Janet Collins
Billy MJob Cuts and the Shopfront Window
August 3rd 2008 11:32
Yesterday, after my early morning walk and my usual trip to my local Starbucks to read the daily newspaper over a coffee, I was confronted by the sign in the window. It read “COME IN AND JOIN US FOR OUR LAST DAY”.
I had heard the news on the radio the night before that many Starbucks outlets were closing down, although I didn’t realise my local one was one of them. The place was buzzing and the staff were as friendly as they always have been. One of them came up to me and presented me with a little gift of appreciation of my continued support.
It was not only the current staff in the cafe but many who had worked there had come back to say their goodbyes. Most of the staff in the outlet are reasonably young. Many were being absorbed into other outlets. Some had found other work. Others were waiting to hear.
What struck me most though was the sign in the window. All too often we hear of restructures in companies – and this has not only been recently. It happened so many times through the past few decades with large organisations transferring the jobs overseas. Only recently, Qantas announced severe cuts to its workforce.
The sign in the window made it more real somehow. It struck me then in a very powerful way just how much we have become desensitised to job cuts. We hear it on the news all the time but most of these big organisations don’t have a shopfront window and most of us would not know personally those who have lost their jobs, unless of course they are a family member or friend.
I have to say, I was taken aback by the enthusiasm and efficiency of the staff on their last day, particularly because many were going elsewhere or didn’t know where they were going. More so, I realised that it took a shopfront window sign and my final coffee in the place, rather than a news item, to feel for the ones who have been abandoned.
I had heard the news on the radio the night before that many Starbucks outlets were closing down, although I didn’t realise my local one was one of them. The place was buzzing and the staff were as friendly as they always have been. One of them came up to me and presented me with a little gift of appreciation of my continued support.
It was not only the current staff in the cafe but many who had worked there had come back to say their goodbyes. Most of the staff in the outlet are reasonably young. Many were being absorbed into other outlets. Some had found other work. Others were waiting to hear.
What struck me most though was the sign in the window. All too often we hear of restructures in companies – and this has not only been recently. It happened so many times through the past few decades with large organisations transferring the jobs overseas. Only recently, Qantas announced severe cuts to its workforce.
The sign in the window made it more real somehow. It struck me then in a very powerful way just how much we have become desensitised to job cuts. We hear it on the news all the time but most of these big organisations don’t have a shopfront window and most of us would not know personally those who have lost their jobs, unless of course they are a family member or friend.
I have to say, I was taken aback by the enthusiasm and efficiency of the staff on their last day, particularly because many were going elsewhere or didn’t know where they were going. More so, I realised that it took a shopfront window sign and my final coffee in the place, rather than a news item, to feel for the ones who have been abandoned.
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Comment by Daryl Goard
The Geek Speak
Starbucks Closings
Cheers.
Comment by alt_ed
Pop Culturer
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
Leaving a few trading as normal in our capital cities... Seems the Starbucks bubble has *popped*
Comment by Janet Collins
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
According to an article in today"s Daily Telegraph, