Here is the conundrum of our profession. Comparison to other professions - doctor, lawyer... - is in dollars only. In routine, I feel we're much more akin to blue collar professions. You sometimes hear, "but I have 300 pax, oh the responsibility". So the DL CA has more responsibility than the UPS CA, or the RJ CA for that matter? We up front have a vested interest in a safe flight - we suffer the same consequences as the pax. Thats self-preservation, not necessarily professionalism. What about the burnt out defense attorney who's client is wrongly found guilty? As joker said, eventually doing the minimum may have professional consequences to their livelihood - that's motivation to do more than the bare minimum.

If the guy on the assembly line at Boeing doesn't give a crap about the e-door installation, it's only his problem way down the road when there are major issues and large economic issues for his employer, or if the QC guys routinely trap the errors. If he doesn't care about wearing the proper PPE, that could pose immediate personal penalties. Is he more professional because he's always wearing all PPE (visible) but isn't so fastidious about his technical acumen (not so visible)?

I'm really torn on the issue - we've all seen (or been) the "professional" who has just had enough for the day and bolts for the van or the commute. Where is the line? When is it enough just to do what's required and no more? Do I want my responsibilities to begin to creep towards soft skills? Who is evaluating? The VP in the back who sends emails about the CA making a PA from the cockpit? The new hire who is super gung ho and wants to help sling bags? My union seems to think we've started drifting too far towards one end of the spectrum.