Big Book Study - Post #36
Jim K
Good morning everyone!
Chapter 10 - To Employers begins on page 136. This chapter was written by
Hank Parkhurst. Hank was one of the early New York members
and a business partner of Bill's - they were in the business of forming a service station buying cooperative and selling auto polish through the Honest Dealers Association. Hank was also an officer in "Works Publishing," the entity formed to publish the Big
Book. In April of 1940 Hank got drunk which was to be a source of great difficulty since he controlled a significant amount of stock in Works Publishing.
The reading from pages 136 to 140 centers on the loss of capable employees. The point is also made that it can be difficult to make employers understand the nature of the malady. Page 138 at the end of paragraph 2:
"The only answer I could make was that if the man followed the usual pattern, he would go on a bigger
bust than ever. I felt this was inevitable and wondered if the bank was doing the man an injustice. Why not bring him into contact with some of our alcoholic crowd? He might have a chance. I pointed out that I had had nothing to drink whatever for three years,
and this in the face of difficulties that would have made nine out of ten men drink their heads off. Why not at least afford him an opportunity to hear my story? 'Oh no,' said my friend, 'this chap is either through with liquor, or he is minus a job. If he
has your willpower and guts, he will make the grade.'" At the top of page 139 that individual got drunk again.
At the end of page 139 the employers are instructed to look within their own organizations and to try to identify those employees who are alcoholic. The point is made that there are many talented and worthwhile employees who can be helped and can return to
usefulness if they are given a chance to recover. A generalized approach with an employee is discussed through page 145.
We'll return to this chapter with our next post, and begin at the last paragraph on page 145.
Have a great day!
Jim K. - The
Into Action Group of Manhattan
6:30pm Wednesdays at St. Francis
De Sales Church
135 East 96th Street (Near Lexington
Avenue)
On Manhattan's Upper East Side
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