I still consider myself an American worker. Have been a proud employer as well as an employee for over forty years and during my working experiences a lot of changes have occurred in the workplace not only here in the United States but through-out the world. Some of the changes are for the better, while some have made the average John or Jane employee worse off than they were those forty years ago.
During these past forty years attitudes have changed drastically. Basic sound business principals and practices that were taught in our educational systems are no longer emphasized. The moral decay in our society has also played a significant part but is rarely discussed in concept in regards to employee satisfaction, how employees contribute in their performance of their jobs, and how the individual employee responds to the needs and concerns of their employer.
How much profit can the company or business make in the shortest amount of time now has replaced the quality, durability and affordability of their goods and services that business used to produce. The quote from the movie Wall Street “Greed is good” is now the main mission statement of most major corporations and businesses. When profit alone is the ultimate goal of any business not only do all products and services suffer but employees suffer as well. Intimidation, callousness, and an unforgiving atmosphere has replaced what was once a cohesive and rewarding one, for a job well done.
The compassion and a humility between employer and employee that was once the dominate factor that brought continuity and a productive working environment is lost in today’s workplace. Now, no longer are employees valued for their experience, their creativity, their insight, and their thoughtfulness toward their jobs their fellow employees and their employer. The old adage of “Take care of your employees and they in turn will take care of the employer by ensuring reliable, quality, durable, and affordable goods and services.” has been long replaced by arrogant employers, a self serving ideology, and a complete lack of concern for the quality of the products that are produced.
The Japanese have long valued their employees. A prime example is the Japanese auto industry compared with that of the United States shows the degree that their management values individual employees input, expertise, experience, and overall knowledge of not just their perspective industry but of life. Consequently the Japanese have now been producing more, higher quality, automobiles at consistently affordable prices for years: where as the management of the United States Auto industry has failed the American public. Had the U.S. Auto industry valued each United Auto Worker and all other employees, that have a direct impact on the manufacture of the United States Automobiles, their input toward the development of affordable durable cars and trucks like the Japanese the United States wouldn’t be in such economic despair.
The American employee is the most valuable tool, resource, and component in propelling the economy in every aspect of business. It is time and long over-do to restore the prestige and value each American worker for they are the biggest asset any business has. Only when the workers of the United States receive the dignity, and are valued as a internal contributing factor in producing the products and services that will propel the United States economy and ensure each American the financial security that is so important to the future of the United States will the United States finally emerge from the economic abyss that we are in today.