Corporate America

Yet another example of how Corporate America is the ultimate insecurity of the job world:

My Dad has worked for his company, Glaxo SmithKline, for about 25 years now. That company has seen its share of corporate buy-outs and lay-offs just as any other company has. Now, I'm not saying it's a bad company, but the way they treat their loyal employees leaves something to be said about.

A little company history/mission:
We have a challenging and inspiring mission: to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. This mission gives us the purpose to develop innovative medicines and products that help millions of people around the world. In fact, we are the only pharmaceutical company to tackle the World Health Organization's three priority diseases: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Headquartered in the UK and with operations based in the US, we are one of the industry leaders, with an estimated seven per cent of the world's pharmaceutical market.

But being a leader brings responsibility. This means that we care about the impact that we have on the people and places touched by our mission to improve health around the world.

It also means that we must help developing countries where debilitating disease affects millions of people and access to life-changing medicines and vaccines is a problem. To meet this challenge, we are committed to providing discounted medicines where they are needed the most.

As a company with a firm foundation in science, we have a flair for research and a track record of turning that research into powerful, marketable drugs. Every hour we spend more than £300,000 (US$562,000) to find new medicines.

We produce medicines that treat six major disease areas: asthma, virus control, infections, mental health, diabetes and digestive conditions. In addition, we are a leader in the important area of vaccines and are developing new treatments for cancer.

"Flair for research"? I mean, come on, you've fired or driven out a lot of your senior scientists. You're bringing in inexperienced, young, fresh college-grads because you don't have to pay them as much as the guys who have been loyal to you for 25 years or more.

"Let's flaunt what we do to take care of people outside of the company when, internally, we treat our most loyal people with disrespect and out right dishonesty!"

"We care about the impact we have on people?" Well, it really doesn't seem like that.

I may sound a little bitter, but I am truly not surprised. Glaxo has proven itself to fit right on in with the corporate image of disloyalty, dishonesty, and uncaring about anything but the bottom line.

So, after 25 years of honest, loyal, and hard work, my Dad has lost his position. Honestly, he lost position in November when they "changed his job." I think they were just trying to give him false hope that he was still going to have a job, that they weren't really laying him off. He worked hard to impress these people to prove to them that he is a commodity, and they overlooked everything for a bottom line. To me, Glaxo SmithKline is no better than the scum of Enron or any corporate scandal.

I just want to let the world know, that Corporate America has blinded many people into believing that you have a secure, permanent job. They offer a future, when really, there is a cap to how much and how far you can go. Once you pass that lie, oops, I mean line, you're out of there with out even a blink of an eye.

Anyone considering working for a corporation, such as Glaxo SmithKline, has been warned.

Ultimately, what they don't teach you in school, is what our country was founded on: Free Enterprise. How do I know? The Indians weren't hiring. They weren't looking for corn shuckers! Our forefathers came over here to live free and with the ability to be in business for themselves without the oppression of the government, yet for some reason we believe that being an employee is the only way to live.

Practically all of our tax laws were written for people in business for themselves (just check out the deductions you can get). Why? Because people in business for themselves help the economy. When is the last time anyone taught you that the only way to get ahead in this country is to be in business for yourself?

We all grew up with the whole "Get a good education so that you can get a good job, so that you can make it." What's "it"? I certainly don't see college or being an employee as the key to wealth and financial security or "it". Otherwise, there would be a lot more people living free. Unfortunately, the statistics are staggering. You have a 1 in 10 chance in retiring in financial dignity. Most people are going to have to rely on a government pay out (which won't be there when I get to that age), another job (after working for 50 years), or family to just make their living expenses.

In fact, it is sad that 65 year-olds can't even really retire in financial dignity and end up going out and getting a job. Granted, there are some 65 year-olds who want to work, but why in the world would you work for $2.50 an hour greeting people with a smiley face button on your lapel in the middle of the night? Come on! If you think that they want to do that, I believe you may be mistaken or a little naive.

So, what is "it" that we are making?
Oh, and what does it take: age or income to retire?

I hope that I've opened your eyes a bit....

Sorry about the rant, but I needed it after yesterday.
Oh yeah, and who emails you news like that... LOL. We live in the same town for goodness sakes! Thanks Mom! (She was freaking out a bit, I'll give her that!)