>>one thing I've noticed is that in a large company, while the people at the top may know how to seek profits the right way, the people actually interacting with customers and employees (mid-level bosses, pretty much) are usually not smart enough to know to put the business before their own prejudices.<<
It may be that they're not smart enough or cosmopolitan enough ... but it may also be that they don't care enough. Many businesses today have a crummy relationship with their employees. People who feel that their employer is screwing them over will generally not do more than they have to for that employer. They certainly aren't inclined to stretch their personality or morals for such an employer. It goes a lot farther than just stealing paperclips or watching pr0n on company time, and the cost hits areas that few people realize are connected.
Conversely, people who feel invested in their workplace are more motivated to do everything they can to help their business succeed. The workplace atmosphere can make a huge difference in how people behave with other employees and customers. It's a key reason why some straight folks use queer-friendly lists to pick out businesses for their own purposes -- those are more likely to be people-friendly and Earth-friendly in general.
>>And it doesn't help that a lot of them are convinced that hiring minorities means settling for people with only high school diplomas or bad work ethic because they don't believe POC, sexual minorities, etc. can actually be well-educated, good workers.<<
Tch. They should look at the school system and the social structure if they want to know what's really going on. The fact that much of business is run on prejudice rather than facts is a big contributor to the economic dysfunction all around.
>>But it is true that the big bosses have taken notice; and of course you'll always have better luck with small companies, where the owners of the company can be directly involved in the day-to-day business. <<
I definitely support small business. I approve of big companies if they are responsible and sustainable, but few are. The system tends to reward growth and psychotic behavior, which is a problem.
>>A lot of changes in the current business climate have shaken things up, as well, allowing more small companies to start up - making things like boycotts more possible, since people have more options; and consumers can show their preferences by migrating towards socially conscious companies, since those options are there for them to reward. It's a good climate for activism to take place in, I think, and it's an opportunity for things to change.<<
Agreed. I like seeing those alternatives. Another model that I'm tracking is crowdfunding, especially for small business startups and for creative purposes. It cuts out the middlemen and allows producers and customers to interact directly. Major change in some industries.
>>I will definitely take a look at your LJ <<
Cool!
By the way, my next Poetry Fishbowl theme is "alternative sexuality and gender studies" on June 7. I'll be asking my audience for prompts based on that topic, and writing poems based on whatever I get. Asexuality counts. You're welcome to come and play.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2011-05-27 10:46 pm (UTC)It may be that they're not smart enough or cosmopolitan enough ... but it may also be that they don't care enough. Many businesses today have a crummy relationship with their employees. People who feel that their employer is screwing them over will generally not do more than they have to for that employer. They certainly aren't inclined to stretch their personality or morals for such an employer. It goes a lot farther than just stealing paperclips or watching pr0n on company time, and the cost hits areas that few people realize are connected.
Conversely, people who feel invested in their workplace are more motivated to do everything they can to help their business succeed. The workplace atmosphere can make a huge difference in how people behave with other employees and customers. It's a key reason why some straight folks use queer-friendly lists to pick out businesses for their own purposes -- those are more likely to be people-friendly and Earth-friendly in general.
>>And it doesn't help that a lot of them are convinced that hiring minorities means settling for people with only high school diplomas or bad work ethic because they don't believe POC, sexual minorities, etc. can actually be well-educated, good workers.<<
Tch. They should look at the school system and the social structure if they want to know what's really going on. The fact that much of business is run on prejudice rather than facts is a big contributor to the economic dysfunction all around.
>>But it is true that the big bosses have taken notice; and of course you'll always have better luck with small companies, where the owners of the company can be directly involved in the day-to-day business. <<
I definitely support small business. I approve of big companies if they are responsible and sustainable, but few are. The system tends to reward growth and psychotic behavior, which is a problem.
>>A lot of changes in the current business climate have shaken things up, as well, allowing more small companies to start up - making things like boycotts more possible, since people have more options; and consumers can show their preferences by migrating towards socially conscious companies, since those options are there for them to reward. It's a good climate for activism to take place in, I think, and it's an opportunity for things to change.<<
Agreed. I like seeing those alternatives. Another model that I'm tracking is crowdfunding, especially for small business startups and for creative purposes. It cuts out the middlemen and allows producers and customers to interact directly. Major change in some industries.
>>I will definitely take a look at your LJ <<
Cool!
By the way, my next Poetry Fishbowl theme is "alternative sexuality and gender studies" on June 7. I'll be asking my audience for prompts based on that topic, and writing poems based on whatever I get. Asexuality counts. You're welcome to come and play.