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The corporate news is the same story, over and over: Cut 5-15% of workforce because of the 'economy'. Meanwhile the economy keeps doing well, so people are maki

The corporate news is the same story, over and over: Cut 5-15% of workforce because of the 'economy'. Meanwhile the economy keeps doing well, so people are making money. I suspect there's another reason for the cuts, but the following is just BS. I'm hoping someone knows something substantive - a paper, a book, a term for it, etc.: I often see a new management philosophy of hyper-aggression and disdain for all but money, treating labor (and nursing home patients, healthcare patients, journalism, students, etc.) as commodities to squeeze rather than contributors (and human beings and social goods) to value; treating profit as an outcome of squeezing every dollar/euro possible from everything rather than innovating productivity for society. No, it hasn't always been that way; remember Silicon Valley leaders treating their employees with respect, with flat hierarchies, 20% time dedicated to personal projects, etc etc.

ianai 3y ago
US has had decades of thumping the mantra “MBAs are the smartest people on earth, just give them whatever they want and they'll solve all problems.” (edit-this was at the highest levels of government.) That idea has come home to roost. Lo and behold, those MBAs think non-MBAs are dime a dozen (even phds) and smart people are all in management. (They also thought computers and automation would eventually make every non-management position obsolete or commoditized.) The law long ago turned on workers largely too. HR takes managements side unless the manager is literally breaking the law and the worker has an airtight case with evidence and especially witnesses. So to be an employee means you need an understanding of the law on par with an entire HR department or learn to always say “yes.”
- listenallyall 3y ago
  I think you are misplacing blame in this situation. Electric cars really are not in high demand among the American public. MBA-types, looking at straight economic viability, would never have supported EVs as far as we have. No, it's been massive support from government, primarily, in the form of price subsidies, fuel economy minimums that have forced many gasoline models to be discontinued, gasoline taxes, and unending messaging and pressure about climate change that has artificially created demand. The first wave of people already own EVs, subsidies are ending, further demand is drying up.
  - ianai 3y ago
    Answering their later question outside of EVs.

ianai 3y ago

US has had decades of thumping the mantra “MBAs are the smartest people on earth, just give them whatever they want and they'll solve all problems.” (edit-this was at the highest levels of government.) That idea has come home to roost. Lo and behold, those MBAs think non-MBAs are dime a dozen (even phds) and smart people are all in management. (They also thought computers and automation would eventually make every non-management position obsolete or commoditized.) The law long ago turned on workers largely too. HR takes managements side unless the manager is literally breaking the law and the worker has an airtight case with evidence and especially witnesses. So to be an employee means you need an understanding of the law on par with an entire HR department or learn to always say “yes.”

listenallyall 3y ago
I think you are misplacing blame in this situation. Electric cars really are not in high demand among the American public. MBA-types, looking at straight economic viability, would never have supported EVs as far as we have. No, it's been massive support from government, primarily, in the form of price subsidies, fuel economy minimums that have forced many gasoline models to be discontinued, gasoline taxes, and unending messaging and pressure about climate change that has artificially created demand. The first wave of people already own EVs, subsidies are ending, further demand is drying up.
- ianai 3y ago
  Answering their later question outside of EVs.