Accepting an Employee Buyout Package

	“The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off.”   – Abe Lemmons Two friends and colleagues of mine , Mark and Doug, recently retired from the active work force in the automotive sector of the economy. They were gainfully employed as field parts attendants (warehouse support staff) in a Service Parts Operation divisional warehouse setting for one of the Big Three automotive giants. They started their careers back in the days when the market shares prices for the stock  were higher and the the future outlook of the company that employed them was not as dismal and bleak as it is today. At one time the shares had sold for over $120. A different story today as we are all painfully aware. Mark began his career path after he graduated high school. He was 19 years old and began his work path as a janitorial staff member. Eventually he learned about an opening at the warehouse and was hired a few days after his employment interview. He knew he was a hard worker and believed at the time that  his future at the company was assured. The automotive parts market in those days was booming and he faithfully invested a  portion of his monthly salary into the optional employee stock saving’s program. He believed in supporting the company that supported him and his family. The work was labor intensive and at times challenging but he loved the physical side of his job. Management at the time adopted an employee appreciation program. Another innovative tool the company used to foster employee suggestions was An Ideas For Excellence Program. Employees received financial rewards for their ideas if adopted by the company.  The program meant to increase efficiency and address safety issues in the company. Mark frequently submitted ideas on how to improve the internal operations at the warehouse. His work was rewarding and  management seemed to understand him and his needs on a personal level. He knew that he was more than just a number or lines on a graph. Mark retired about one month ago. He received no financial incentive package to do so. He retired after 30 years of service and is almost 50 years old. Friends that know him say that his overall health has improved as well as his disposition.  He has mellowed and is actively pursuing a new career.The internal political networks  and the constant managerial harassment he faced daily at work have now been replaced by a gentler, more reasonable way to make a living. He was forced to sell his shares in the company at a substantial loss. He enjoyed his time at the company. Doug , almost 60 years old, retired  a few days ago and says that he is still in a state of culture shock. He reluctantly admits that yes, there is life after retiring from work. He has been with the company almost 35 years. He actively participated in the employee suggestion program and offered many invaluable ideas on how to improve or enhance the company’s performance He took an active role in the well being and safety of the warehouse and its employees. He worked in the dealership returns section of the warehouse and examined the resale potential of the parts the dealership’s returned for credit. Over the years he was able to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the dealer returns section in the warehouse.He too invested in the employee stock option and suggestion programs. He proudly labeled himself as being a company man. He believed in the company and enjoyed his time working there. He too noticed over the years the decline in the quality of employee morale and active participation in warehouse events and the increase in the amount of scrutiny the company was placing on each and every employee. Production rates and employee performance charts and flow sheets were generated daily. The creation of a production meeting place, called The Wall, attempted to indoctrinate each employee into blindly accepting corporate values and ideals. With the recent economic downturn the amount of managerial badgering and nitpicking increased as mid level managers tried to justify their jobs and salaries. Many of my fellow employees as well as myself are approaching the retirement year plateau. Many are awaiting for a package deal that will encourage them to retire and call it quits. The packaged incentive plans seem to be destined for upper managerial types and not the lower level grunt workers. The rumors are running rampant in the warehouse as to who will be the next person to retire. Speculation and low level hysteria and paranoia run rampant on the work floor. When an employee faces a forced retirement situation what should a person do to cover his assets? Is a bird in the hand worth two in the bush?  Is it better to forgo that 30 year retirement deadline and take any amount of monetary award the company gives you or should you bravely go about your job and hope that things will turn out for the best? The going rate for forced retirements these days expressed in the press has been pegged at roughly $20 thousand dollars and a new car employee purchase allowance of $25 thousand as ballpark figures. But then again that is only for unionized employees and not the non unionized salaried staff working in the regional offices and distribution centers. Each person facing this career decision must decide for him and herself the benefits and the rewards that accepting such an incentive package will offer. The rest of us will anxiously wait for the market and governmental forces to decide where we fit in to the whole scheme of things.Only the passage of time will let each employee know if he/she made the right decision for themselves and their family and their financial futures.

Work harder for less. A noble idea but…..

“It is the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.” — President Barack Obama

In his inaugural address President Obama made this poignant and specific appeal to the fairness, generosity and unselfishness of the American people to help restore the troubled economy to health. The unemployment numbers are increasing daily and millions of workers are threatened by job layoffs , cutbacks or permanent unemployment.

It seems sensible that in the current economic situation employers and workers would be constantly on the alert for methods to help prevent job losses and spiraling unemployment numbers. Why wouldn’t companies be prepared to roll back employee wages by a certain percentage point rather than hand pink slips to its work force? Why wouldn’t employees eagerly embrace a 10 percent salary cut in order to save their jobs and prevent job loss for themselves or others?

Employer short term greed and employee long term morale may be the prime reasons that such courses of action are not followed during times of economic chaos and stress. Recessions could arguably be shorter and more importantly less devastating if employees agreed to take temporary wage cuts during lean times and then receive wage increases in good times. In this scenario the boom-or-bust cycle of the market could be reduced.

