Is Maslow Hierarchy Failing?

Every day in the newspaper, I get to read that so and so company has cut so many employees or jobs.....It is disheartening. Intelligent, Competent, Committed and most of all highly Capable individuals have become a liability, just a cost! Organizations are coming up with the most ridiculous ways to get rid of employees. Some times blunt, some times false, at times considerate yet firm. Yes, the message comes to those chosen. You have to go! You have to go and feed your family. On what? there is no answer. Where will the next job come from?there is no answer.

Employee motivation is in pits. The fear of loosing once job, has killed creativity and engagement at all levels. Without motivation, where will performance come from? Without employee performance, how will organizations turn-around? No one knows. Right now they are all looking short term to cut looses.

It's sad to see, so may disengaged employees across industries. Each day thousands and lakhs of them go home, to further spread this gloom to their families. Suddenly "employee" word has become shameful. No ones wants to be where they are. Senior. Middle management or those at the lower levels. Everyone wants to move on from the current employer. In search of a better place to work, utopia. Which does not exist.

People who has worked hard to reach self esteem or self actualization on Maslow's Hierarchy, have slipped down to safety and security. Many time tested management models are failing. Everyone is grappling in the dark. Looks like we are dealing with an unknown monster this time.

My Green grocer, Car washer, and Tailor are certainly better off. No fear of loosing jobs. Job is not good work any more, it is just a necessity. Hang on...be there till times change. No one says, do good work and stay there. Who is to blame? I would say the senior management. Is that why they are paid hefty salaries?For not having looked at solutions and picked up employee exit or churn as the only option. It is a low hanging fruit anyways. Least creative solution!!!Cut cost by cutting jobs. We will hire when we need them. What about Corporate Social Responsibility?

Unless the HR department wakes up and handles this situation, employee disengagement may have serious consequences on the productivity and as a result turn around. Counseling cells have to be set up, help employee's cope with these tough times. The focus has to be on increasing productivity with the existing people, and not churning people to cut costs.