It takes zero dollar to treat someone with respect.

During my first job an office boy asked me if I needed anything. I said "No sir. Thanks for asking. If i need anything I will let you know". His reply was "Aap mujhe sir kyu boll re ho. Meri aur aapki aukaat mai bhut pharak hai. (Why are you calling me sir? There is a difference between your and mine status)". I smiled and said "aap bhi kaam karke paise kmaate ho aur mai bhi. Izzat aukaat se nhi kaam se banti hai aur woh aap kar re ho" (even you are earning after doing work like me and respect is not derived by status, but by the work that we do and that you are doing it too)". I asked him about his family and kids. That was the only conversation I used to have with him and would reply to his good morning with a smile on my face and asking him how he was doing. He used to be very nice to me and the day I left the office he said "Sir aapko kbhi nhi bhul paaunga, bhut ache insaan ho aap. Bhagwaan aapko bhut tarakki bakshe aur kbhi bhi meri zarurat ho toh mujhe yaad kardena, mai haazir hojaaunga (Sir I wont be able to forget you. You are a very good person. May God grant you a lot of success and if ever you need any help, just call me and I will be there)".

I learnt a very important lesson that day and have followed it throughout my life so far. I never helped him monetarily. I just treated him with respect and I got more respect from him.

It takes zero dollar to treat someone with respect. Replying to someone's message or wish wont degrade your position. It takes away nothing to give someone respect, this is the least that we can do. Your education is of no use if you cant respect a person who is not as destined to be qualified like you or who is below you in the organizational hierarchy. You can earn your promotion by being sweet to your bosses, but you will never earn the respect if you are rude or arrogant to people below you. Replying to someone's wish with a smile on your face or asking an office boy that how is he doing in life or telling your juniors or people who came to you to sit, wont degrade you.

Its better to use your ears than your mouth with people. Your politeness can make them feel good in life. Its definitely fine to ask your office boy who is serving you lunch that if had his lunch. The more you move up, better it is to treat people below you with respect and dignity. Everyone deserves respect. Even a rickshaw puller does much more hardwork than us. We are just luckier to receive that education which he couldnt for some reason, but our education wont be of much use if we dont treat him well.

Everyone is fighting one battle or the other with his or her life. There is no use of writing long paragraphs for someone who killed himself or herself due to depression, if we couldnt find time to hear that person when he or she was live. You cant read whats going on in someone's mind. Everyone is going through some insecurity in life, but you can help that person by being nice.

Empathy and sympathy hold a great value to humanity. Everyone is born equally and everyone should be treated with respect equally.