Do you think Tesla CEO Elon Musk did the right thing when he blogged about impending layoffs just before announcing them to company employees? Why or why not?
Respect builds loyalty. Insensitivity leads to negativity. Employee’s first, dignity towards the ones that are leaving and positive morale for those who are staying. I believe that in the case of Tesla Motors, their CEO, Elon Muck, acted in the best interest of not only his company but of their employees as well. I think the most important thing in dealing with anyone whose livelihood is at stake is pretty direct and open communication. That approach grounds employees with solid information and can alleviate workers anxiety. In times of uncertainty, what people most crave is some information that helps make decisions. The use of electronic communication is ever growing with individuals and corporations. Facebook, Texting, Emails, and blogs are used throughout both. It is estimated that over 112 million blogs and more than 350 million blog entries are now read daily (Robbins & Judge, 2011). Layoffs are a last resort for most business. They know cuts can quickly throw their companies into a tailspin by decimating morale and can hobble turnaround efforts once demand revives. Many first try to find ways to reduce payroll costs without cutting staff on which they spent serious time and money to train and develop. Of course, not every company can avoid layoffs, particularly in a sharp downturn, when sales are tanking. However, I do feel employees should have been contacted first.
Do you think employees have a responsibility to be careful about what they blog about their company? Why or why not?
Yes, damage to the company, employee, customer and consumer could be an outcome. Added disclaimers to prevent damaging comments or opinions. Blogging is just another form of communication that needs to be monitored. Yes, employees have a responsibility to be careful when they blog about their company. Because...