Regarding job layoffs in the U.S.A.

[PitbullMidwest]

Franz,
You forgot to mention that he stormed out of the interview when told he would need to pass a pre-employment drug screen.

 

[TerryinMD]

Mike,

While this all makes sense, the truth of it is that, sadly, it doesn't really matter in todays business world. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Consider this, most people today switch companies every 18-36 months. Why, because that is how you get decent raises. Now, this is behavior is typical in the IT market. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Does that make it right, no... I know myself that when I see a resume and someone has changed companies at anything less than two years I begin to question their loyality and career intentions. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Another issue is that most larger corporations have "encouraged" people not to be loyal. Most pension plans are 401K based and are quite easy to move. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

When lean times come, most corporations do not consider reductions in salaries as a way to cut costs. In other words, the people do not matter. Once the economy improves, you just hire the skills back. Who cares if it takes several months to get someone back up to speed. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Buying American manufactured goods is quite desirable in my book, but the economic reality is that it is just not attainable. Unless, we wish to pay more for the goods or lower our standard of living./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

I wish I knew the answer. However, I really do not think that I would like to live anywhere else except here. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif As Americans, we have been fortunate in our ability to rebound and figure out how to resolve our problems. Consider this, if we were to stop importing our consumable goods from China, Brazil, Indonesia, or wherever, what would happen to the global economy. Who would benefit? Who would lose? Who would get the blame? I believe the answer to all three questions is US!

Terry

 

[gws]

Right now is the "right" time to layoff. Everyone is doing it so they jump on the band wagon to thin out the workers a bit. Put a little fear in those left, clean out the non-preformers and since work is naturally down it helps the bottom line as well.

 

[DVerbarg]

cp1969,

<font color=blue>All I know is that if I were an employer, I would want, if I could, to pay the highest wages I could to my employees. That way I would have access to the cream of the crop, so to speak, of applicants and turnover should be lower.</font color=blue>

This does work! The company I work for utilizes this philosophy and is a relative success! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I was disillusioned with corporate life and left the corporate world "never to return". Started my own business(es) and was quite happy and financially doing well. Then one of my clients kept pestering me to join them as a full-time employee. After 9 months of listening to their request we negoitiated a deal.

Sure we work hard, very hard, some times too hard. We are loyal knowing that we are paid, corporate wise, at the top of corporate industry standards. Could I make more as an independent? Sure, but then I have to do my own marketing and leg work, things I don't like doing. So I look at the difference between what I could make as an independent and what I do make as an employee as a fair wage to someone doing my marketing and sales work.

When I had a retail business I paid people well and had a very low turnover. Did that business succeed? It all depends on how success is measured. We did close the store because we couldn't make enough money to make it worth while and have a life outside of the business. It did benefit people while we were still in business, workers and customers. Any regrets? No, and I have a clear conscience knowing that we treated our customers and employees more than fairly.

 

[PitbullMidwest]

It'a a good theory but according to <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/01/28/wenron28.xml&sSheet=/money/2002/01/28/ixfrontcity.html> this article</A> it was a practice that helped destroy Enron.

 

[njrqs]

Delete the Word "America" and replace it with "Australia" and you know how it is over here too !!

But with only 18million of us, it is hard to be able to compete with anything !!

Cheers

 

[CamshaftLF]

What's really sad is we don't even make are own FLAG. Every one I've picked up and looked at is made across the puddle!!! That's very SAD.
My America 2cent's

Camshaft in Pa.

 

[Lane]

It's hard for U.S. companies to compete price wise with third world countries that produce goods and commodities with child labor, deplorable work conditions and absolutely no regard for safety or the environment. I cringed at an image of half starved, half clothed children I once saw on a TV report sitting outdoors in the dirt making well known American basketballs for like 2 cents commission each in a third world country. The civilized world needs a better plan for this so called "Global Economy".

Buy American not only when you can but every time you can.

 

[PitbullMidwest]

A little known fact is that the very first import tarriff imposed by the US Congress was on flag bunting. The British attempted to destroy the fledgling American textile industry and the Congress responded with the tarriff.

 

[Wingnut]

I sure agree about that child labor! Heck, fire them and let them go back to starving along with the kids that aren't working.
I hate to say it ... but looking at the world with the rose-colored glasses we tend to use is what makes them hate us a lot more than the envy!
I buy American wherever I can ... as long as it isn't a car and doesn't contain a "proudly union-made" sticker. Cars because, unlike some previous posters ... I can tell the difference ... and the cars I do buy are "foreign cars" that are built in the US) ... and "union-made" because, after a lifetime of putting up with Post Office and auto union strikes (remember, I'm Canadian and they strike at least once a year ... or every 10 minutes - whichever suits their fancy).