Many employees would possibly opt for the temporary wage rollback as opposed to the nastier sounding wage cut. There would be an implicit understanding that this was a necessary evil meant to not only ensure the future of the company but also guarantee that when the economic tide changed and prosperity once again returned the employee’s sacrifices and flexibility would be appreciated. But the insanity of the current economic times makes taking this course of action academic at best. And so wage cuts tend to be mandated.

Many companies today are top heavy. Mid level managers are desperately attempting to save their positions at the expense of the people they manage. Their immediate concern is the bottom line.They are scrambling and trying new and improved methods to motivate employees to be more productive and if possible eliminate waste and lower employee absenteeism. And so a flood of charts, graphs and employee performance statistics are given daily to their respective work force. All this is done with the hope that employees will jump on the bandwagon and march to the beat of the corporate drummers.

Employees on the other hand are equally as insightful. They fear being laid off or even worse terminated from their present employment situation. They fear that a wage cut , even a voluntarily accepted one, will minimize the overall value of their efforts. Many senior employees will feel that the company is undervaluing their expertise and skill. Many admit that accepting a temporary wage rollback does make sense. But they question the motives and the purity of their managers and corporate leadership.

It seems that wage rollbacks are worse for employee morale than layoffs. When workers are fired outright a wave of fear and discontent swamp the work force. The possibility then exists that every employee is vulnerable and that it’s merely a matter of time until one’s number is up. The effect of the firings is devastating but short term. Over time the event is accepted and life goes on. Things return to normal after a few weeks.

When wages are cut employees grumble and complain for months. The overall morale is lowered. The remaining workers begin to suspect that they have been mistreated by management. Sure they have their jobs but at what price to themselves? Then they wonder when their full paycheck will be returned., if ever. Hurt feelings and ill will towards the company prevail.

Many employers believe it makes more sense to fire employees. This act puts the workforce on its best productive behavior. They prefer to use an axe to solve situations rather than a scalpel to adeptly resolve their problems.

Economic bailouts and wage rollbacks offer short term solutions to long term problems. Appreciating your work force and the efforts they are making to prevail through difficult economic times should take precedence over productivity and bottom line concerns.Your workforce is your most important bottom line. Working together in a cooperative manner could reap untold benefits.

Some Cell Phone Users Truly Irk Santa

“Deck the malls with calls on cell phones. …:

These are the short-lived and often harried shopping days well before the Christmas deadline. All through the numerous malls bargain-hungry shoppers are scurrying wildly to be there for those important and penny pinching in store specials.

Their cell phones are nestled very tightly to their ears in the hopes that important and expected phone messages will always ring clear. Considering today’s economic situation you really can’t blame them for trying to get more bang for their buck.

Bargains are here. Sales are there. In their minds it is imperative that shoppers be immediately notified whenever Xmas specials appear. Keeping up with the Jone’s in this hyper competitive market requires many shoppers to have more than one cell phone on their person. The sounds of sleigh bells ringing and soul soothing Christmas music has been replaced by a screaming hodgepodge of cell phone tones and tunes, moans and groans. The tunes have all been expertly provided and engineered by cell phone manufacturers eager to placate their growing army of demanding users.

Not everyone however is especially thrilled by the increasing usage of cell phones. One group in particular, Rent-A-Santa , claims that many parents are actually “shoplifting Santa photos” whenever they use their cell phones to snap a picture of their children sitting on Santa Claus’ knee . The snapped photos are then instantly relayed to the family’s Face Book web site. The family has the pleasant memories of the little ones visiting Santa and Ole Saint Nick has the unpleasant task of shrugging off his money making photo opportunity. No ho ho ho there for sure.

Many professional Santa Clauses report an increase in the confrontational positions many outraged parents take when Santa staff members attempt to ban parents from taking cell phone picture-taking photographs. The parents feel they have the right to snap the photos. The Santas claim that they have been hired by the malls and stores to not only thrill little Bobby and Susie but also make money with the photo-op session. The cost of the photo is sometimes nominal. The sales ensure that Santa and his entourage will be at the mall for years to come.

Each group is adamant in its position. The parents are labeled thieves. The Santa brigade is touted as miserly and exploitative. The obvious spirit of giving and good cheer is subverted by commercialism and greed. To misquote the miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge “Christmas is a bother and a humbug!” It’s interesting to note that when they were asked the mall management sided with the parents and saw nothing wrong with the parents and grandparents capturing “an occasional freebie pic”.

Cell phones certainly do have an important and prominent place in our society. They allow us to instantaneously communicate with friends , family and loved ones. They should not however be transformed into a catalyst that turns the spirit of the season of love and giving into one of animosity and dissension. “Make it a Kodak moment” should not become the battle cry of parents versus Santa.

Merry Christmas to all ……….. and to all a goodnight!

The Most Sought After Christmas Gift …..Hope!

