Downtown Atlanta, Georgia, where I have spent the last 4 years of my legal career. ...
Now, I hear that the law firm that I work for may "outsource" our word processing department. The group that would take over this task is located in India. That brings up some intersting questions:
1. What does this say about the firm and its partners and Board? There has been much talk about the political affiliations of the partners and attorneys. They seem to be backing our political leaders. One attorney just got named to a position with President Bush's administration. So why would they take jobs away from their employees and outsource it to a foreign country?
2. What does the future hold for my grandchildren if I can't even keep my job because of outsourcing? What kinds of careers will they have to have in order to maintain employment and earn a decent living?
This country has already lost the craftsmen of the past decades. There is little of anything actually "made in the U.S.A." any more. People don't seem to take pride in their work any more. It used to be that people were proud to make a quality item, no matter the time involved. Now it is just "hurry up, get it done fast no matter the quality".
I must admit, I'm disappointed in the partners and attorneys of this law firm who have made or are making the outsourcing decision. To me, it shows a lack of pride in our country, no concern for employees who are losing their jobs and just a focus on the "bottom line" dollars.
This firm has been rated an A+ by various surveys over the years that it has been in existence. But this turn of events will make it a less than A+ firm in the future.
Meanwhile, the firm still steadily hires new attorneys, while looking to see where they can cut dollars and who they can let go in order to change the services that they offer.
posted by Culpable1
It has always been the same -- downsize your business and the stock market goes up and there is approval all round because you have increased the profit margin of your business -- too bad for the poor schnooks that worked there.
It seemed like all the time this was going on, the "poor business man" had so many domestic rules and regulations that he/she had to fight that it was deemed more than acceptable and a smart move to go overseas or out of country to produce your product. Of course the logo remained with the product no matter where it was produced.
I think as much as anything, this financial crisis that we as a nation have been going through recently, shows the laws of diminishing returns and that we can expect more of the same. If you have the mass of people scratching just to make ends meet and not a lot left over, you do not have the bucks that can be expended on various items that are really not even considered luxuries in society.
I sympathize with your position and yes, it is unethical and downright unpatriotic to send jobs overseas when you can survive and possibly even thrive by hiring US citizens. Of course, again, the stock market thrives on the quarterly report and the concept of business cycles seems to have gone out the window to be replaced by constant gain, all the time, every quarter.
I trust you will not take these remarks personally. The whole system is flawed and it will run its course to be replaced by something probably just as bad or worse. What will that be? I have no idea and I will not probably be alive that long to see it. Best of luck in avoiding the unemployment line.
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