QUESTION:
Our company is based in New York which is an “at-will employment-state.” This means that, unless we have a contract – they can fire us at any time even without two weeks’ notice. Generally speaking, we receive a cost of living raise that ranges from 3% to 5% each year. Senior management told us that this year, the company needed to reign in expenses, and we were told that if we forgo our cost of living raise this year, the company would get back on track and raises would be paid next year. We agreed to forego our raises for the year.
Later, I found out that while raises were withheld from us, Senior Management gave themselves a raise. I feel that we were lied to, and I am really surprised because generally speaking, I find that Senior Management is comprised of good and honest people. I do not know whether to tell my coworkers what Senior Management has done. If I do tell them, and Senior Management finds out that I told them, they will be angry at me. If I do not tell my coworkers, then I feel that I am complicit in Senior Management’s lie and that I am not being honest with my coworkers.
ANSWER:
At first glance, it would appear that Senior Management’s behavior is very disturbing. However, after some reflection, it could very well be that Senior Management was not intending on denying you something that they did not deny themselves. Perhaps in years’ prior, they withheld raises for themselves while they paid you and your colleagues a raise - this year, it is your turn to forgo a raise. In your question, you described Senior Management as being comprised of, “...good and honest people.” We are obligated to judge good people favorably and this is a Torah Mitzvah. (See Sefer Chafetz Chaim, Be’er Maim Chaim in the introduction – Positive Commandment #3). This is not limited to judges as we see that the Mitzvah applies to men and women at all times (Sefer HaChinuch #235). Accordingly, you should give Senior Management the benefit of the doubt that they have not done anything untoward, and that withholding raises from you was warranted - perhaps they withheld raises from themselves the year before. Further, you should not tell your coworkers about what Senior Management has done as it may anger them unnecessarily.
We would be wise to remember the Gemorah in Shabbos (127b) “One who judges his friend as worthy, will himself be judged worthy by Hashem.”
