So, here are your choices……………..
- You can be traded to another department or operating unit
- You can take a demotion within your existing department or operating unit
- You can take some furlough time
- You can take a severance package
What would YOU do? I’m watching this play out right now with friends as well as some of my clients.
Companies (and that includes municipalities) are doing what they need to do to cut costs. Some are being reactive; some proactive. For some it is too late. But what I am seeing is an attempt to keep as many people on the payroll as possible by trading, demoting and furloughing. I think this is a good thing. So then what seems to be the problem?
Is it poor employee morale? Diminishing employee engagement? Lack of Innovation and Creativity. Corporate Greed to the max?
Nope. (although the above is probably happening) It is often about EGO!
Yep, egos are being bruised in the latest version of musical employees at many companies. Employee Worth is being questioned. Employee Contribution is being questioned. Every person’s value is being questioned. The job you thought you were doing; the job which was the glue to keeping the company solvent (in your eyes only) is going away; sometimes overseas; sometimes just going away.
Or maybe what is really happening is the company is doing whatever it can to keep you off of the unemployment rolls – which would most likely be an even bigger ego crusher. And maybe the worth, value and contribution thing is more of your issue.
Maybe you should have a meeting to discuss what you can do about this?