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In the People Business

L&R Pallet Services

Story

How do you overcome near-failure and ruinous betrayal by key managers?

At L&R Pallet Services in Denver, James and Carine Ruder have rebuilt an environment of trust since they stopped seeing their employees as a commodity.  A spiritually-inspired softening of the heart enabled them to see their employees’ lives in a new light.  The company is now truly committed to caring for the needs of its very diverse employees.

Feedback on the film? Feel free to reach out below.

Guided Reflection

Reflecting on the Story

  • Brokenness and betrayal are part of the L&R story.  It took time to rebuild trust.  How did L&R heal and start trusting people again?
  • What role did a transformation-of-the-heart play in L&R’s story?  How did that transformation manifest itself?

Connecting to your Work

  • Does your company tend to see the best, or worst, in its employees?  How is this manifested?
  • Have you ever been treated “like a commodity” at work? What was it like? How did it make you feel?  How did you and your co-workers react to being treated as commodities?
  • Would the caring employee practices in the film work in your company? Why/why not?
  • What might you/your company learn from L&R’s story?

Personal Application

  • When you look at employees, what do you see? Why?
  • What do you believe about human nature?
  • How does your heart need to be transformed?

Read: James K.A. Smith’s “Redemption” from Comment.  He discusses God’s active work restoring all things… including “systems and structures of flourishing.”

Read: “A Condensed Overview of what the Bible says about Work from the Theology of Work project

Lord, help me see my co-workers/employees through your eyes. Please heal my own brokenness. Use me. Help me to trust and live into the unfolding reality of your restorative work in the world. Amen