Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line?

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rjmcmahon 12/4/2012 | 11:24:56 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? The company's goal is to make money. Your goal as an employee is to make money. You work, they pay you.

I see things a bit differently. How about the company's goal is to add value to society, of which we are members, in a fiscally responsible manner? And employees' goals are to help with the above, while being paid fairly, and as importantly, participating in a living organization which exists to enable ourselves and others.

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netskeptic 12/4/2012 | 11:24:56 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? > I see things a bit differently. How about the company's goal is to add value to society, of which we are members, in a fiscally responsible manner? And employees' goals are to help with the above, while being paid fairly, and as importantly, participating in a living organization which exists to enable ourselves and others.

I suppose your message is a little bit ahead of its time. When Hillary will be a president, and when the most of us will be sent to re-education camps to straighten out our filthy and greedy souls, then your ideas will make it for a nice introductory lecture.

Thanks,

Netskeptic

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terrarooter 12/4/2012 | 11:24:55 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? Its offical. They were shut down.

Soren, George, Bruce and the others - good guys all. Sorry to see u go. Good Luck.

Keep your head high.

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rjmcmahon 12/4/2012 | 11:24:55 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? Please give me examples of companies whose mission statement professes a love of society and a willingness to contribute to it.

First thing to remember is that we all are human and that human organizations are not constructed from perfect animals. And our industry has a long way to go, by judgement.

Below are two. You can find many more. It really isn't too hard.

DuPont is a science company. We put science to work solving problems in ways that make life better and safer.

When we were founded in 1802, DuPont was primarily an explosives company. One hundred years ago, our focus turned to chemicals, materials and energy. Today, we deliver science-based solutions that make real differences in people's lives around the world in areas such as food and nutrition, health care, apparel, safety and security, construction, electronics and transportation. Look closely at the things around your home and workplace, and chances are, you'll find dozens of items made with DuPont materials.

Mayo Clinic
Mayo's Mission
Mayo will provide the best care to every patient every day through integrated clinical practice, education and research.

Primary Value
The needs of the patient come first.

Core Principles
Practice
Practice medicine as an integrated team of compassionate, multi-disciplinary physicians, scientists and allied health professionals who are focused on the needs of patients from our communities, regions, the nation and the world.

Education
Educate physicians, scientists and allied health professionals and be a dependable source of health information for our patients and the public.

Research
Conduct basic and clinical research programs to improve patient care and to benefit society.

Mutual Respect
Treat everyone in our diverse community with respect and dignity.

Commitment to Quality
Continuously improve all processes that support patient care, education and research.

Work Atmosphere
Foster teamwork, personal responsibility, integrity, innovation, trust and communication within the context of a physician-led institution.

Societal Commitment
Benefit humanity through patient care, education and research. Support the communities in which we live and work. Serve appropriately patients in difficult financial circumstances.

Finances
Allocate resources within the context of a system rather than its individual entities. Operate in a manner intended not to create wealth but to provide a financial return sufficient for present and future needs.

Mayo will provide the best care to every patient every day through integrated clinical practice, education and research.

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rjmcmahon 12/4/2012 | 11:24:55 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? I suppose your message is a little bit ahead of its time.

Don't really think so. It seems to be a recurring message throughout history.

You may find the following interesting. What are your thoughts about it?

http://home.earthlink.net/~mma...

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rjmcmahon 12/4/2012 | 11:24:54 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? It seems as though industry is breeding the engineering spirit out of the population.

I learned something relevant to this from the most unexpected source the other day. There is an excellent community leader behind a Father/Daughter group with about 200 participants. When asked why he got behind this program with such commitment, he said it was because when joined he was sorely disappointed. The previous leadership didn't care so much about the principles of the program and spent much of their time drinking together rather than honoring its values.

With that experience, what would most of us do? Quit and join another group probably.

This special person did something better. He pulled the group back to its purpose through leadership, contribution and example.

Our society needs great engineers. Let's start behaving as such, one at a time.

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shaggy 12/4/2012 | 11:24:54 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? Ah yes, the marketing mission statements- you took the bait- almost every company of significance posts such drivel- it make their investors happy.

To the point, you have answered my question as posed- now show me companies who will do these things at all costs- no, non profit orgs don't count.

I'm not opposed to your desired perspective, i just find it unrealistic at its core-

DuPont trades on the NYSE, right?

Not going to waste time researching mayo- hospitals are a bit of a cheap shot response, IMHO- of course they help people. How about those great HMOs? Really making medical care better in lieu of profits...

I suppose we could quote the internet ad nauseum- after all, I read it on the internet, it must be true....

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solowiej 12/4/2012 | 11:24:54 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? IMHO I think engineers have morphed to become high-tech migrant workers moving from "crop-to-crop" or technology boom-to-technology boom. This really is not a recent phenomenon. I recall in the 60's? there were large numbers of phd aerospace engineers in California who were laid off had to find jobs as janitors to survive.

I don't mind if my children get degrees in engineering, I just won't encourage them to find jobs as engineers, nor stop there. It seems as though industry is breeding the engineering spirit out of the population.

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dave77777 12/4/2012 | 11:24:53 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? I have to agree that an unwritten contract isn't worth the paper it's not written on.

I just had lunch yesterday with a guy in the IT industry, in his forties with a wife and three kids to support. He's an independent consultant like myself. The head of the IT dept at a Fortune 50 company where he worked (I won't name them, but I can guarantee if you drive a car you have their parts in it) called him into the office about five months ago and told him he needed to lower his rates. My friend told him "OK, but then I need a longer time commitment." So they agreed he would work for two years at a somewhat lower rate.

A week ago, they told him Tuesday would be his last day. There were no quality-of-work concerns, he hadn't pissed anyone off, they just decided to save some money and reduce their headcount. That's called "negotiating in bad faith" and there are executives who do it all the time.

So I guess the moral of the story is "Get it in writing."

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rjmcmahon 12/4/2012 | 11:24:53 PM

re: Headcount: Buddy Can You Share a Line? So I guess the moral of the story is "Get it in writing."

Do people that honor contracts really care about the paper? How do we rebuild and sustain trust in ourselves?

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