Did you notice something out of the ordinary this month? August 2010 had five Sundays, five Mondays, and five Tuesdays. How often does that happen? From what I am told (but have not verified), only once every 800 years.
For those who would not have given this answer to my initial question, what would you have said? How will you remember August 2010? Let us know!
© 2010 Pat Lynch. All rights reserved.
In a recent controversial ruling (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission), the U.S. Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional certain limits on corporate campaign spending. In essence, the justices declared that incorporated groups such as companies, labor unions, and associations have the same right as individuals to freedom of speech when it comes to expressing their political views.
Since that decision was made public, debate about its implications has been raging. Some people feel that corporations will be spending their profits freely to sway politicians’ votes, and that individuals’ voices and interests will be drowned out completely. Others believe that this ruling, which includes labor unions and associations, is a requirement for a truly democratic political system to function properly.
In light of this debate, I was interested to read an article in Time magazine (2/08/10) that included a list of the top ten political donor organizations between 1989 and 2010. Of the ten organizations, only two were corporations (AT&T and Goldman Sachs); the remaining eight were labor unions or associations. If one assumes that the unions’ interests are aligned with those of the employees they represent, one interpretation of these data might be that the interests of unionized workers seem to have been rather well represented during this period of time. The question I would raise is whether the unions’ interests truly are aligned today with those of individuals who have chosen NOT to seek their representation, who collectively make up the lion’s share of the U.S. workforce.
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the Court’s decision, and whether you are optimistic or pessimistic about the impact it will have on politicians’ decisions that affect the work and personal lives of those who live in the U.S., perhaps the lesson here is that well-informed citizens would be well served to pay close attention to the sources of funding for political causes and candidates, particularly in these days of unprecedented partisanship.
© 2010 Pat Lynch. All rights reserved.
Labor Day is a great time to take stock of the workplace, to assess how things are going and people are doing as we approach the last quarter of the year. According to news reports, many people who are working feel lucky they have jobs, especially when they look around and see so many people who do not. Yet underneath that feeling of relative good fortune simmers a stew of negative emotions arising from a sense of unfairness, like anger and resentment. These feelings are especially prevalent when people feel they have been wronged or treated unjustly by employers who have taken advantage of them during the economic downturn by cutting pay and benefits more than necessary. They feel trapped in their jobs, unable to go elsewhere because of the lack of choices in today’s job market.
Here’s my question for employers: when the economy turns around and people again have job and career choices, what will your workplace look like? Will your good performers stay with you, or will they be the first ones out the door? Will the reputation you are building now serve you well, or will it be the cause of your demise? The answer will depend on how you treat your employees now, every day.
The “secret” to any organization’s ability to thrive is to make its employees a high priority. When management goes all out to make employees fully successful, everyone wins: the organization, workers, customers, and stakeholders. Even when times are tough, there are plenty of things employers can do to support their employees.
Don’t let the good news of the upcoming economic recovery be the downfall of your organization because your employees abandon you and your poor reputation doesn’t have replacements beating a path to your door. Make it your mission today to help your employees become fully successful. The future of your business is riding on it.
© 2009 Pat Lynch. All rights reserved.
