Let’s Ship All the Jobs to China!

by Michael Rosenberg

I have to admit, his questions took me off guard initially; but like all great questions, these really got me thinking. There are a lot of companies that treat their people like cattle and (at least in the short term) still make money. The idea is to churn and burn. In other words, squeeze every last ounce of energy from people and then, when they burn out, bring in the next set of people. One hundred people out the door, another 100 in!

There are always people who need jobs. For these organizations, talent management, training, etc. means “the floggings will continue until morale improves.” Heck, if the company is making enough money I am sure there will be hundreds of consultants, academics and business writers touting that way of doing business as “the future trend in organizational development,” selling the “X company way” to hundreds of other businesses looking to make money. Don’t believe me? Go back and read how many articles around 2000 touted the “Enron way.” Remember the phrase “re-engineering”? All you had to do was tell 10 people to do the work of 30, and Voila! you were making more money.