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What Job Security?
As our economy becomes more and more
global, the employment outlook grows more unstable for
US workers. Is there anything you can do about it?
Let's
face it, most of us need the assurance of a steady paycheck
to sleep at night. Being able to rely on present and future
income means not only that the bills are going to be paid,
but that you can make major purchases, like houses and
cars, without worrying that you'll lose them along with
your job.
Unfortunately,
job security, once taken for granted by most working Americans,
is quickly being relegated to the memory boxes of an older
generation, along with 40-year anniversary gold watches
and other appreciation gifts for longevity.
It
used to be that once you attained a fair amount of seniority,
you could rest assured that if the company cut jobs, yours
wouldn't be one of them. Now long-term workers get nervous
when there are rumblings of downsizing and outsourcing.
They are generally paid more than younger workers, and
instead of valuing them for their experience, companies
crunch the numbers and figure out how much they can save
in salary, health insurance costs, and pension funding
if they follow a "first in, first out" policy.
The
most fortunate workers are lured into early retirement
programs; the least fortunate are simply given their notice.
While official unemployment figures don't reflect it,
countless people have been forced out of decent-paying
jobs into low-paying ones. Sure, the government counts
them as "employed." But most view their jobs
as stop-gap measures, a way to barely get by while they
remain hopeful that one day they'll find another job as
good as the one they left.
Instead,
the chances are they'll move from one low-pay job to another.
The manufacturing jobs that formed the basis of the Fabulous
50s economy have moved elsewhere. Former areas of thriving
steel plants and automobile factories are now referred
to as "the rust belt." The auto industry alone
announced over 90,000 job cuts in 2006. Most of these
were "good union jobs" with enviable pay and
benefits. But union jobs have been steadily declining.
In 1945, nearly a third of Americans held union jobs.
Today only 12% of workers belong to unions. As their numbers
have shrunk, so has unions' ability to negotiate favorable
contracts for their members.
White
collar workers are hardly immune. In 2006, Ford announced
it was offering "voluntary buyouts" to 10,000
salaried workers, including high-level executives. Those
who took the buyouts explained they thought it was better
than being laid off, which they assumed would happen next.
Workers were offered the services of "outplacement
agencies"-employment agencies that try to find new
jobs for displaced workers. But in towns that depend heavily
on one industry that is downsizing, it's more likely that
laid-off employees will have to sell their houses (in
a real estate market that has also taken a price downturn)
and move to some other part of the country.
In
2002, the technology sector dumped 150,000 software jobs.
In 2006, computer chip maker Intel announced job cuts
of over 10,000. Students were told that their best bet
for the future was information technology. They worked
hard for technology degrees, earned millions for their
employers, and then found themselves with nowhere to go-because
their jobs were moving to India, China and Russia.
Another
relatively new obstacle to job security is the practice
of "offshore outsourcing." We all know how it
works: Someone in India or Mexico does your job for 15%
of what you were paid. More and more, outsourcing is affecting
any job classification that does not depend strictly on
a US or Canadian location. For example, if you're a waitress,
grocery clerk, or store manager, you can't very well be
outsourced. US factory workers were the first to be hit
hard by the "giant sucking sound" of their jobs
moving to other countries, but now software developers,
engineers, journalists, and other professionals are facing
the same fate.
Of
course, the reason is the bottom line. Companies are in
business to make a profit. Creating secure jobs for their
employees is not their concern. Scaling back on labor
costs is the number one way to increase profit margins,
whether through outsourcing, not replacing employees who
quit or are fired, paying workers less, or using non-union,
lower paid, or part time workers here. The country's major
employers are huge multi-national companies. Playing musical
chairs with jobs among different countries is as simple
for them as the children's game.
It
isn't pleasant to think about. It's certainly easier to
just assume that your job and your paycheck will always
be there for you. But denial of a problem will not make
it go away or solve it, and some day you may wish you
had thought to create a backup plan for maintaining your
income without relying on your current job.
At
this point, you are probably asking yourself, "What
can I do to be financially secure?"
As
grim as the employment picture looks, there is still a
way to provide an income for yourself that you control.
Being your own boss means no one can lay you off or cut
your hours and benefits. It's up to you to take control
of your future income and your future security.
Fortunately,
there is an exciting home business opportunity that offers
you a way to create a safety net of security and financial
success that no one can pull out from under you.
It
may be tempting to believe that your good job will last,
or to believe that even though you're not happy with your
current job, there's a good one waiting down the road.
Just remember that while the unemployment figures look
good, the jobs America is losing are being replaced by
a whole new category known as "service industry"
jobs. These are low-paying jobs in retail or customer
service. Hourly workers are almost never allowed to work
overtime, while those on salaries fill in the gaps without
any overtime pay. The unfortunate truth is that you have
to look out for number one because you cannot rely on
any company to put you or any other employee first.
Your
first step toward security should be to obtain information
about starting your own home based business.
The
beauty of a home-based business is that you need only
Internet access and a telephone to build a thriving business.
Our team of skilled professionals will train you and show
you the secrets of their success. Incredibly, the capacity
to change your uncertain future lies in your own hands.
Instead of worrying about
how you'll pay the bills if you get the surprise pink
slip, take the first step today towards protecting your
financial future. If you are ready to find out how you
can begin to create a considerable income right away -an
income that will continue to provide for you and your
family--then you have arrived at the right place.
Simply fill out the form below for additional information,
and begin looking forward to the security and success
you deserve.
Bret Anderson
800-676-9238
Email
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