thoughts on hard times

[Tom Walsh]

Prescott friends:

 

I wanted to reiterate and elaborate on something I told our gathering this past Wednesday.

 

As most of you know, my firm represents employers in labor-employment matters.  As our clients have made us acutely aware, many of them are experiencing painful layoffs in order to try to stay alive as going businesses.  Sometimes our main client contact, such as a General Counsel or an HR manager, is one of those being laid off. 

 

I know that many of us at Prescott have lost our jobs, or have downgraded our jobs, and that many others have retained their jobs only to have to work much harder than before to make up for the workforce losses.  I mention this mainly to let you know that while employers may sometimes seem like evildoers when they fire people, few of them take these steps with any pleasure, and most do so very reluctantly, and only after serious soul-searching.  You may know exceptions, but pretty much all the ones I know are in this category, and see the problems we face as problems we need to face together, as a society.

 

As was said at one our recent client conferences, "It used to be that you could keep your job by doing three things: (1) showing up for work every day; (2) doing what you're asked to do; and (3) producing measurable results.  Now you can do all those things and still be discharged, through no fault of your own.  Nobody here likes this situation.  We're doing all we can to make it better.  We're in this thing together."

 

In that spirit, my firm's Memphis office has made a first-time decision, a small but symbolic step.  Normally we spend substantial money on holiday gifts for clients, such as Dinstuhl's chocolates.  This year we're using the money we'd normally spend for that and making a cash donation to the Memphis Food Bank.  "Times are hard, and this is the least we can do," said our managing partner.  We've been telling clients what we're doing, so they won't expect a gift.  Every one of them has reacted in a most positive manner.  Several have been inspired to do similar things.

 

So I suggest we all do the best we can in the continuing time of stress, which will probably last for at least another couple of years, and this Christmas to think of creative ways to share whatever we have with those who have nothing.

 

Tom   

 

 

 

 

www.fordharrison.com Thomas J. Walsh, Jr. 795 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Suite 300 Memphis, Tennessee  38120 Phone: 901-291-1552 Fax: 901-291-1501 twa...@fordharrison.com