Need new faces? Cheapen your labor.
Monday, September 10th, 2007This week the Economist has a great article about the apparent “labor shortage”. They state a radical opinion:
The best way of encouraging workers to stay put and work hard is to treat them properly, not to use schemes more reminiscent of the imperial days of bonded labour and coolies.
I wonder really how radical is this idea? It seems pretty common in the USA - granted management doesn’t like this apparent loss of power but it is the way things must be to keep the good guys around. I love using myself as an example in this case, while the family mocks my moves through the food chain - I feel it’s important as a cog in the American capitalism to keep management honest. They must be held accountable not by threats but the ability of their resources evaporating. I have come to the conclusion that all parts of business are about incentives - there is no heart in business.