10 Brands That May Disappear in 2011

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

While true, BB has pretty well documented problems both at the in the store policy level and at the corporate making profits level. The stuff's in the paper and online.

This is exactly what I'm talking about, though. Home offices sometimes have a way of dismissing news reports, online reports, etc. that portray the office in a negative light while reassuring employees that it's not that bad, their job is stable, and everything's going to be better next year. Not all employees fall for it, but a surprising number do, and these are educated people.

It's easy for those of us on the outside of the company to say "oh we can see the writing on the wall" but the simple fact that there are people who still work for the company and haven't jumped ship yet speaks to the theory that it's not so clear from the inside.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by agzg

This is exactly what I'm talking about, though. Home offices sometimes have a way of dismissing news reports, online reports, etc. that portray the office in a negative light while reassuring employees that it's not that bad, their job is stable, and everything's going to be better next year. Not all employees fall for it, but a surprising number do, and these are educated people.

It's easy for those of us on the outside of the company to say "oh we can see the writing on the wall" but the simple fact that there are people who still work for the company and haven't jumped ship yet speaks to the theory that it's not so clear from the inside.

Possibly, but if you're willingly deluding yourself, isn't it your own fault? The times I've been working for companies at risk of disappearing it was more of a low level worry, where you're looking for other jobs on the side without over-stressing about what you can't change. But no matter how the positive talk came down, when cost-cutting measures were implemented we knew why and what it meant.

I suspect that they'd want to switch jobs but a) are hoping to make it to retirement, b) hoping for a severance package and/or c) can't find anything else right now, or d) retail is retail failing business or not.

I don't know, I just don't think your job should ever have the same amount of affect or spin on your thoughts as like... (bad analogy) an abusive partner.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Possibly, but if you're willingly deluding yourself, isn't it your own fault? The times I've been working for companies at risk of disappearing it was more of a low level worry, where you're looking for other jobs on the side without over-stressing about what you can't change. But no matter how the positive talk came down, when cost-cutting measures were implemented we knew why and what it meant.

I suspect that they'd want to switch jobs but a) are hoping to make it to retirement, b) hoping for a severance package and/or c) can't find anything else right now, or d) retail is retail failing business or not.

I don't know, I just don't think your job should ever have the same amount of affect or spin on your thoughts as like... (bad analogy) an abusive partner.

I don't think it's necessarily their own fault... I don't know. I hesitate to think of my coworkers that were blindsided when their subsidiary of the larger company was shut down and they were laid off as people who wouldn't "get it" - I guess it depends on the sector though as it was definitely not retail, and the rest of the subsidiaries were having banner years.

It also depends on the cost-cutting - it happens in good times and in bad. Part of it (I'm sure) also has something to do with whether or not you hate, like, or love your job, and the company that you work for. I'm not saying that Blockbuster is "OMG like the best company EVAR!" but I'm sure there are people there that love their job and the company.

If people are looking for other jobs (which really I think everyone should do whether or not they like their job now just because it helps you to know what you're worth as a worker), and waiting until those come through, that's one thing, but I'd imagine people would be leaving in droves rather than trickles. I don't know what Blockbuster's current workforce looks like, though, so I have little frame of reference.

ETA: FWIW, many of the employees from the different subsidiary of my own company were either moved before the end of their employment or subsequently hired by other subsidiaries of the company. Keeping it in the family, and that. At least 5 of my coworkers were laid off at the other subsidiary, and we're a 20 person department.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by agzg

Home offices sometimes have a way of dismissing news reports, online reports, etc. that portray the office in a negative light while reassuring employees that it's not that bad, their job is stable, and everything's going to be better next year. Not all employees fall for it, but a surprising number do, and these are educated people.

It's easy for those of us on the outside of the company to say "oh we can see the writing on the wall" but the simple fact that there are people who still work for the company and haven't jumped ship yet speaks to the theory that it's not so clear from the inside.

Exactly and "falling for it" includes the team building (or whatever some companies call it) efforts to get everyone to remain positive and fight until the end.

Even when the company's failure is clear from the inside, most employees can't (shouldn't, won't...) jump ship and be a complete naysayer until their other employment prospects come through.