wfn.org | Taiwan Church News Editorial: Spiritual Principles for Managers when Downsizing

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>2963 Edition

>December 8-14, 2008

Editorial: Spiritual Principles for Managers when Downsizing

“We are together on the same boat. This boat is having some  problems and we are trying to fix the problems now. There are still a  few lifeboats left on this boat for you to use. Perhaps the problems we  are facing cannot be solved and this boat will not be able to navigate  any further. Perhaps we will be forced to abandon this boat. Perhaps the  problems will be solved in the future and we can continue this journey  afterward. Asking you to leave early is not what we want to do, but  it’s a necessary step we must take. We will take into account your  seniority in the company when discussing your severance pay. Rest  assured that the company will give you adequate compensation.”

With those words, all managers bowed respectfully before their  employees. There were neither complaints nor protests from employees as  they took in what they had just heard. This was a speech given by the  accounting department manager of a large electronics company in southern  Taiwan. The manager was a Christian and he was representing the  company’s managers when he addressed the 150 employees who would  soon be laid off.

One week before giving his address, this manager told his pastor that he  would soon face the difficult task of downsizing his company by laying  off employees. The company had suffered great economic losses since  October when returns dropped from $1 billion NTD to $50 million NTD. In  the past, the company would make $50 million NTD in profit every month,  but in recent months, it had suffered $50 million NTD in losses every  month. Top level management had already begun to take pay cuts. This  manager also mentioned that another big manufacturing company in  southern Taiwan had already closed three of its five factories and would  likely have to slash 10,000 jobs soon. Many employees would have to say  farewell to co-workers they had known and worked with for many years,  but the alternative would be further losses leading to bankruptcy for  the entire company. This manager needed pastoral advice on how to deal  with harsh realities in a godly manner.

The pastor replied that though the problem is international, Christians  must deal with it in a loving manner by showing sincerity. For example,  top management should not trim expenses by laying off employees while  continuing to receive top pay themselves. In other words, they must lead  by example. Furthermore, management must strive to communicate with  employees to avoid misunderstandings. Employees should not get the  impression that the company does not care about their circumstances  because this often leads to bitterness and protests. Finally, companies  should do the best to take care of their employees. This can take the  form of adequate severance pay or other means of compensation such as  vocational training and counseling so that employees can find jobs in  other fields of work. This would be the loving and Christian thing to do  under such circumstances.

This accounting department manager feels that the current financial  crisis came swiftly and suddenly. Though the crisis was caused by  international trading companies, it resulted in a sharp decline in  consumption levels which in turn led to a crisis in manufacturing  sectors. Hence, the nature of the problem is systemic and not just  confined to trading companies. Measures should be taken so that  instabilities in financial industries do not spill over to manufacturing  industries. Otherwise, the typical worker will always end up being the  victim when the economy crashes.

With this in mind, we urge all Christian managers to deal with lay-offs  in a loving manner. We also urge government agencies to care for the  unemployed. As mentioned by several economists in the book For the  Common Good, the government can do three things when faced with rising  unemployment rates: First, provide vocational training during long  periods of increasing unemployment. Second, provide financial aid to  families. Third, provide immediate, low-paying basic government jobs so  that at least people’s livelihoods will not be severely  compromised.

The Bible portrays a God who takes care of orphans, widows, and the  marginalized. When Jesus came to earth, one of His main missions was to  preach good news to the poor. As we observe Advent, it is only fitting  that churches model His example and carry on His ministry by urging  government agencies to take appropriate action during this season of  financial crisis.

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