How to Treat Your Employees

Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

–Colossians 4:1

In Colossians 3, Paul gave instructions to slaves, telling them to work heartily for their masters. But Paul said slave owners–or today, employers and supervisors–have a responsibility as well: “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1). Paul was reminding us that even if we’re employers or supervisors, we are also servants of God. So we’re to treat our employees the same way we want God to treat us. Let me share three insights about God’s dealings with us that illustrate how we are to treat our employees or subordinates.

First of all, God spells out His expectations clearly. Deuteronomy 30:11, 14 says, “This commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. . . . The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.” God’s Word is clear and available to us. In the same way, employers need to spell out what is expected of their employees. Don’t assume your employees know what to do; tell them clearly. Nothing causes more friction and frustration in a workplace than uncommunicated expectations.

Second, God deals with us equitably. Paul said we are to treat employees with “justice and fairness” (Colossians 4:1). The word “justice” means giving employees what they deserve. In Paul’s day, slave owners were responsible for providing food, clothing, and other basic needs. In the same way, employers have an obligation to be just in our compensation. Are we paying people what they’re worth and taking care of their basic needs? We’re also to treat employees with “fairness,” which means we use the same standard to evaluate everyone. That’s the way God deals with us–Colossians 3:25 says He judges us “without partiality.”

Finally, God treats us compassionately. He deeply cares about every part of our lives. In the same way, we’re to show compassion to those who work for us instead of seeing them simply as a means to an end. That doesn’t mean we don’t discipline or even dismiss them, but we are to care about them as individuals, just as God cares about us.

When you treat your employees the way you want God to treat you, not only are you ensuring the success of your organization, but you are also ensuring that one day you will receive a reward from your Master, who is in heaven. Treating your employees with justice, fairness, and compassion is one sign that you are becoming like Jesus Christ.

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Today’s devotion is adapted from “Who’s the Boss?” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2012.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.