Corporate insensitivity is so much fun to write about. After all, it's not polite to talk about other people's lapses in judgment (you know, gossip), but when it's a large airline that committed the transgression- who can resist getting in some digs.
It seems that Northwest Airlines Public, OTC:(NWACQ) laid off a bunch of ground workers. Along with the pink slips came an info package which included a handy little booklet on how to live more frugally -nothing like advice from the hand that just slapped you.
The booklet didn't just make a short review of the obvious - nor did it provide any really insightful or innovative advice. What it did was assume that once no longer employed by Northwest, employees lives would turn to desperation. The booklet suggested pulling items out of the trash, reducing thermostats to 60 degrees in winter, move to a cheaper place, sell your car and take public transportation.
In doing so, Northwest managed to diminish workers twice in one day. First, by laying them off - which might have been a sound decision- but then they diminished their people again, by offering undignified and undesired advice from a booklet that treated them as though they were already all living hand to mouth.
Some other golden suggestions from "Preparing for Financial Setback":
- Brown bag your lunch (hmm, if you're not going to work- why would you be brown bagging the lunch?
- Use shredded newspaper instead of kitty litter (in this case Cats should begin to feel offended. Cats aren't that stupid that they don't notice that there's no longer any kitty litter)
- Ride your bike to work (what work???)
- Find a cheaper place to live (sure, banks love giving new mortgages to the unemployed)
- Borrow a dress for a big night out (if you're reduced to dumpster diving and riding a bike because you sold your car, chances are "big nights out" won't be requiring formal wear
Clearly, Northwest has little faith that its ex-employees will ever find gainful employment again. Hopefully, neither will the moron who OK'd the booklet.
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