Honesty is part of the human experience. We have an expectation that people will be truthful with one another in our dealings both personally and professionally. This virtue lends to a major component of our moral fiber.
Not only does the practice of dishonesty erode a reputation, but sometimes can irreparably damage trust. In the business of insurance, we are our reputation. Without this we cannot operate effectively. Truly, honesty is the foundation of trust in all relationships, which is why I feel when I was made a victim of someone’s dishonesty it struck a blow.
I live in an urban center which allows for people to raise chickens, specifically hens—no roosters. While my opting for this or not did not impact the city’s decision to issue a permit, they do require the residence apply for the permit to notify the neighbourhood and gather signatures to prove the surrounding properties had in fact been informed.
We were pseudo-notified of a “pending” license in August, meaning we were not home at the time and our name and signature were applied to a form letter that we were neither supplied with or indeed signed. We found out that our signature had been submitted to the city when we called to inquire about the hens in the backyard property.
Imagine our surprise when the city sent us a copy of the signed letter outlining that according to them, we had indeed been notified and the proof was attached to the application. The only problem was, we hadn’t signed it. That was not either of our signatures, though my name was clearly printed next to it.
It seems that the city was okay in deciding to ignore that our signatures were never obtained, yet falsely submitted. Further, these “neighbours” also failed to notify the city that the hens had been housed, without permit since April, four months prior to application.
Despite all of this, the license was granted and hens happily roam.
But what about honesty?
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