Let’s try an exercise in understanding today; we’re going to walk a mile in another man’s shoes. Imagine:
- You’re a middle manager at a fictional company we’ll call Widget-Tech. Widget-Tech is a business with under 100 employees and has recently had a couple of bad years.
- The big bosses at Widget-Tech have put together a long term financial plan designed to save the company and make them profitable again. Part of that plan calls for cutting operational expenses by 10 percent and so step 1 in that process is a reduction in the employee workforce by 10 percent.
- The positions cut are mostly entry level jobs and a handful of middle managers, but luckily for you your job is still safe (for the moment).
- Shortly after those staff reductions, the big bosses announce step 2 in the plan: everyone has to take a mandatory unpaid “vacation”.
- Just when you thought you had things figured out (the big bosses must have some sort of mental handicap) step 3 begins: senior managers and big bosses get 3-4 percent raises.
What message do you think the big bosses are sending everyone? Would you feel motivated? What kind shape do you think company morale is in?