Re: aint this a kicker
Hi<br /><br />Sophisticated communication methods have allowed the pace and style of business to increase dramatically. This has effectively made the world a "smaller place" allowing others access to markets previously denied to them.<br /><br />Emerging economies are prepared to pay the price for growth and with their unemployment levels people will work for little cash reward. In one asian country there is the "hot bed" principle where one employee leaves for his shift the returning one will take over his bed in the sleeping quarters. This they do for the week getting Sundays off. It's about supply and demand. With very low unemployment wages will be high, with high unemployment wages are low. Supply and demand.<br /><br />I agree with Tomatolord. I don't want to pay over the odds for any product. Although I would prefer to pay for locally manufactured goods.<br /><br />This topic has surfaced in various guises and effectively is about the challenges facing employees in the "new world order". This my friends is not a plight only Americans find themselves in, indeed it it true for many "healthy" economies. If these "healthy" economies were to pull back all the goods made in the poorer country's, make them local and demand a price commensurate with local labour rates, inflation would skyrocket. As many other posters have pointed out, look at how many things we own and buy do not originate from the country in which we reside.<br /><br />From my perspective and in my business I suffer the same problems, which I might add I loose plenty of sleep over. I am having to layoff employees due to being unable to compete with imported goods
. By the way this included not replacing two highly paid board members.<br /><br />My business is simply unable to secure the volume and prices previously enjoyed. We need to get smarter, work harder, find better methods reduce profit margins where they have become indefendable, and some are.<br /><br />Can't talk for U.S. but here my employees see their "sick leave" as part of their "annual" vacation allotment and will take it steadily through the year. Theft is rife and personal and company belongings need to be secured. Losses in productivity are enormous. When I recently took over the business I decided to pay a visit to the night shift, bearing in mind this factory is a continuous process and requires a few operators for many machines. All but one I found asleep in the tearoom with the one having turned off all the other machines bar the two he was running. Just before shift change they start up the machines incurring excessive start up scrap. We were experiencing 20% scrap levels at the time ......... little wonder
. Since they have stopped sleeping scrap is dowm to 6%. While this was happening some Chinese were working their asse$ off looking for my business which they are starting to get. Still while this is all happening my labour are asking for more benefits, wage increases and fewer working hours
. I don't believe that my experience is unique, it happens all over the world.<br /><br />To claim it is totally the fault of money greedy executives would be unfair. That job is not easy, for those of you who have done it will attest to. It is about making a fair return for the effort, paying market related wages and employing people. I am not aware of one senior manager that I have spoken to in years that does not believe in people as the most valuable asset of the business. Life is about balance, it is the CEO's job to try keep that balance in the business realm. When China beats the cr@p out of the CEO's business by buying market share to the point where his business is no longer viable, he is the one who gets blamed.<br /><br />I have a joke in our business and that is not to be in any passage, stairwell or car park at closing time. You could get killed in an early stampede. Strange how that is not true for employees trying to get to work.<br /><br />Let's not get thing out of perspective, many things impact on companies of which we are unaware.<br /><br />I for one an not embarrased by the wage I earn vs. my employees. Whilst I work to 21:00 most nights for no pay they get time and a half. I start at the same time 07:30. Whilst I work weekends for no pay they got time and a half and then double time. When i get into the car park in the mornings, not many cars are to be found, when I leave even fewer. Have cancelled my fair share of weekend fishing trips and the like, can't rememeber when last one of my employees has done so for a deadline.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Andrew
