappointing me. Some have asked for payment up front because they're broke (usually a sob story is involved) and then don't finish the job. One contractor was on his phone all the time, all day, while billing me as if he'd worked through.
The one JW employee that I hired on a permanent basis (when I was new at this and hadn't figured it out) constantly wanted time off, saying it was for service, but often it wasn't (she'd go to the lake). Even the elders asked me to change her hours on the months she auxilliary pioneered to help her out. She also sulked when asked to make minor corrections, avoided answering the phone, and took longer than agreed breaks.
Others have had similar experiences: I've heard of retail JW's who expect store discounts, who ask for special credit or "a tab". One carpet cleaner I know quoted a price to do an entire house, the JW homeowner agreed, but when he was done, they said they'd pay him when they could, but it would be a few weeks. Problem was, he was counting on that money TOO to pay his own bills.
This seems to be the most common thread: delayed payment or no payment at all. I"ll never forget one sister telling a mechanic that she needed work done to get to the convention, but when it came time to pay him, she sighed heavily and said "well it's this or the convention...I guess we'll miss out on all that spiritual food". Yeah, adding a dose of guilt to being rude.
JW's know they aren't going to get sued by their brothers, and they treat them less worthily (on both ends) than a worldly person. Because they can. Because it happens all the time. Because if you complain, it opens up a can of worms that makes you look bad.
Any thoughts on this? Or is this just my experience?