“Noblesse Oblige”*

Just learned from a television news program what the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Japan Airlines (JAL) did to save jobs and to keep his company stay afloat.

With rising oil prices and other operating costs, we all know airline industry is in serious financial difficulties. JAL, known for its generous cabin services in the past, is not immune from the dire challenges that other air carriers face. To avoid further layoffs of its loyal staff, its president and CEO, Mr. Haruka Nishimatsu, voluntarily reduced his own salary and cut all the perks that come with the job. His current annual salary of about US$90,000 may seem to be a generous one. But it is lesser than what JAL pays its pilots. Instead of using executive dinning room, he joins his employees at the company's cafeteria having some luke warm noodles for lunch.

Mr. Nishimatsu’s altruism over his employees’ well-being is unparalleled. He also lives up to a saying that "privilege entails responsibility."* - Ayee
*The Award Illustrated Dictionary (1984)