CorporateM

Where is the sympathy for the working man? "Business is business, not personal" is what we've heard over and over again -- in boardrooms, by water coolers, and during lay-offs.

And yet we are called to sympathize with our economy, sympathize with the struggling monolithic corporation, and buy goods we don't need. Keep America rolling. Spend, spend, spend.

Obviously, business is personal, or else we wouldn't feel it was our patriotic duty to support American business. Business is personal, or else corporations wouldn't cry out to us, the consumer, and the federal government, seeking aid in this time of turmoil in our land.

Business is personal. It is part of our daily lives. Without business -- without capitalism, none of us would enjoy the lives we have today. And for this, we should be grateful.

But, again, I ask: where is the sympathy for the working man? Case in point -- Our nation was experiencing massive lay-offs for six months prior to the September 11th incidents. People from New York to Florida, from San Francisco to St. Louis suffered from job loss and the challenging experience of finding a new job in a slowing economy. I know, because I searched for work in New York, Virginia, and South Florida for six months before finding a job comparable in wages to the one I held previously. I know what it's been like to look for work the past few months, and I do sympathize with my fellow laid-off workers.

Unfortunately, corporations didn't sympathize with workers after September 11th. Massive layoffs ensued almost immediately ... barely had the fires been put it out in the Pentagon, and prayers uplifted to God, that the Airlines and Travel industry bailed out of projected financial trouble and laid off thousands of workers.

So, the airline industry chose to "keep America rolling" by showing no faith in the consumer to keep the economy going ... by forcing thousands more to look for work after a day of horrible tragedy? What kind of message is this?

Business is only personal when corporations are affected -- the common man is treated like an inanimate asset on the balance sheet. Business turns cold when asked to express empathy for us, the working man.

You ever notice how gas prices skyrocket at the mere mention of OPEC slowing production, and how prices take months to drop when the price of Crude oil has been lowered significantly? Folks, the fact that our gas providers are slow to help us, but quick to help themselves, should be an indication to you about what they really care about -- their bottom line.

I'm not saying we should promote anarchy, but I am suggesting we should stand up, united, and declare that business is personal for the American worker, and that business needs to sympathize with us.

They need to sympathize with the children, who don't have enough qualified teachers to instruct them. They should sympathize with the teachers, who are not paid enough to stay in that noble profession and raise their own families properly. They should care about the generation X'ers, who are struggling to complete school while working full-time -- a tall order for any individual. They should sympathize with those swimming in debt because of foolish financial decisions made earlier in life -- decisions that may have been aided by slick corporate advertising.

I'll never forget the time I was laid off from work, and I couldn't get my student loan. I was told at the loan office that I had to pay my tuition in order to get my loan -- and I told them, "how can I pay, when I don't have a job? If I could pay, I wouldn't need the loan!" What a frustrating experience.

And this is what corporate mentality is all about -- taking care of yourself, because no one else will help you when you fall. Save for a rainy day (with some of the wages I was offered over the past few months, it's a wonder anyone can save money). Take advantage of every situation you encounter. Be frugal with others, and keep yourself happy.

Folks, this is not bad advice -- but empathy for the plight of others is missing. This lack of empathy has caused needless suffering over the years.

I don't believe I had to lose my mind at that student loan office in order to get the loan I needed -- I believe the people behind the counter could've been a little bit more understanding of my situation, and more realistic about what I could do to satisfy my debt.

I believe corporations could give advance warning that layoffs are happening, instead of dropping the bad news on our heads and kicking us out of the office. I think corporations would be surprised at the goodwill they would build by simply being more courteous and respectful of an employees' life situation. At the very least, job-loss paranoia and ill-advised rumors would be lessened, if not altogether eliminated.

I know some of you already work for great companies that practice some of the suggestions I have mentioned; however, not everyone is so blessed. I would dare say that a majority of corporations fail to show sympathy toward workers, and our society continues to suffer as a result. Until we can honestly say that the majority of workers are treated like human beings, with dignity and respect, we must continue to raise our voices and let it be known that this corporate mentality and behavior will not be tolerated, and we will not give up until we see significant change in corporate behavior.

Corporate Mentality