4 ms·
The lengths that American businesses go to avoid the cost of labor is beyond stupid. Henry Ford paid his employees well, bc he treated his employees as an inve
by game_the0ry 3y ago
The lengths that American businesses go to avoid the cost of labor is beyond stupid.
Henry Ford paid his employees well, bc he treated his employees as an investment, not as a line-item cost on an excel spreadsheet, and new that higher wages would mean a more prosperous middle class that would buy more model Ts. [1]
The US economy has become extractive in nature - extracting as much value from the resources available (humans included) rather than betting on growth and optimism. This has been the case since 2008, its like c-suite managers are emotionally scarred, and it trickles down to lower level managers, training them to adopt this broken mentality.
No wonder quality of life is declining in America over time.
[1] https://www.npr.org/2014/01/27/267145552/the-middle-class-took-off-100-years-ago-thanks-to-henry-ford https://www.npr.org/2014/01/27/267145552/the-middle-class-to...
- whalesalad 3y agoHenry Ford did not give a shit about his workers. That’s just the fairy tale. They absolutely were a line item on a spreadsheet. Once in a while business goals and societal/human/worker goals align - but that is just serendipity. Our economy (extraction) has been like this since day one lol.
- JoeAltmaier 3y agoThat doesn't conflict with 'employee as an investment'. It's all about enlightened self-interest. Henry Ford had some idea how that might work, and campaigned for it e.g. the 5-day work week.
- XTHK 3y agoIf Henry Ford really believed all that, then why was he such a union-buster?
- legitster 3y agoFord's famous pay was actually tied to a crazy and intrusive set of requirements that employees were to adhere to. Most employees were not part of the program. To the extent that Ford helped propel the middle class, it was his ruthless and often illogical chase to the lowest possible cost.