It's Not About Me

Let us not make light of the situation by “forgiving” those who know better or suggesting that they were somehow misled or “took the wrong path”. Hell yes…they took the wrong path…they knowingl y took the “gold - paved, yellow brick road” because that was the “shortest” path to “greater” wealth and self-aggrandizement. Part of our development as children was learning “right from wrong”. We might come from different races, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, but we all know inherently what is right or wrong. If, when a kid you do something wrong (either acting alone or pressured by your peers) like stealing a pencil or a pair of scissors from a store…you KNOW it is WRONG. If someone when you are a teenager pressures you into doing or supporting something that you later realize is against your better judgment, you as an individual LEARN from that experience. No one goes to college and then later ascends the corporate ladder to top management without clearly understanding the basic principles of right and wrong! Just like colleges and universities should not be teaching remedial English and math…they should not be expected to teach ethics to persons who someday will be leading America’s corporations. It is fitting and proper for companies to have and to maintain ethics policies, procedures and hotlines so that all employees regardless of their position within the organization — are aware and adhere to the SAME guidelines in their organization. This same approach should apply to abiding by local laws as well. Legal, moral, or ethical issues should be clearly addressed in a Company’s Employees Handbook so that there is ABSOLUTELY NO MISUNDERSTANDING about what practices will be tolerated and which ones will not! These were the Guiding Principles at Thomas & Betts as espoused by our CEO, Dominic Pileggi...they are as valid today as they were in 2012: • We Treat Each Other With Respect. We act professionally at all times and acknowledge and seek differences of opinion. • We Understand Customer Needs. We listen to our customers, act on their input, and strive to exceed their expectations. • We Are Committed to Operational Excellence and providing a safe and healthy workplace. We put quality and safety first in all we do, from manufacturing to sales to customer service. • We Are Committed to Continuous Improvement. We constantly raise the bar to deliver better products, better results and increased customer and employee satisfaction. • We Treat Customers and Suppliers Like Partners. We recognize that our success is dependent upon the success of our customers and support of our suppliers. • We Adhere to Sound Financial Strategies. We set clear, measurable goals and follow through on our commitments. • We Value Creativity and Innovation. We strive to be a leader in introducing innovative new products that deliver the highest quality at the best price. Guiding Principles

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