A lesson in ethics
Months ago a client scheduled a week of dog-sitting from June 30th to July 7th. (Since I never remember when Pride Weekend is I always fall for that old con, and get stuck in Boystown during all the chaos.) This was well before I knew I'd be moving.
This large chunk of money was an integral part of being able to pay for the move. Between rent here, rent at the new place and a deposit, movers, and paying off all outstanding utilities, this week's pay was crucial. I got my landlord to give me an extra week, scheduled the movers for 8 AM on the 8th-- which would give me about 12 hours after getting home to getting out. So all the packing & cleaning would have to be done before I left. It would be a hassle but it was all going to be fine.
Then another client asked if I could sit that same week. Two dogs, so more money for the same time period. They take a lot of vacations and want to use me for a whole month around the holidays ($$$), but I couldn't break my previous deal, even if it meant hooking them up with another walker/sitter I know (who might end up poaching the client...) It was the right, ethical decision.
This afternoon the client texted and said the renovations in their condo weren't done, so they had made other arrangements for the dog, but still wanted to pay me the agreed-upon amount. Being too honest (and Minnesotan) to ever be successful in business, I said, no, no, I couldn't take money for work I didn't do.
The client said: I feel we owe you, since you could have taken other jobs but didn't.
I said: well, I am moving that week... How about if we use it as a credit towards a sit in the future?
He sez: well, ok... But you have to SWEAR to me that you didn't give up another job because of us.
...
...
Well, there might have been another job but we worked it out and found another sitter for them so that's all OK.
NO! You'll take the money! We insist!
So I've got a big check for doing nothing, and an extra week to pack and clean (or to put off packing and cleaning for even longer.) All because I was honest even when it seemed stupid to be so.
This large chunk of money was an integral part of being able to pay for the move. Between rent here, rent at the new place and a deposit, movers, and paying off all outstanding utilities, this week's pay was crucial. I got my landlord to give me an extra week, scheduled the movers for 8 AM on the 8th-- which would give me about 12 hours after getting home to getting out. So all the packing & cleaning would have to be done before I left. It would be a hassle but it was all going to be fine.
Then another client asked if I could sit that same week. Two dogs, so more money for the same time period. They take a lot of vacations and want to use me for a whole month around the holidays ($$$), but I couldn't break my previous deal, even if it meant hooking them up with another walker/sitter I know (who might end up poaching the client...) It was the right, ethical decision.
This afternoon the client texted and said the renovations in their condo weren't done, so they had made other arrangements for the dog, but still wanted to pay me the agreed-upon amount. Being too honest (and Minnesotan) to ever be successful in business, I said, no, no, I couldn't take money for work I didn't do.
The client said: I feel we owe you, since you could have taken other jobs but didn't.
I said: well, I am moving that week... How about if we use it as a credit towards a sit in the future?
He sez: well, ok... But you have to SWEAR to me that you didn't give up another job because of us.
...
...
Well, there might have been another job but we worked it out and found another sitter for them so that's all OK.
NO! You'll take the money! We insist!
So I've got a big check for doing nothing, and an extra week to pack and clean (or to put off packing and cleaning for even longer.) All because I was honest even when it seemed stupid to be so.