Corporate double-speak
Anyone ever been asked to read
Who Moved My Cheese? It's a story that was concocted by corporate bigwigs to make you "think of the possibilities" when you're losing your job due to outsourcing, downsizing et al. Anyway, the author of
this article talks about the head-up-the-ass mentality infecting corporate America today. Excerpt:
In my particular case, my entire cheese supply has been shredded and shipped to Canada. In many cases, it's India.
That's right, I am a victim of the outsourcing fad that has taken this country by storm. Not only was my job replaced, but I was also asked to train my cheaper, offshore replacement so that he could do my job. Incredibly, I was expected to be happy about it. I was encouraged to put on rose colored glasses and look forward to being "freed up" to do "other things with my life". On a daily basis I was told by management that, despite any emotions I was having about this change, now is an important time to "stay focused" on my job. The CIO actually sent out an e-mail advising us all to "avoid participating in any resistance". Thanks, Mayor McCheese, I'll try not to.
When I first was told I was going to be outsourced, the boss above mine suggested that I read "Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson to deal with the monumental change. Considering the circumstances, not only was this insulting, it was insensitive to the gravity of the situation. What was the goal here? It was to "help" me accept was happening, comply with it and begin to view the shady state of affairs as "a positive". Really, this is like handing me a map of Stepford, a glass of water and a couple of pills so that I can start making myself at home in my new town. I mean, maybe if I just stop and think about the positives of living in Stepford, I won't mind that someone moved me there and I'll grow to love it!
That's alright. I prefer to keep my brain functions, thank you.
Posted by: Physics Geek at
03:49 PM
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1
Although I agree that the managers were jackasses in this case, I'd still like to point out that being able to find potential for reward in every adverse situation is generally a healthy and useful attitude.
Posted by: Harvey at May 11, 2005 04:47 PM (tJfh1)
2
I'm one of the more positive people you're likely to meet. But after 3 downsizings at 3 different jobs, I've come to the conclusion that manangement euphemisms are just bullshit that's designed to make them feel good about themselves. Besides, lots of people who lost jobs probably struggled to find the positive aspects of not being able to make the mortgage payment each month. Once they found other employment, sure, most of them were happier. Not every occurrence in your life has a positive aspect, though.
Posted by: physics geek at May 11, 2005 05:23 PM (Xvrs7)
3
Exactly, Physics Geek.
Losing your job due to offshoring or downsizing is a traumatic event. Based on the emotional trauma it is on a par with other major losses in life like divorce, a death in the family and disease. So, you can hardly expect that one should simply seize a "silver lining" with these types of events. "Gee, I am so glad my mother died because it allowed me to feel sadness, and it will allow me the opportunity to learn how to buy a casket" or "Golly, I'm glad I got cancer because now I get to see the inside of a hospital more often." or "Gee, my job has been eliminated, this frees me up to sell my body on the street to pay my mortgage".
The problem with offshoring, that makes it a little different than downsizing, is that there is a severly limited supply of comparable jobs...
most decent sized companies are offshoring or about to offshore. And now you've found yourself in a jobless market competing with thousands of other unemployed tech workers...clutching a book about cheese.
Posted by: Ms. Candor at May 12, 2005 02:58 PM (b+ts+)
4
Actually, Ms. C, I was going for something more along the lines of "my mother's death taught me that I should love and appreciate those who I care about while I have the chance".
Nevertheless, your point is well-taken. Downsizing (and unemployment in general) sucks.
Posted by: Harvey at May 12, 2005 06:39 PM (tJfh1)
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