A Sin and a Shame - Bob Herbert

[groovedaddy]

The treatment of workers by American corporations has been worse — far more treacherous — than most of the population realizes. There was no need for so many men and women to be forced out of their jobs in the downturn known as the great recession.

Many of those workers were cashiered for no reason other than outright greed by corporate managers. And that cruel, irresponsible, shortsighted policy has resulted in widespread human suffering and is doing great harm to the economy.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Andrew Sum, an economics professor and director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston. “Not only did they throw all these people off the payrolls, they also cut back on the hours of the people who stayed on the job.”

As Professor Sum studied the data coming in from the recession, he realized that the carnage that occurred in the workplace was out of proportion to the economic hit that corporations were taking. While no one questions the severity of the downturn — the worst of the entire post-World War II period — the economic data show that workers to a great extent were shamefully exploited.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/opinion/31herbert.html?th&emc=th

[roxiejules]

1. The way it was.....

After 25 years of working in the same industry and watching record breaking profit retention for more than a decade, the new norm became asking employees of the large multi-national corporation to work harder with more reponsibilites, less benefits and less money. Keeping in mind most of us were already working 50 hours a week, no overtime pay. Working through your lunch hour was expected, otherwise you weren't really a player. Layoffs increased every year. Jobs constantly outsourced to India, The Phillipines and Mexico. The B.S. factor increased from Administration. The CEO became the highest paid Fortune 500 of the industry.

The stress was unbelievable as we worked harder and wondered if we were the next to get the axe. Co-workers began competing with each other rather than with the real competition. Back stabbing, petty crap became the norm. It didn't really matter anymore how skilled you were, it mattered how manipulative you could be. The layoffs were 'silent', like the messenger of death visits without notice. You were handed your notice behind closed doors and asked to leave within 15 minutes. No severance, no 2 week notice, no thank you, no good-bye from your co-workers.

We were never notified who had been laid off at other branches, it was always a secret and not talked about. Once when I openly expressed sorrow over someone who had lost their job, I was told by my manager, it was inappropriate to discuss and we just need to focus on the future. Humanity was being deleted just like the people. Never did I see an email from Administration thanking the newly axed workers for all their hard work and express any sorrow about having to lay off people. Not an ounce of gratitude about how hard the laid off workers had toiled.

When it was my turn it was just as unceremonious as the others. They were waiting for me as I came out of a meeting. Please pack your stuff, we don't need you anymore. Nevermind I spent my whole career in this job, nevermind I am too young to retire and too old to easily find work. I became a number, a liability like those before me. I didn't cry in front of them, like so many had done. I just left, saving my tears for the privacy of my home.

That is how my life-long career ended.

[groovedaddy]

2. How horrible! I really don't think there will be justice until enough of us go to D.C. and

just camp out in the steets.

[roxiejules]

4. Justice is the key

I think my story is pretty typical of what millions of others have gone through, but it easy to think you are alone.

We really need to become focused and more active. There was an incredible interview with Ralph Nader on BookTV yesterday about justice, civic participation and the corporate takeover of our country. It is long, but so absolutely spot on.


http://www.booktv.org/Program/11751/In+Depth+Ralph+Nader.aspx

[CrispyQ]

6. Everyone thinks it won't happen to them & that the ones it does happen to are losers.

My husband was laid off from a job. The manager that laid him off was stunned, when three months later, the company laid him off! No one ever thinks it will happen to them & they assume that those that are laid off or fired are always at fault. There's never a consideration that management might be at fault.

Good for you for not crying in front of them. I think there are many manager types that get pleasure from that. Oh & having someone beg for their job back. Corporate America encourages prickish behavior.

[roxiejules]

7. Damn, it felt good to write this story down....

I tried to hold onto a shred of dignity by not crying, and using the body language that says 'this job doesn't define me'.

But in our culture it really does. The job defines health care, housing & the sense of security. You are correct in saying that when you are laid off some people think you must be defective. The layoffs just allowed the upper level dudes to keep more money for themselves - 200 million in one year for the CEO, not counting stock options and all that other nice stuff. Oh, and it makes the stockholders happy to see how "frugal" the company is by keeping everything LEAN.

Sorry to hear your husband lost his job..

[xxqqqzme]

3. "...Mr. McLane assured investors that his company was

in no hurry to bring back 37,000 workers who were let go since 2008. The plan is to minimize rehires wherever possible, he said, adding, “We’re not only holding head-count levels, but are also driving restructuring this quarter that will result in further reductions.”...'

Thirty seven THOUSAND workers and more layoffs coming. Is there still time for the people in this country to grow a spine? There should be outrage over the destruction of the middle class. Where is it?

[groovedaddy]

5. Where is the tax incentive? Give them tax incentives for HIRING and tax the hell out of their

profits if they don't.

[Doctor_J]

8. It's amazing that among 37,000 victims

a few hundred couldn't have strung him from a lamp post.

That would have been a start toward "rethinking downsizing"