A letter from the boss

From Neal Boortz's Nuze | Unknown

[SweetCaroline]

I think the point the writer is making is that he is tired of the burden vs. return ratio, that the government is removing any incentive for him to stay in business. Having unnecessary roadblocks put in front of you every time you try to succeed gets old very quick, after a while you just say it's not worth it anymore.

I agree with you and him, the burdens and return ratio are overwhelming, but for us there is also the worry about our devoted employees.

Here in Cal. we have seen so many small businesses close their doors. Small businesses have been the backbone of this country for years, yet the government has abandoned them.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Yes, this was the first for me....just wanted to share

[Las Vegas Ron]

Face it, most of you have been looking only at one side of the equation for way too long.

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm in the online retail biz and I know first hand what it is like to compete with the big boys. The bottom line is that you can't.

I do what is necessary to make a living with products that have enough margin and volume for me to handle and still make enough money.

Is it easy, no, but if you want to work on your own you create a workable model.

Business is a cut throat, survival of the fittest enterprise. Maybe it's not fair, but it's what capitalism is.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Here in Cal. we have seen so many small businesses close their doors.

I know, I'm a native So. Cal boy.

Markets evolve and some businesses fail to keep up with the changes and those will inevitably go out of business.

Then there are the ones that are regulated or taxed out of business via the gubmint taking care of their corporate donors, that's the problem.

[dragnet2]

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit

We'll, do like so many other business have done, and replace your employees with low wage illegal aliens, and what is left, out source to Communist China.

Profits regardless of consequences.

[Doohickey]

I’m surprised it hasn’t been already given the number of times it’s been posted here.

[SamAdams76]

...So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself...

The guy was on a roll until the paragraph above. Insulting his employees like that and insinuating that they spend their mornings being unproductive is unlikely to have a positive effect.

I've been an employee all my working life, most of it in management. I manage the business so my higher-ups can enjoy their frequent vacations to Europe or the Carribean - or hit the golf course as they regularly do. Don't get me wrong, they are entitled to that and I bear no grudges. But they would not be able to do this without dedicated employees and managers under them.

I'm usually first in and last to leave and put a lot of time in (unpaid as I'm on salary) nights and weekends to do my job effectively and I'm far from the only employee to do that. If I ever got such a condescending letter from my CEO, I'd update my resume and find someplace to work where I am appreciated.

[Las Vegas Ron]

The guy was on a roll until the paragraph above.

You have to admit, most people approach their job with the attitude he is talking about.

The fact that this is an actual letter written by an actual employer is in question. The writer, IMO, is trying to convey a prevalent attitude that is perpetuated by to days culture.

Whether it be by unions, the entitlement attitude or the boss is the enemy meme, too may take the wrong approach to their jobs these days.

JMO

[SamAdams76]

That may be true but making those generalizations will have a devastating effect on the morale of those who do bust their butt and do a good job for the company. As a manager myself, I would never attempt to motivate my people by collectively insinuating that they are lazy and complacent about their job in a mass email. Instead, I would target those employees individually (as is my standard practice as a manager anyway). This is a morale builder for those who do their job well as they see there are consequences for those who don’t pull their weight. And when we had a layoff last year, the slackers were the first to go.

[Larry Lucido]

Yep. I don’t have any employees that fit that description. Every one puts in an honest day’s work.

[SamAdams76]

That’s a good thing! And if the opposite was true, that is to say, if every one of your employees was a slacker, you would be a lousy boss.

[Las Vegas Ron]

I do agree about generalizing all employees but again, I don't think this was an actual employer writing this.

Thing is, probably more than half the of the people who are employers could write it and it would be completely warranted.

Maybe it should be given to select/most employees?

One of the points I took away from the letter there are far too many people who have the wrong attitude when it comes to work and the writer was making a general point about it. Of course it would not be wise to hand it to every employee.

[KYGrandma]

I know what your husband is going through. My brother-in-law closed the family business this year. He was devastated, and felt like a failure. It's just you can't keep paying employees if the business economy is dead. We sold building supplies, and it just stopped. Most all found jobs. I'm not working as long as we can live on hubby's retirement. The hardest thing was for him to let go of the family. He had two sons, one nephew, two brothers, and me. Wonder how many businesses like us are gone?

[wally_bert]

Bookmarked for the future.