In August of 1978, an article appeared in TWA's in-flight magazine ( Ambassador ) titled, "Recycling The Exec Who's Been Canned". At first glance you might think to yourself, "H-m-m, that kind of sounds like what's going on today". However, if you were to actually read the article you'd probably say that it sounds exactly like what's going on today.
Here are a few quotes from the article:
" American business has become much more volatile in recent years. There have been sharp cutbacks in such industries as steel and electronics due to the flood of imports. Banking, once a secure, steady industry where executives would remain for decades, has become highly competitive, with fluctuating employment situations. The securities industry has had troublesome times. And, of course, the world of advertising and communications is always in upheaval. "
" Today's business firms are now so much more mobile than ever before, moving either to escape declining conditions in certain cities or to take advantage of lower taxes, When a firm moves, many employees are unwilling or unable to follow. "
The article even covers ( and offers advice ) on how to fire someone who is the victim of all this:
" It will always be urged that the act of execution be as painless as possible. It should never be done before a weekend , a holiday, a man's birthday or anniversary. The executive doing the firing may want to postpone it for late Friday afternoon, but that's disastrous for the victim. All firings should take place on Mondays.
No matter what day the axe falls, however, it's bound to have a traumatic effect on anyone who's established his niche with a corporation. The first 72 hours after the firing is crucial. That's when a man may go on a binge, bad-mouth his company all over the place, or make such a spectacle of himself the word will get around the industry that he caves in under pressure."
1978 was the birth of the "Swimming With The Sharks " era and preceded NAFTA. This is the era in which the foundation for the abandoned house of our current economy was built. No wonder we're in such a mess we've been asleep at the wheel for over thirty years. We are awake now aren't we ?
-George-
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Comments: 10
I love how they use the term "execute" in reference to firing someone. Talk about a shadow of things to come.
Come to think of it, American Idol is a lot like Wall Street these days. It's full of idiots and and egotists.
If they're sinking perhaps a bailout or more water, it's a tough choice.
A more fitting punishment for those who brought us down would be to publicly disgrace them. If the majority of Americans shunned them and held their images up as a symbol of shame and dishonor, maybe they'd start to get it.