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As a business owner, I suspect Andrew's perception is different than the
rest of us. As a successful and fair employer, I expect Andrew's employees
don't need strength in numbers. It seems reasonable to me that an employer
is protected from looser employees by documenting the looser activities and
canning their sorry . . . behinds. Why does a union cause more frivolous
lawsuits?
Risk is a good point. Yes, employees sign up to be employees because of the
_reduced_ risk. Owners and CEOs and presidents do that job and get paid well
because of the risks. However, employees who sign up under one set of
conditions should not have those conditions changed to their detriment . . .
and that is what often happens. Employers institute 45 hour workweeks where
40 hour workweeks once were . . . require unpaid overtime . . . lay people
off and increase the work for the remainder, without compensating the
remainder.
The point about negotiating on your own is simply this: one employee's voice
against unfair practices such as forced unpaid overtime gets nowhere.
However, the organized voice of many employees has an effect.
Although, the point about employers discriminating against and firing
employees who want a union is well taken. Yes, employers do that. And, yes,
the question is are you willing to end up having no job when you strive for
a union. Good points, Andrew. I guess I wish employers were more like you,
fair and upfront to those who work for them, not changing the workweek from
40-45 hours without compensation, not requiring unpaid overtime, etc.
Cheers,
Sean
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andrew Plato [SMTP:intrepid_es -at- yahoo -dot- com]
> > It used to be that if an individual made a commitment to a company, the
> > company returned the loyalty. I'm not saying protecting the jobs of
> > boneheads and idiots, I'm talking about protecting the jobs of people
> who
> > work hard for your 40 hours a week.
>
> With all this talk of protecting the employees from evil slave drivers,
> who protects the employer? What about the lazy, complaining, below average
> people who just suck up resources and don't do their job? If you fire
> these people, they whine and complain and bring frivolous lawsuits against
> the company. This costs the company even more money, further depressing
> profits and resulting in more layoffs. <snip>
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