Description
A sobering critique of the American practice of corporate layoffs examines their questionable necessity, the overuse of the practice, and their devastating repercussions for both individuals and the nation as a whole, arguing that layoffs are frequently counterproductive and encourage mergers, outsourcing, and wage stagnation. Reprint. 17,500 first printing.
Read More
Layoffs have become a fact of life in today’s economy; initiated in the mid 1970s, they are now widely expected, and even accepted. It doesn’t have to be that way.InThe Disposable American, award-winning reporter Louis Uchitelle offers an eye-opening account of layoffs in America–how they started, their questionable necessity, and their devastating psychological impact on individuals at all income levels. Through portraits of both executives and workers at companies such as Stanley Works, United Airlines, and Citigroup, Uchitelle shows how layoffs are in fact counterproductive, rarely promoting efficiency or profitability in the long term. Recognizing that a global competitive economy makes tightening necessary, Uchitelle offers specific recommendations for government policies that would encourage companies to avoid layoffs and help create jobs, benefiting workers, corporations, and the nation as a whole.
Read Less