Here are some euphemisms for how organizations have disengaged employees (read layoffs) from BusinessWeek:
- synergy-related headcount
- adjustment goal
- actions to simplify our organization
- offboarding
- rationalizing
- surplusing
- de-verticalization
- strategic review of strategies
- in Hong Kong a term used is chao youyu “to have one’s squid cooked”
- French managers contemplate un plan social
I think it would be better to use the term layoff or fired and for the organization to admit they failed their employees. Employee engagement will require honesty on the part of both the organization and employees.
Let’s start talking the real talk so we can begin walking the real walk towards full engagement for all.
Dave, we should add “reduction in force” or “rif’d” to the listing.
Steve:
I don’t think we “should” I think you just did! Thank you.
David
When I forwarded this list to an office mate, the e-mail spell check wanted to correct offboarding to off-loading. Makes sense to me. 🙂
I agree. Let’s dump the jargon and be clear. These are people who are losing their jobs – they deserve that respect. Thanks for the sanity check David!
Ian:
There is just something so off-putting about offboarding or off-loading or whatever you want to call it. In Canada we use Off for mosquitoes not for people.
David
Marsha,
You are right on…respect is the issue at hand here and these are people not human capital!!!!
David
This kind of corporate speak always begs this question: when will managers treat employees like adults?
Just give the information straight-up the best you know how. Then I can make plans, changes and evaluate what is going on.
The corporate speak requires learning a new language just to figure out what is going on in your own company. Wouldn’t it work better without the gobbledygook?
Scot,
It would be so good to know what is going on as best people can tell. And the best people do tell with respect and honesty.
David
People always hate to talk about when they are laid off. But as it has become every day’s news headline since Yahoo started it with cutting 1500 of its task force last year, now a need of platform has been in demand where people can express their selves in words how they are feeling about their company, whey the got laid off was that justified or not.
And every thing they want to tell anonymously.And http://www.layoffgossip.com is providing you that platform.
I have a very close friend, who graduated from Harvard. Worked for ML for over 8 years, last year he’s laid off too. OMG, now the banking industry is badly hurt, how long it would take for those financial background like him get back to the job market. Banking jobs are not there as much as before as easily seen on http://www.joboutlets.com and other job sites in the region