Here’s my point. I have worked for small (and I mean handfull of people small) and Fortune 500 companies. For the last 7 years, I have owned a chemical company. This is not a business in a vacuum. I have a very good finger on the pulse of the global economy. In the course of business, I deal with dollar issues, energy issues, transportation issues, environmental issues, customs issues, employee issues, customer compliance and many other issues. Much like a 100% commissioned sales person, I live and die by the customer and the sale. If sales are below budget, I must adjust my business to survive.
When I discuss challenges to businesses that affect the bottom line I usually get a different reaction from employees than from employers. I am not trying to generalize, but rather point out an observation. My experience in these discussion always tend to fall on what the employee thinks he/she deserves. And if they don’t get what they think they want, they (sometimes) complain. Understandable, since I myself want to make more money every year. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. As I have a choice to continue my business or find something else to do, so do my or any other employees. But do I deserve a raise? Do I go to my customer and say, “Hey, Mr. Customer, I didn’t make as mush as I wanted this year, give me more orders?” Of course not. I am suggesting that if you don’t like the pay, find other employment. Entitlement is when you think you have a right to something. In this case, employees are upset because they think they have a right to a raise that equals cost of living increases. I think this is very destructive, socialistic thinking.
Speaking of destructive, socialistic thinking…the Teachers Union is a totally different discussion. Whereby I must reduce expenses when leaner times are about, the TU could care less. So what if tax revenue is down, I want more money? Can’t find it you say? Then raise taxes! Try to suggest reducing admin, or some of the redundancies in public education will lead to a venomous attack.
