The Rust Belt Chronicles: unions

Monday, January 28, 2013

The Mask of Toxicity

Have you ever worked for a toxic workplace? It’s usually apparent by noticing the employees tension upon entering the hallowed halls. Sometimes, an entire industry shares the same atmosphere. It’s a cold vibe that exists when an organization is built upon profit and greed.

Sadly, the style permeated from the top-down is the root of the problem. The Industrial Age was loaded with organizations seeking greater power and control in the workplace. The management style was effective to increase profits for years. In the last few years it has become the downfall of many organizations.

Years ago, employees (and children) revolted by forming Unions. This buffer was needed due to factories hiring cheap child labor. The Unions helped to establish laws to prevent children from being hired and safety regulations. In those days, it was common for children to lose fingers, toes and limbs, resulting in entire family incomes being lost.

We’ve come a long way from those days, but we have so much more work to do!

A majority of toxic workplaces have their own compassionate mission statement, but how they operate has nothing to do with that philosophy. When greed overtakes a business, it’s the beginning of the end- individually and collectively as an organization. The narcissistic style of management sooner or later catches up with organizations bent on sucking the life out of their own companies and employees.

Corruption is a by-product of greed. It undermines the best companies and destroys from within. When leadership focuses solely on profit it usually turns a cheek to everything else. The status quo is all that matters.

Money spent on advertizing is wasted on the snowball of public opinion. Invariably, one bad decision is followed by another. Denial is a powerful and dangerous imposter for those seeking justification. Yet, she is all they have to seek approval.

The tension and stress associated with being trapped in this toxic environment isn’t worth the sacrifice. The headaches, anxiety, ulcers and fear associated with working in this type of situation aren’t worth paying the price for a paycheck. Most experts recommend seeking employment elsewhere. I must agree.

You deserve better. Life is too short to spend in a toxic workplace. Trust me.

You’ll be glad to remove the mask of toxicity.

Until We Meet Again,
Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

What the System Doesn't Want You to Know!

It’s funny when situations don’t get rubber stamped for the industrialized system. Those folks have wielded so much power by having their way for 4 generations. Everyone should understand their position of authority, need and circumstance. Few without representation bother to speak-out, stand-up or say “no."

The system has managed to exhort their influence through all of our lives by way of education, government, laws, culture, agencies, associations and committees. Industrialization became so powerful, everyone sold-out in order to placate the few and reap some profit. Unions were formed to improve labor conditions and balance the industrial agenda.

Eventually greed and power would be the crack in the system to seek even cheaper ways to make a widget. Mass production was built on cheap and affordable products available to nearly everyone, so production shifted overseas. Jobs were lost, factories closed, while organizations lost power. A system built upon holding the hostage of people, economic stability and governance weakened considerably.

This is what the system doesn’t want you to know. It doesn’t want you to have a voice, idea or opinion. It will tell you- it doesn’t matter, you don’t count and nobody is listening. It attempts to operate like it is 1958 and it owns and controls everything, including you.

The only card the industrialized corporations have in their arsenal is fear. The promises of owning a new home, a car or sending your kids to college is off the table. The chance of retiring comfortably is even questionable. We are now seeing wages and benefits diminish in the race to reach the bottom.

Our only option is to slowly sink, start our own business or perhaps create an entire movement based upon connecting with people.

As the system continues to flounder in its own excess of greed and power, people realize the loyalty, sweat, obedience and conformity is a waste of dignity, ideas, goals and dreams. The single most effective way to build a following is too stand-up for your own beliefs and rights. This is what the Industrial system fears the most. Rebellion signals the end of compliance.

The challenge isn’t to do what we’ve been doing better. The real challenge is to question where we’ve been and where we’re going. The only requirement is bravery; it’s far riskier to stay trapped as a cog. So, make a ruckus, follow your dreams and create a movement that inspires change.

It’s only then; we can do something meaningful for people who care and do something for those that really matter!