The “Be Happy You Have a Job” management mantra probably wasn’t the best approach to adopt when the economy was tanking.
Several years ago when people were getting laid off by the thousands each day, I’ve heard about managers who stopped giving a rats behind about their employees because they felt that with unemployment climbing north of ten, eleven and twelve percent, anyone who was lucky enough to avoid waves of layoffs would tolerate crummy working conditions, and still be grateful for getting a paycheck.
For some of those companies, the days of reckoning have arrived.
A good friend of mine who worked for a major mortgage company would vent to me every few days that her condescending, micromanaging employer expected everyone to work longer hours, through lunch, including holidays, for 2/3 original pay if they wanted to keep their jobs. They were also expected to give up their vacations, take work home and respond to calls and emails well into the night. Calling in sick or asking for any time off was borderline suicidal. And, they were told that anyone who commented or complained could walk out the door whenever they wanted as they could be easily replaced.
The long-term effects of this management style have been, and continue to be devastating for this company. As the mortgage industry struggles to come back, this company has been branded as the “worst place to work” in the area, as well as in the industry. The word spread not only by the word of mouth of ex-employees, but worse, through social media and blog sites, including a video of a manager berating an employee that has been viewed more than 18,000 times on YouTube. Not good.
My friend has since found employment with one of their most formidable competitors one year later and recently told me, “I will never leave here. I’m not making as much, but my boss is awesome and we get along great!” Her former employer, who once employed 700, today employs less than thirty. The moral of the story? A sour economy doesn’t give employers and managers a license to be (I’ll let you fill in this part.)
What some managers fail to realize is that even in a down economy, when quality jobs are scarce, good employees eventually manage to find companies that are desperately seeking quality people to help them grow and push through tough times. We are reading about them now, several years later – CEO’s who said that when everyone else was laying off, they were adding, and are now dominating their market and category. These are the CEO’s who have created a culture perfectly suited for top producers, and that culture was created by strong leaders who understand how to treat, motivate and inspire employees to give their all, plus a bit more when necessary. And, the best part is that you’ll rarely hear these people complain when the pressure is on. In fact, quite the opposite is usually the case – many feel good about busting their butts when they know their extra efforts are appreciated.
A good leadership training program can teach managers the skills to create this kind of culture. The results will be both immediate and stunning. And, when an employee becomes an ex, they will have the best things to say about you.