Comments

It was a very nice gesture and I hope everyone benefiting from it had the grace to say, "Thank you."

Posted by Mark JF at April 6, 2009 1:07 PM

This is really beautiful. It is probably safe to say that with such a gesture the employees expressed their gratitude. A past relationship undoubtedly had already been developed. Giving on this level is usually a part of how one's life is led.

This CEO must have been a super guy all along and the employees have probably expressed their appreciation in their work, service, attitude, etc. I can't imagine the 434 employees not expressing their gratitude after such a gesture.

But if I were a manager at Bollinger Insurance, I would have seen to it that the CEO received some sort of recognition from the employees, if only a GIGANTIC card with the signature of each expressing their gratitude. CEOs need encouragement too.

Thanks, TP, for sharing this story. It's inspiring.

Posted by Judith Ellis at April 6, 2009 1:56 PM

All I can think to say is, "Wow".

And I don't mean the sarcastic version.
Every once in awhile, humanity surprises - and humbles - me.

Posted by Gayle at April 6, 2009 2:43 PM

I'm one of the very lucky 434 employees at Bollinger that were the beneficiaries of Jack's largesse. It was a wonderful gift, but not a huge surprise - Jack Windolf lives his life this way - in appreciation of all that he has and all that his employees contribute to the business. I've worked for him for 16 years and I can tell you, Jack is a class act and so is the company he's built. And I do mean "built"- he's no flash in the pan CEO hired last year, but someone who's spent 40+ years of his life building something worthwhile and lasting. Bravo, Jack.

From a grateful employee.

Posted by TrishTM at April 6, 2009 3:08 PM

Oh, Trish, thank you so much for that. It's encouraging!

Posted by Judith Ellis at April 6, 2009 4:22 PM

Trish, thank you for finding us and commenting!

Posted by tom peters at April 6, 2009 6:21 PM

Is there is a trade-off here? Rewarding 434 grateful employees who have jobs, or using $434,000 to launch a new business which could employ tens (hundreds?) of the currently unemployed? Which would be better for the economy?

Posted by Mike L. at April 6, 2009 9:02 PM

So often employers try to express gratitude via platitudes and plaques, but then measure employee worth in dollars and cents. The unbalanced equation fools no one. It is nice to see someone who gets it... No matter what your tech, biz model or product - your people are what makes the difference long term.

Cheers to Jack - I bet his company rockets out of this recession.

Posted by Fred H Schlegel at April 6, 2009 9:45 PM

"Rewarding 434 grateful employees who have jobs, or using $434,000 to launch a new business which could employ tens (hundreds?) of the currently unemployed? Which would be better for the economy?"

To each his or her own. To me this gesture feels just right amid all of the rampant greed.

The gesture releases something good in the environment that's both tangible and intangible.

"Cheers to Jack - I bet his company rockets out of this recession."

I, for one, went to Mr. Windolf's website to learn of the products and services of Bollinger Insurance. Who wouldn't feel good doing business with this company?

Isn't AIG in the insurance business? Ugh!

Posted by Judith Ellis at April 7, 2009 12:03 AM

I cannot agree more, actually I wrote a similar post weeks ago

Edward

Frontier Blog - No one ahead, no one behind
http://www.hwswworld.com/wp

Posted by frontierblog at April 7, 2009 12:54 AM

Another living legend of philanthropist and we should learn and take example compare to those greedy CEO in AIG

Posted by Ari Lestariono at April 7, 2009 4:52 AM

Jack Windolf will now be known as Jack Windfall :)

Thank you Tom, for sharing this story. Even more heartening was the comment in this section from an employee "It was a wonderful gift, but not a huge surprise - Jack Windolf lives his life this way - in appreciation of all that he has and all that his employees contribute to the business." So here's a CEO who walks the talk.

Posted by Subir Ghosh at April 7, 2009 5:03 AM

Good to know there are still real leaders; and that they lead by example.

Posted by Mike Shafer at April 7, 2009 5:47 AM

Nice....it's nice to hear of the "good" CEO too.

Posted by nextgenradio at April 7, 2009 12:33 PM

When will the morons grow up?

If someone can give that kind of money...he has already made a largesse.........pity you fools!

Posted by Marxist at April 9, 2009 12:20 PM