How Honest Are You?

Last week I was walking into work and found a Five Dollar Bill just sitting on the street in front of our entry. I work downtown on one of the busier streets in my little town. I am not trying to trick you into thinking I live in some metropolis. Just wanted to make that clear. But if there was a street that had foot traffic in my town, this would be it. I work just around the corner from our homeless shelter so you can imagine that from that alone we have walkers all around all day. So I really had no idea what to do with the money. I didn't want to leave it, that didn't seem fair! BUT I didn't want to take someone's money either. So I figured it was literally right in front of our door, chances are if it is anyone's it may belong to someone from my office. I decided, take the money and send out an agency wide email asking if anyone lost the money. So that is what I did. I got the expected, "It's mine, just kidding" responses and one "you are so honest" email. But bonus, no I think it is mine, for real, emails. So I was sitting in my office pondering what will I ever do with this fun found money, until I got an email about how I owe money to someone (not just me a bunch of staff on my team) for a thank you gift to a co-worker who was shifting positions and wouldn't be on our team anymore. So, easy come easy go, bye bye Lincoln, off to the jewelry store you went.

Yesterday at lunch we were talking about my found money and were thinking about sending out another one but replacing five with fifty to see if everyone would be just as honest.

What do you think? Would you do the honest thing and try to find the home of the money? Would it make a difference if it was five or fifty?

Hope it gives you something to think about.