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MO is wondering who came up with the phrase..indefinite lay-off….and why is it used soooo lightly?

This is another Facebook status that came across my news feed and it’s one that we are all growing very tired of for sure. MO is not alone in the feeling that the term is really a cop out for what is really happening. It has become acceptable to use politically correct phrases which means that it has become acceptable to outright lie. The reality is indefinite layoffs are now permanent today. The definition below is the most meaningful for what a layoff has become.

layoff
The temporary or permanent removal of a worker from his or her job, usually because of cutbacks in production or corporate reorganization.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

It used to be that a business owner took pride in his/her employees and reluctantly put people on a temporary layoff because business slumped or it was seasonal and the money wasn’t there to sustain that level of employment. When the business improved, the proud owner quickly recalled those individuals that were put on layoff.

Certainly times have changed. The bean counters that we put in charge, measure the score and determine that the team has too many players and he provides a number to cut. There is little consideration for their ability and what will happen to them. It is time that the bean counters are put aside to be replaced by people that will find new ways to deal with cost cutting. After all, cost cutting only results in more losses. It is just a temporary measure and will not improve the business. It only stops the bleeding temporarily.

So to all business owners out there, you need to find individuals in or outside of your business that will find ways to generate more business. The cost cutting approach has not worked. It is a self fulfilling prophecy and is doomed for failure.

We need to find ways to keep the MO’s of this world gainfully employed so that they contribute to the local economy and are employed locally. Shipping your production offshore is also a temporary measure and does no good for domestic economies. Again, we need to find ways to keep production in our individual countries.

So stop looking to the bean counter for the score and his idea of the game plan. We already know that we are behind in the game. Find the players that can create a game plan to march down the field to score and put the bean counter back on the bench with his clipboard. He isn’t even well suited as a water boy. Find a new direction or the market will show you where your business will end up—gone out of business.