Loyalty Bought with Friday Paychecks

"Throughout this period, Desmarais worked with a skeleton office staff, himself and a secretary, to keep down administrative costs. Sudbury Bus Lines had the best drivers and mechanics in the city when he took over. They were loyal to him because he was the old boss, Mrs Desmarais’s son, taking over and saving their jobs. He recognized that good, reliable, loyal people were among his major assets, and he earned their loyalty to him personally by ensuring that everyone who worked for him got paid something, without fail, promptly at end of shift Friday, even if it meant he himself went home without being paid and empty of pocket."

"In summer and fall, he would take groups of drivers and mechanics to local fishing or hunting camps where he would play host for a weekend. “And once, he found out I was paying for an addition for my house with a loan from a finance company,” reminisced ex-driver Herb Larocque. “He lent me the money to pay off the finance company and I paid it back in instalments out of my pay, without interest. He told me to come to him if I ever needed money again and to stay away from the finance company. He was a good boss.”"

"Desmarais is diplomatic in dealings with peers and employees, a man who puts a premium on loyalty, whether given or received. He achieves what he does because he can count on the loyalty and respect of the people who execute the details that realize his visions. He earns that loyalty and respect by providing responsible, authoritative lead¬ ership and giving loyalty and respect to his people."