What Job Security?
As our economy
becomes more and more global, the employment outlook
grows more unstable for US workers. Is there anything
you can do about it?
Let's
face it, most of us need the assurance of a steady
paycheck to sleep at night. Being able to rely on
present and future income means not only that the
bills are going to be paid, but that you can make
major purchases, like houses and cars, without worrying
that you'll lose them along with your job.
Unfortunately,
job security, once taken for granted by most working
Americans, is quickly being relegated to the memory
boxes of an older generation, along with 40-year anniversary
gold watches and other appreciation gifts for longevity.
It
used to be that once you attained a fair amount of
seniority, you could rest assured that if the company
cut jobs, yours wouldn't be one of them. Now long-term
workers get nervous when there are rumblings of downsizing
and outsourcing. They are generally paid more than
younger workers, and instead of valuing them for their
experience, companies crunch the numbers and figure
out how much they can save in salary, health insurance
costs, and pension funding if they follow a "first
in, first out" policy.
The
most fortunate workers are lured into early retirement
programs; the least fortunate are simply given their
notice. While official unemployment figures don't
reflect it, countless people have been forced out
of decent-paying jobs into low-paying ones. Sure,
the government counts them as "employed."
But most view their jobs as stop-gap measures, a way
to barely get by while they remain hopeful that one
day they'll find another job as good as the one they
left.
Instead,
the chances are they'll move from one low-pay job
to another. The manufacturing jobs that formed the
basis of the Fabulous 50s economy have moved elsewhere.
Former areas of thriving steel plants and automobile
factories are now referred to as "the rust belt."
The auto industry alone announced over 90,000 job
cuts in 2006. Most of these were "good union
jobs" with enviable pay and benefits. But union
jobs have been steadily declining. In 1945, nearly
a third of Americans held union jobs. Today only 12%
of workers belong to unions. As their numbers have
shrunk, so has unions' ability to negotiate favorable
contracts for their members.
White
collar workers are hardly immune. In 2006, Ford announced
it was offering "voluntary buyouts" to 10,000
salaried workers, including high-level executives.
Those who took the buyouts explained they thought
it was better than being laid off, which they assumed
would happen next. Workers were offered the services
of "outplacement agencies"-employment agencies
that try to find new jobs for displaced workers. But
in towns that depend heavily on one industry that
is downsizing, it's more likely that laid-off employees
will have to sell their houses (in a real estate market
that has also taken a price downturn) and move to
some other part of the country.
In
2002, the technology sector dumped 150,000 software
jobs. In 2006, computer chip maker Intel announced
job cuts of over 10,000. Students were told that their
best bet for the future was information technology.
They worked hard for technology degrees, earned millions
for their employers, and then found themselves with
nowhere to go-because their jobs were moving to India,
China and Russia.
Another
relatively new obstacle to job security is the practice
of "offshore outsourcing." We all know how
it works: Someone in India or Mexico does your job
for 15% of what you were paid. More and more, outsourcing
is affecting any job classification that does not
depend strictly on a US or Canadian location. For
example, if you're a waitress, grocery clerk, or store
manager, you can't very well be outsourced. US factory
workers were the first to be hit hard by the "giant
sucking sound" of their jobs moving to other
countries, but now software developers, engineers,
journalists, and other professionals are facing the
same fate.
Of
course, the reason is the bottom line. Companies are
in business to make a profit. Creating secure jobs
for their employees is not their concern. Scaling
back on labor costs is the number one way to increase
profit margins, whether through outsourcing, not replacing
employees who quit or are fired, paying workers less,
or using non-union, lower paid, or part time workers
here. The country's major employers are huge multi-national
companies. Playing musical chairs with jobs among
different countries is as simple for them as the children's
game.
It
isn't pleasant to think about. It's certainly easier
to just assume that your job and your paycheck will
always be there for you. But denial of a problem will
not make it go away or solve it, and some day you
may wish you had thought to create a backup plan for
maintaining your income without relying on your current
job.
At
this point, you are probably asking yourself, "What
can I do to be financially secure?"
As
grim as the employment picture looks, there is still
a way to provide an income for yourself that you control.
Being your own boss means no one can lay you off or
cut your hours and benefits. It's up to you to take
control of your future income and your future security.
Fortunately,
there is an exciting home business opportunity that
offers you a way to create a safety net of security
and financial success that no one can pull out from
under you.
It
may be tempting to believe that your good job will
last, or to believe that even though you're not happy
with your current job, there's a good one waiting
down the road. Just remember that while the unemployment
figures look good, the jobs America is losing are
being replaced by a whole new category known as "service
industry" jobs. These are low-paying jobs in
retail or customer service. Hourly workers are almost
never allowed to work overtime, while those on salaries
fill in the gaps without any overtime pay. The unfortunate
truth is that you have to look out for number one
because you cannot rely on any company to put you
or any other employee first.
Your
first step toward security should be to obtain information
about starting your own home based business.
The
beauty of a home-based business is that you need only
Internet access and a telephone to build a thriving
business. Our team of skilled professionals will train
you and show you the secrets of their success. Incredibly,
the capacity to change your uncertain future lies
in your own hands.
Instead of worrying
about how you'll pay the bills if you get the surprise
pink slip, take the first step today towards protecting
your financial future. If you are ready to find out
how you can begin to create a considerable income
right away -an income that will continue to provide
for you and your family--then you have arrived at
the right place.
Simply fill out the form for additional information,
and begin looking forward to the security and success
you deserve.