Increasing revenue and decreasing expense is just smart business and a necessary decision in tough economic times. Having just experienced the worst recession in modern history, it is expected to see widespread layoffs, outsourcing, temporary workers and even large scale wage and employee benefit reduction. And we have, in spades, both legitimate and shady practices by corporate fatcats.

Workforce Recession

It seems we are witnessing a trend that is rarely discussed in the media or any other official venue yet obvious to thousands of employees facing a very negative impact in their own economic futures. This trend is much more than large corporation’s readjusting or rightsizing for today’s economical environment. It’s a quiet repositioning of accepted corporate control and behavior. Large companies are using economic circumstances to change the ‘norm’ when it comes to what was considered high paying skilled labor and professional careers. We are seeing a large and fast shift to declining wages and benefits so extreme they were never necessary for business survival, just record profits and control.

Conformity

The labor market is being ‘conditioned’ to conform and even support corporate decisions that will negatively effect millions of people for generations. Just as we are told that our homes were ‘over-valued’ to begin with, now we are watching that same mentality when it comes to our wages and work benefits. Our market share as an employee was over-valued. Therefore, a correction is in order? Correction indeed. I have personally watch several companies shift to lower starting salaries, more part time help, reduced benefits, freezes on all pay raises and bonuses and, yes, that is just the beginning. This was followed by involuntary forfeitures of current benefits and very large permanent reductions in pay.

Control

Employers are squeezing more productivity out of their existing workforce. Employee morale, commitment and expectations have taken a back seat to managerial pressure and tighter employee control. Employees have found themselves in a position where they are forced to work harder for less pay and no job security. Employers are taking without reciprocation on the perceived basis, “They’re lucky to have a job at all“.

Timing

Corporate executives are using the economy and the general ignorance and complaisance of the workforce to form a new trend that drives them up several notches both in power and financially. With the union’s influence at an all time low this is the time to put the sheep in their place.

End Result

You have to be blind or ignorant as hell if you can’t see where this is heading. And, trust me, the Government isn’t going to save your ass, it’s just going to complicate it and then tax it. Once these companies have a sustainable number of lower wage employees, they WILL require deep reductions in pay for higher seniority employees or the forfeiture of their jobs. That means a pay cut or lose your job for us simple folk.

On a personal note, I am a big believer in business. In no means do I think business is here to ‘help the community‘ or ‘strengthen the country‘. That’s simply a childish way of thinking and that kind of feel good rhetoric makes me sick. Business is in business to make money – period! With that said, there is still corporate responsibility that must be held in place. If you’re one of those idiots that subscribe to the notion ‘they’re successful large business and know what they are doing, who are we to question that?’, then please get the hell off my blog. Seriously, we have witnessed very bad business decisions long before the Enron scandal and Lehman Brothers. It’s amazing at just how bad some of the decisions are in the corporate world, second only to Government.

Thank God this country is still driven by small business. My best advice? Find a small company you will enjoy working for and accept the lower pay or take the risk and start your own business and refuse to participate in the workforce recession.

My Qualifications:

High school drop out with very little formal education (I can think for myself without a manual).
Thirty years of full time skilled labor (I can kick your pencil pushing ass without breaking a sweat).

That’s Right, I Said It!