In Times Like These...

I must admit, with the bit of free time I seem to have, I can not help but read (and sometimes post) comments to news articles on seattletimes.com. I feel like I’m learning about a whole new slice of humanity that I’ve never been exposed to. It’s a cultural, anthropological dig if I’ve ever seen one. Posts range from crude and rude to passionate and thought provoking. Issues are discussed with frankness (not always informed). People let their opinions unfurl. There are down and out verbal shoot ‘em outs. It’s very entertaining.

One turn of phrase that keeps popping up is… “In times like these.”

It’s a way to get readers of these blogs ready for a rant. Against everything and everyone. Mostly, though, it’s used in the business section blogs when people who, most likely, haven’t worked in large corporations, complain about a company funding a morale event (why this makes news…I don’t understand, but that’s another blog post) or some other “excess.”

What do they want? If there is a layoff in a company the remaining employees must live in the Gulag? Eating gruel and hoarding office supplies?

Clearly there have been some egregious business practices where the top dogs got off scott free while funding their third home and wife's plastic surgery. They became rich while the house of cards they built collapsed and crushed their employees. They are not good people. But unfortunate instances like these are few and far between. We've got to put things into perspective for crying out loud!!!

Bottom line: Companies who are going through hard times need to find ways to keep the remaining employees engaged, focused on meaningful and profitable work and looking towards a better future. It's the only path to recovery.

I’ve been on both sides of the line – the one kicked to the curb and the one watching their colleagues being told to move on. It ain’t easy … but in times like these...we need to keep our perspective in tact.