In the wake of the Great Recession, how are employers keeping employees on their guard so as to maximize the lack of raises, cutting of hours, and extreme demoralization?

According to employees, threats are on the rise:

Employees repeatedly described threatening communication: “Be thankful you have a job,” “You can be replaced,” “There are lots of qualified people on the street who would love your job.” Such statements remind workers their jobs are on the “chopping block.” According to Rouse, some supervisors seem to purposefully foster a “culture of fear” to maintain control during the financial crisis. “Several people believe employers are using the crisis as an excuse to ‘throw people under the bus,’” she said.

According to employers, however, the story is different:

Despite significant economic changes, leaders reportedly have not changed the way they communicate with employees. Approximately 64% of working adults in the study reported supervisors use a ‘business as usual’ mentality during the crisis; 82% of working adults expressed frustration with supervisors’ lack of adaptation during the crisis. Senior leaders expressed significantly less concern about employee issues, such as layoffs and downsizing, than front line workers. Instead, senior management focused on market-related issues, such as declining sales.

Could both be true? Could threats, looming layoffs, under-busing (© googletrickedme 2009), and intimidation be business as usual? Apparently everyone surveyed thought so; while still clinging to the hope that when this whole recession thing clears up, their bosses will turn into respectful, humane leaders:

Working adults expressed a strong preference for leaders who are transparent, honest, and visible. The majority (55%) of participants who shared open-ended comments recommended increased supervisor openness; 33% wanted more honesty.

You can find the full results in pdf form, courtesy University of Phoenix Online.

Labels: corporate bullshit, employer bullshit, lies, study, usa