In Which Not All Employers Are Jerks

[ysabetwordsmith]

During strained economic times, some employers gouge their employees while others try to help people make ends meet. I found these stories about positive acts by employers.

Company Keeps Paying Workers, Even When There's No Work
In tiny Humboldt, Kansas, instead of laying off workers whom he considers friends, Joe Works is paying his employees to fix up the town's old buildings, baseball fields and playgrounds -- and his company, B and W Trailer Hitches, is bearing the added expense even during lean times. (Video on NBC)

A CEO Shows His Heart, Avoids Lay-offs
When Paul Levy needed to decide who to lay-off, he walked through his hospital corridors and saw that no one deserved it. When he reported his feelings to the auditorium filled with staff, he received thunderous, sustained applause. The workers at Beth Israel Medical Center didn't want any of the 8,000 staff members to get laid off -- and are willing to give up pay and benefits to make sure no one does. (Boston Globe)

A One-Man Stimulus Package
A pharmacist in Alabama gave his staff $16,000 in bonuses to help stimulate the economy. The bonuses came with two catches: 15 percent must be spent on charity, and the rest should be spent locally. He paid them with all $2 bills, to be able to see how they worked their way though the town. (Video at NBC)

Have you heard of other employers helping their workers and/or the local economy? People deserve praise for doing good things, and especially now, it's important to distinguish between companies that are contributing to the problem vs. companies that are contributing to the solutions.

Comments

[fayanora.livejournal.com]

I read those in Good News Network, read them to Lilla, she was impressed as well. YAY!

[metafrantic.livejournal.com]

I hate to be the one to partially burst this bubble, but my wife works at Beth Israel. Everyone who works there knows that layoffs are, in fact, coming. That article came out less than a week before word spread to them about the impending layoffs - it was a publicity move, plain and simple. Employees were solicited for other ways to save the company money, and came up with scores of ideas. Then the company implemented a few token ones to "show willing", and then went ahead with layoffs anyway. The Boston Globe has bee in Paul Levy's pocket for years.

*sigh*

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Well, that's disappointing. Thanks for letting me know.

[cleothyla.livejournal.com]

The one-man stimulus package has been done before, by the U.S. Air Force in Amarillo, Texas, in the 50's. The Air Force base there wanted to show the town that they stimulated the economy of the town by paying them in $2 bills.

[je-reviens.livejournal.com]

totally awesome stories!

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

Hiya! Thanks for bringing along some good news! :)