An Open Letter to Jim Sinegal, Costco CEO

October 28, 2013
miproconsulting
Blog

Usually open letters are scathing public admonishments of a policy or some other corporate decision. Not this one. Chris Horst wrote Jim Sinegal and Craig Jelinek (CEO and President, respectively) a different kind of open letter.

For his entire life, Matthew has been classified and known by his “special needs”. Since the day he began at Costco, however, his coworkers and customers have valued him because of his unique strengths. There are many companies which “succeed” at the expense of their workers. I am a firsthand witness to a counterintuitive company: Costco succeeds through the flourishing of its employees.

Matthew worked for years in the Costco parking lot (bearing the wind, rain, cold and snow), taking pride when it was free of carts. And, true to the rumors (that Costco promotes from within), he eventually was given the opportunity to work in the warehouse as a cashier’s assistant, supporting customers as they check-out. He absolutely loves his job…and his customers absolutely love him.

You have to read the whole thing.