Once again it's time to discuss a survey that needn't ever take place, because the results were so obvious. CareerBuilder takes a look at study that shows how to be a career wrecker: the effects of layoffs on those left behind.
While the result was to be expected, I can hope that perhaps it causes some discussion on the topic of companies' expectations post-layoffs.
Here are some numbers: According to the survey, just under half of respondents (47%) have had their workload increase after layoffs. Moving on, 37% (it's not clear if it's 37% of respondents or of the 47%) feel that they do the work of two people. Guess what? 30% are burned out. Hardly surprising!
Of course, the 47% are expected to not only do more, but to like it and to just be grateful you have a job. For whatever reason, complaining about working conditions in the US is considered a sign of laziness or weakness, so people tend to buck up and take it. I wonder how many of the 30% seek a solution to their problem; my guess is far less than 30%.
What intrigues me most about the aforementioned article is the attitude of the HR vice-president at CareerBuilder. Instead of pencil pushers like her taking a pay cut or a layoff, she suggests working with your manager to see how you can get all the work done.
Personally, I'd like to see a way to get more butts in seats if there is clearly work to be done instead of trying to nickel and dime the rank and file into doing more for less.