“Ask not what your country can do for you …ask what you can do for your country.”
–   John F. Kennedy

There was once a time when these well thought out words, vocalized by a young President Kennedy, inspired a nation to bite the bullet and take up arms against a sea of turmoil and trouble and strife and attempt to do its best to work hand-in-hand with the government to solve or resolve problems and issues that were plaguing the world in general and the country in particular.

Throughout  the years the country’s finest and bravest  have  responded admirably. Our brave men and women have tackled whatever situations confronted them with valor, integrity and optimism. The clarion call was always heeded and met with a sense of duty and bravery and outstanding resolve. Throughout the many differing political administrations the American people were always there to support the downtrodden and bring hope and optimism to the world’s economically destitute and politically persecuted.

The days of optimism and hope and good cheer have now been replaced by encroaching clouds of doubt, fear and uncertainty not only in ourselves and our efforts but also in our belief that delayed governmental intervention can or even will effectively stave off economic disaster and ruin. Economic disaster for the country. Financial ruin for many of the country’s working poor who are now struggling even more these days to make ends meet. Cynicism about the market place and the country’s future is growing on a daily basis.

There is a growing perceived loss of faith in ourselves to enjoy life and the fruits of our labors. The glory days of Camelot are now logged in by historians as a mere historical footnote. The nation as a whole is hurting and the bullet can no longer be bitten. Some type of immediate governmental intervention is needed to bring hope to the country.

The buzzword today is “bailout”. The word itself connotes negative feelings of failure, rejection and loss of self worth. Anyone coming to the marketplace with cap in hand these days requesting financial assistance is viewed in the most negative light. Surely their own incompetence, greed and avarice has placed them in this situation. Their own lack of resolve and morality has condemned  them to financial ruin and social criticism.This summation may be true for the larger players in the market. The executives who lost their way and let their fund managers’ greed and over optimistic anticipation of stock market performance govern their course of action.

Joe Average is the true loser in this scenario. He is the true believer in the scheme of things. He graduated high school and fulfilled his military duty when required. He put his life on the line in combat and fought for principles of freedom, democracy and integrity. He totally bought into the concept of the American dream. He wanted decent employment, a house he could call home and a chance to raise his children in a free and safe environment. Sadly this dream has turned into a definite nightmare. His worst fears are now broadcast daily in living color on CNN. His job, the means of his livelihood , and happiness are now threatened. Confusion and doubt plague him daily.

The country now lacks an acting  president. The current  lame duck administration appears to be sitting on the proverbial fence. The president elect seems to be hamstrung by political protocol. Despite his good intentions and planned future programs of financial assistance he and his administration are somewhat powerless to do anything. The programs are supposedly in place and the country is breathlessly awaiting the official inauguration of President elect Obama in January 2009.

Can the country survive this  interim period while the administrations change hands?

Is it not time to change President Kennedy’s statement to read : “Ask not what you can do for your country…ask rather what your country can and should start doing for you?”

Christmas has traditionally been a  time of hope and peace and optimism. These days that sense of hope and serenity has been replaced by rising doubt and fear and pessimism. The nation is turning its sights to their elected representatives to offer them a semblance hope …a  sign that the future will be bright for themselves and their children. It is time for our leaders themselves to heed their own clarion call and commit themselves to saving the nation.

Merry Christmas and God bless you and yours!

Auto worker ponders his 11th hour employment options

“Working together we will provide our customers with the right part at the right time and at the right cost“.   Employee mantra

I am currently an employed  automotive worker patiently awaiting the outcome of the important financial and political decisions that will decide the fate of my company and the fate of the country as a whole. I work at an automotive parts distribution center. I have been employed at this profession for almost 29 years.

I enjoy the company I work for, the people I interact with at work and the freedom and opportunities my company offers an individual to educate and advance ones self. Our warehouse provides parts to dealerships to service their customers vehicles.

The fate of the company I work for now depends upon the mutual understanding, respect and cooperation of governments, politicians, advisers and other pundits familiar with the current economic crisis facing the world in general and North America in particular.

Lives and political careers on both sides of the US-Canada border are deeply enmeshed in this historic decision making process..Cool heads must prevail. The costs of making hasty decisions at this time would be disastrous.

I am also seriously examining my own personal options for work- at-home opportunities just in case something unexpected happens. There’s nothing wrong with being a practical realist in this day and age. This aspect would at least assure me of some additional income to carry me through the rough times should they occur.

“Shadow shopping” or “mystery shopping” appeals to me as a part time activity. This allows me to earn some extra income, pay unexpected bills that crop up and more importantly have fun at the same time. If you are observant, pay attention to detail,a people person and enjoy dining out then “mystery shopping” may be the financial avenue for you to investigate further.

In this day and age of relative uncertainty and global unrest you can no longer let your financial future nor the future and well-being of your family rest entirely on your years of seniority earned, the financial soundness of the company you work for or even your bank’s assets and Price to Earnings  ratio to gauge your course of action.

These days you need to be more proactive and do what’s best for yourself and your family. The days of sitting on a fence and hoping for the best are over. To survive today you have to plan for tomorrow and more importantly work that plan with enthusiasm, determination, optimism and personal gusto.