We are Human After All

Today I read an article on MSNBC.com titled Empathy Can go a Long Way at the Office. It talks about treating employees as human beings with respect instead of nameless, faceless numbers that affect the bottom line. Late last year, an Account Manager that I worked with from another company mentioned that she was being laid off. This announcement was made to her department before the Christmas holidays. I wrote a posting about it Layoffs before the Holidays?! I thought to myself, they could have at least waited until after the holidays. Now their memories of Christmas 2008 will be tarnished because a group of insensitive executives had a total disregard and disrespect for the lives of their employees and family members. These companies fail to realize that not only is the worker affected, but the people around them (family and friends) are also impacted. Yes, I agree that companies should show more empathy to their employees. Not only will morale improve, but productivity will increase. But most importantly, it is the humane thing to do.