One of the only positive things to come out of this recession is the altruism workers are showing towards each other. People are sharing jobs, contributing funds to help their laid-off brethren and even, in the case of a Toronto advertising agency, selflessly and actively searching out and overseeing work for newly unemployed marketing and advertising agency people (justoneproject.ca). It not only makes no money for the agency, but it also stresses to advertisers that hiring a newly freelancing "Just One Project" member is cheaper than having an agency do the job. In other words, it's working against its own interests as an advertising agency.
Meanwhile, members of online business communities comfort those laid off and suggest survival techniques. There's a real sense of "we're all in this together" and "there but for the grace of God go I." This is a war and the troops are responding.
Do Not Feed the Recession
Governments are getting into the act as well. According to Reeta Paakinen writing in the February 6, 2009 Hurriyet Daily (hurriyet.com), the Finnish government has launched a "Do Not Feed The Recession" advertising campaign to keep its 5.2 million strong population working. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen and Social Democrat Leader Jutta Urpilainen signed a February 5, 2009 newspaper advertisement urging companies to avoid laying off workers and fight against the economic slowdown by continuing investing in product development, training, sales and marketing.
It's Bad For Morale
Actually, employers looking to the end of the recession don't like laying off good people. It's bad for morale and causes many employees to jump ship a few months later. "You lose the very people you are trying to keep," warns Wayne Cascio, professor of management at the University of Colorado. "The more severe the downsizing, you're going to see tremendous increases in voluntary quit rates within a year after downsizing."
Furloughs, Buyouts and Early Retirement
Some companies are avoiding mass firings by introducing unpaid furloughs, buyouts and early retirement. If they have to let workers go, they keep their benefits up to date ready for when rehiring begins. Many urge their employees to learn a variety of skills in order to be able to do jobs other than those for which they were hired. Nobody is complaining.
Almost all companies are considering chopping temporary, project or contract workers and freezing hiring and recruitment. Once sought after graduating students are looking at further education or gap years instead of the possibility of good jobs. Project and contract workers are building their own businesses.
Getting Used To Lower Salaries
In this new reality, even upper-echelon executives don't feel immune to the cold winds of unemployment. They are foregoing bonuses, travel, restaurant meals, cars and other perks and toning down their corporate entertaining habits. Ordinary air travel is being substituted for private jets in many instances. Not only are they accepting salary caps but some are getting used to to lower salaries.
To help companies keep overheads and costs to a minimum, employees endure shorter workweeks and telecommuting. American and Canadian unions, for the most part, are not fighting cost-cutting measures but are prepared to work with businesses to turn the economy around.
This Recession Is Unlike Others
This recession is unlike others. Now, workers and employers are actively trying to keep each other going. Bosses going to great lengths to keep employees instead of simply throwing them away. Workers, for the most part, don't see their managers as enemies either. There is very little "us versus them". Workers are supporting each other in many different ways. This collegiality may lead to a quicker end to the bad times. Fingers crossed.
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