The Viral Economy

[Kurth]

We’ve all probably worked with people who clock out at 5:00 PM on the dot and won’t do a thing once they’re off the clock.

If they're clocking out, they're hourly. And if they're hourly, working off the clock is a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and gets corporations sued.

No. That was loose use of language. They are salaried employees who work 9-5 because that’s what’s required and (as they see it), nothing more.

[Kurth]

Is that really caring, or have they just realized they get more out of employees when they treat them well? In other words, a business decision.

They are companies. It’s supposed to be a business decision!

Look, I’m not beating the drum that workers should sacrifice themselves for the betterment of their employers on the false notion that their employers are looking out for them. That’s not how this system works. Their employers look out for them to the extent that it’s good for the business. But it doesn’t have to be a zero sum game.

[GreenGoo]

So what I'm hearing is that BP is a big fan of whales.

They are companies. It’s supposed to be a business decision!

Their employers look out for them to the extent that it’s good for the business. But it doesn’t have to be a zero sum game.

And that's perfectly fine. In fact, that's why we are where we are today. The employers aren't the only ones focusing on self interest in the relationship they have with their employees any longer.

I completely agree. Employment is a business relationship. If it serves the employee to work extra hours for free, then they will. If it doesn't, then they won't. "Caring" doesn't have to enter into it. Caring about your career, your opportunities for advancement, plans for the future, all decisions should be based on self interest.

Employment is North America has changed, and employees have been forced to change along with it. If Employers didn't want a transactional relationship with their employees, they probably shouldn't have started treating them as line items.

How people want to behave is up to them. I just think it's laughable that criticisms of this nature have any traction.