Being ruthless for profit is not ok!
It's not 'just business.'
Supposedly a certain businessman chided the American people for venting frustration with health insurance companies here in the United States. I say supposedly because I refuse to go on his platform to confirm. Everything about his character confirms that he told the American people to grow the hell up. In fairness, no one should revel or take satisfaction in murder. However the larger complaint of inhumane health insurance practices should not dismissed. I’ve personally lost battles with health insurance companies and know others that have as well. To expect anyone to find being “ruthless” for profit as an acceptable reason for putting people’s lives at risk is what I consider to be of utmost immaturity.
This whole saga brings to mind an article I posted on LinkedIn about a year ago that I thought was worth re-sharing.
Why we need to stop saying, it’s just business.
This past weekend I watched a holiday movie where the main character was suddenly laid off from his job just before Christmas.
Not surprisingly, he was upset and asked all the questions as to why they would do this to someone who has worked for them more than 20 years and why they would do this just before Christmas. And surprise, surprise, in stereotypical fashion their response was, SAY IT WITH ME...
It's just business.
While I had in mind to write about something related to this idea at some point, this particular movie scene prompted me to address the topic now. It's just business is one half of what people usually say. The full statement is it's not personal; it's just business. [In light of current events, I can’t imagine anything more personal than an health concern that needs to be addressed]. I don't know who originally coined the statement. Perhaps back then it was received as it was genuinely intended. But like all sayings we tend to parrot, it comes across as cold and cliché. It also comes across that way because it is problematic for several reasons.
First off, it's always personal. In my article Empathy Among Colleagues is not BS, I argue that employees have the greatest stake in a company. How so?
My simplest response is that their livelihoods are at stake. To elaborate further, the financial well being of their families is at stake. They pin their hopes and futures on their jobs. People uproot themselves and their families for their jobs. People even lose their families because of an inordinate fidelity to their jobs. Their access to adequate healthcare is tied to their jobs. Many people shape their identities around their work...
Our jobs are often the cornerstone of our lives. Losing one's job disrupts everything!! It's totally personal as it is felt deeply. It may not be personal in terms of retaliation and poor performance, but it will forever be personal. Let's also be real about the fact that unless the protocol is to lay employees off based on seniority, those laid off typically fall into two categories. One, they are not among the top performers and/or they belong to a business unit that is more disposable. In either case, it will feel personal because being laid off indicates that they can afford to be done away with. No one likes to fall in that category.
Secondly, it's a stark reminder that employees are viewed merely as a number. It's just business is another way of saying that the numbers no longer add up enough for you to work here. Most employers would argue that's not the case. Perhaps it's not. But if you reduce it all down to it's just business, what are we left to conclude?
Thirdly, turnabout is NOT fair play. Employers expect employees to understand that tough business decisions have to be made in accordance with what is best for the company. But employers are not too thrilled when employees raise a business concern (usually related to compensation or working conditions) that are in accordance with their best interest.
Imagine if an employee said to his/her boss, oh it's not personal; it's just business if that employee made a move, even a move within the bounds of fair business practices, that was in their best interest but not their manager's.
While I could add more reasons, I will close out by saying and reminding everyone that the employment relationship is primarily a transactional relationship. Any meaning attached to or bonds formed as a result of employment relationships are secondary and perhaps tertiary. It is a business relationship where all parties have a bottom line they seek to protect.
Having said that, it is also true that our workplaces are out of balance and have been for quite some time. I don't say that to say that employment relationships should not be transactional. But transactional doesn't mean cold or inhumane. All human interactions have to be handled with care. Which means, caring comes with the transaction.
Onward with proper care and Harmonious Balance, my friends!
Johanna
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