I have seen some employers who figure that a down economy means they can treat employees poorly. I suppose the logic is “they should be happy to have any job at all”. Since the employer figures their workers can’t really leave, the employers make demands that they would never make in a normal economy.
This approach is very short-sighted. First, the very top employees are always going to be in demand. I’m not talking about good, solid employees. I’m talking about the star performers–the top 5%. These types of people are always in demand, simply because they are rare. When an employer treats people poorly, the best people are the first to leave because they have other options. This leaves the employer at a significant disadvantage because the top performers are responsible for more than their fair share of the company’s results.
Second, even though the other people may stay because they can’t find a job, that doesn’t mean they are going to be engaged. There are very few jobs that really track employee results. If an employer treats people poorly, they aren’t going to put the same level of effort into what they do. This is going to happen even if the employees aren’t doing it intentionally. When you have a bunch of employees who refuse to go the extra mile (or even an extra two feet) to help a customer, you have a company that is in trouble.
Third, employees have long memories. When the economic condition changes, they will be very happy to leave–even if the employer tries to put on a kinder face. Worse, they will tell others about their experience and the employer may have trouble finding anyone other than people who can’t get a job anywhere else. Of course, the employer probably won’t realize what is happening. No one is going to tell the HR department “I’m not going to interview with you because of the way you’ve treated past employees”.
If anything, a poor economy is a chance for companies to really treat their workers well. There may not be as much money for bonuses and raises, but employers can do a lot by simply being kind.
What are your experiences in a down economy? Have you found that employers treat you better, or worse?
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I had managers who were treating everyone like dirt. I resigned. No way Im working with someone like that. I love happy environments and that include workplaces. Same way when staff dont treat their customers right, I dont buy from their store at all.
So the real losers are businesses who dont teach their staff (and managers) how to treat customers right (and each other right). No customer means no sale. No sale means no income. No income means no profit. No profit mean the business go bust.
So to everyone, be polite and love your job. If you dont, just quit and find work that would make you happy.
For a year management used those exact words about how we should just be happy we had jobs and would nitpicking about personality things like if we were grumpy or they didn’t like the expression on our face. Now, our industry is getting a lot of stimulus money and even though we aren’t getting raises, one director actually said off- handedly in a meetng — “we know other people are going to be calling about work, but we’d appreciate if you’d stay.”. Nothing about how much they appreciate us or how sorry they are for treating us so bad for a year. You aren’t kidding about employees having long memories.
Nice points! I never thought about employees leaving at soon as the economy straightens itself out if they were mistreated now. Interesting food for thought… I am both an employee and employer (of sorts) Having jobs I love mixed with this job market has only made me appreciate my job even more and work harder. Thanks for the interesting posts!
I believe employees, like all individuals, should be treated right not just during difficult times but all the time. Showing respect towards others is a big factor. It leads to better, more harmonious working relationships, as well as personal ones.
A company looking to spring back from the economic downturn in 2009, and improve their business in 2010, could pick up a few tips from here. Treating employees right would help in keeping the top people in the company, and providing a good working environment for people inspires them to be more productive, confident and satisfied – leading to more profit and benefits for the company in the long run.
Almost 24 yrs with the same company, 2 yrs ago, lost our yearly bonus (piddly compared to the banks) took a pay cut.. lost our home.
Company offers me a spot I wasn’t sure about in sales, (demotion) as I’m into service, not sales, transferred us, another cut in pay. Lived 4 mos in 15 yr old not very big motor home. Transferred to a depressed area, not much in the way of sales, farmers fix it themselves and by cheaper parts. 1 yr later, company cuts me again, another 10,000,,, now… Bankruptcy, move out of our house we rent back into now 16 yr old Motorhome, wife 4 dogs, wife that cant quit crying because we’ve lost everything.. life is good huh?
In the past yr after the large company has layed off, fired, and cut pay, triple the expectations of the the employees still working, company has bought up new territory, bought new land for new corporate office… Do I have the right to have lost respect and start sending out resumes? LMAO.. I think I do and hopefully it will be a job with one of there customers!