Tim Boyle, President and CEO of Portland-based apparel brand Columbia Sportswear, recently made the decision to sacrifice almost all of his salary so that others within the company could continue to receive a paycheck. Boyle, whose compensation in 2018 exceeded $3 million, will make only $10,000.

A rival to outdoor brands like REI and North Face, Columbia Sportswear was forced to close all of its brick-and-mortar locations after orders to stay at home to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Thus, the company invoked a “catastrophic pay program,” which enabled its 3,500 employees to continue to receive pay during the indefinite closure. In addition to Boyle’s own reduction of pay, 10 different upper-level executives volunteered to reduce their pay by fifteen percent. A statement by Boyle on the company website included the following sentence: “Columbia has been in business since 1938 and has weathered many storms by keeping our focus on the well-being of consumers, employees and the larger community.”

Possible Preaching Angles:

Humility becomes a community value when it is modeled by its leaders. By seeking the prosperity of those with less power and influence, they honor God by honoring the dignity and value of everyone made in God's image.