§ 2. On the Obligations of Masters

707. Principle. Masters, both from charity and from a certain natural equity, or even from justice, are held by special obligations toward their servants. And indeed they must:

1. Treat them kindly: namely on account of human dignity, by addressing them decently, furnishing them good and sufficient food, not burdening them too much, caring conveniently for the sick, according to that (Eccli., 23, 31): If thou hast a faithful servant, let him be to thee as thy soul: treat him as a brother.

Hence, they sin if they burden them with immoderate labor, or affect them with insults, say if they call them devils, dogs, etc. Yet such names are commonly not held as grave injuries (III, 342).

2. Instruct and correct them: for they are their head, and they bear the place of parents toward them. Whence the Apostle: If anyone does not have care for his own and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim., 5, 8).

Hence masters sin, of themselves gravely: a) If they are the cause that servants do not satisfy the precept of feasts, of prescribed abstinence, of the reception of the sacraments, etc. b) If they do not correct them when they blaspheme, speak shameful things, or furnish scandal (cf. n. 496). c) If they do not dismiss the incorrigible, when they can find others fit. d) They are especially guilty if they induce a male servant or maidservant to evil, by depraved examples, words, solicitations, or if they permit an occasion of sinning, while they can impede it (cf. n. 515, 9).

3. Pay them a just price:³ for defrauding the owed wage is counted among the sins crying to heaven, and must be repaired by restitution.

Hence, they sin against justice, gravely or lightly according to the matter subjected: a) Who do not pay the promised or customary stipend, or defer it for a long time, with certain harm to the servant. b) Who dismiss a servant before the prefixed time, without just cause and without congruous indemnity. In this case, in punishment of his injustice, the master is held in conscience, says St. Alphonsus (III, 342), to pay the servant at least the greater part than half of his salary; indeed, according to Lessius (l. 2, c. 24, n. 8), he is held to grant the whole wage, at least after sentence. But others oblige the master only to compensation of damages, Noldin (II, 295).

708. Note. Masters are not held, unless perhaps custom or pact bears otherwise, or charity because of grave necessity demands help, to pay a stipend for some notable time, say several months, which servants spend outside service on account of sickness or their own convenience; nor to furnish great expenses owed to physicians or pharmacists. These things indeed hold from natural right; but positive laws often establish otherwise, and since this confers on servants a true right, it must be observed in conscience.⁴