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Corporate Australia where are you?

One thing I really enjoy about the work we do, and the projects we are involved in is the great people and great stories that we come across.

I got a DM (direct message) from Gus Poskus (MD of Incentive House and @gustodian on twitter) last Friday which read - give me a quick call on 041 XXXXX

When I returned Gus’ call - he had a story to tell me.

Gus had dropped in to meet a good friend at a watering hole in Melbourne,and had noticed 4 or 5  suits standing not too far away.  The men in suits were in a pretty distressed state having recently lost their jobs; seemedly as a result of the GFC.

It turns out they were all ex-NAB employees, who had lost thier jobs, only to be replaced by offshore or outsourced labour!

Mixed with a few drinks and some emotion, the sentiment was a little negative.

Gus told me he engaged them in conversation, at which time they opened up and showed the full extent of their anger, disappointment and concern!

These were bright, well educated, experienced and well paid men with families and commitments; and without jobs!

What Gus told me next was what matters the most…Gus took the time to let them know that it was far from the end of the world, and that things would work out for the better, and most importantly, that drinking a skinful was not the best solution right now!  Gus was most concerned that with a few drinks, negative sentiment and the emotion this would all end badly; as Gus said “I didn’t want any of them to become another road statistic”

Fortunately, everything ended well for the ’suits’ and the spirits picked up!

When Gus and I spoke, Gus made the point that Corporate Australia is treading a very fine line here.  Decisions made by corporations right now can be seen as callous and without care.  We both recognise that Corporations have to cut costs, and that the GFC has put Corporations under pressure; but how can a Corporation bleat on about its people bieng its best assets etc etc when it treats people poorly. NAB had made these people redundant, offered little support, and genuinely upset them.

So we ask - why wouldn’t Corporate Australia get behind initiatives like JobCAMP?  They may not have jobs to offer, but at least they can do as much as possible to ensure their displaced staff have a better chance of getting back to work?

Come on Corporate Australia - let’s get Australia WORKING!

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• Let’s get Australia WORKING! (buzzle.com.au)