Oil Spill Disaster

The Gulf Coast spill has been all over the news and will most likely affect the livelihoods of thousands of people in a negative way. As business owners in any venue, we must look out for the well-being of our employees. Twenty years ago, we heard a similar story with the Exxon oil disaster when people who earned their living off the land and sea had careers cut short.

The Gulf oil spill is a déjà vu of the Alaska disaster. Kent Bowen of Park City, Utah had an Alaskan fishing career when it ended with the Exxon oil disaster. His counsel for those recently affected by the oil spill is not to wait for the oil company to compensate. Brian O’Neill, an attorney with the firm Faegre & Benson, predicts 20 to 30 years of litigation for fishermen and small-business owners affected by the gulf spill as evidenced from the Alaska disaster (Read the full story here).

Today in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, there are many complaints from out-of-work fishermen. Some believe that they’re being ignored when it comes to finding other jobs. But rather it seems that those businesses in charge are attempting to hire the right people. They’re screening, doing background checks, assuring that those very fishermen are actually hired. In this case, background checks are a must for oil workers. Even though we can’t affect the litigation process and its timing, some businesses can at least offer jobs and they can be offered protecting both those who are doing the hiring and those hopeful candidates.

In a broader sense, there are many who may be out of work whether due to oil spills or the economy. As business owners, we have the ability to help by hiring correctly. And this isn’t merely an altruistic motive. A successful business is as successful as its employees. When screening employees and performing background checks, we’re ensuring as best as we can that we have ethical, committed and loyal employees who are working for the common good of the company and at the same time we have the potential of affecting the livelihood of those candidates. So the lesson that can be learned from this disaster -- as in any number of disasters in our world today -- is that there are always opportunities to help, even if it’s just awakening to what we can do to better our business by hiring those in need while also protecting our own livelihood.