Layoffs - Deal with the Survivors

In the current economy, layoffs are inevitable. We can point fingers at the greedy Wall Streeters, rich business owners or whoever you want. But finger pointing does not bring in revenue. Revenues in just about all sectors of the economy dropped significantly in 2008 when compared to 2007. Just this past week, it was announce that about 100,000 people would be losing their jobs soon at a number of large companies. Of course, this number does not include small businesses which make up a great majority of the American workforce.


Business owners we talk to are agonizing over what to do with their business and their employees. An owner of an insurance firm we work with has taken a 75% reduction in his own pay, so he does not have to lay off any of his employees. His employees are like family to him.


We see the struggles. HR people are calling me to vent about how depressed they feel when telling employees that their jobs are going away.


Unless one has the mind of Attila the Hun, it is impossible not to feel bad about the people who are being laid off. But what about the people who stay with the company? These people, also known as the survivors, need some help too. Many feel guilty. Many strong friendships and support mechanisms are made at work. When a friend and a confidant leaves, there is a feeling of grief. Others are unsure of what they are supposed to do. Too often there are layoffs without plans on how the operations are to continue or a plan on addressing the emotions of the employees who are staying.

There must be communications with the survivors. Tell them exactly what happened, why it happened, plans for the future and expectations of the survivors. Yes, I do have another article that can assist with the planning and communication check it out here - http://mckenziehr.com/enews/august2008.htm

Bob's First Blog - Stop The Employee Free Choice Act

I have been told for a few years now that I should start a blog. So here goes. I have read a number of blogs and they are basically pretty boring and who knows, by now you may already be bored with this one.

I am an HR geek and like it.

If, after telling you that I am an HR geek, you are still reading, then you just may be one of the people who will read this now and again.

I am also a bit of an activist. I get bothered by things that I think are wrong and want to reach out to others to help me get the word out. My latest mission is to stop the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) bill from becoming law. This bill, if passed, would take away an employee's right to vote for or against a union with a secret ballot. Since 1947, employees had a choice to vote for or against a union to represent them to negotiate contracts regarding wages, hours and working conditions. Votes were cast on a piece of cardboard behind a screen or with a curtain around them so no one could se how the employee voted.

Employees have always been FREE to vote as they please. The new law is not a free choice at all as all of the union organizers would know who signed for a union card and who didn't. The union organizer will also put undue pressure on those who do not sign a card until they sign one. As soon as the union gets one more than half of the employees to sign a union card, the union will be certified as the bargain representative for the employees. Not allowing secret ballot elections is un-American and just plain wrong. Are our esteemed lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate so naive that they think that union organizers will play nice and not use threats and intimidation to force people to sign union cards?

Unions have started advertising on TV about job security and better wages and benefits. Who are they kidding?

Put yourself in the shoes of a small business owner who has built a decent business and employs 15 people. You find that 8 of them have just signed union cards and now, instead of dealing with each person individually, you have to ignore your business for three months to negotiate a contract with a union. Why would you do such a thing? Would you consider closing your business, selling it or maybe moving the operation to another country?

Every time I see the Employee Free Choice Act commercial, I get sick. There's a good chance it will pass. Check out this article - http://mckenziehr.com/enews/december2008.htm

Or write your Congressional Representative and your Senator - follow the links below:

Members of the U.S. Senate -http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Members of the U.S. House if Representatives - http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml


Thanks for Reading Bob's First Blog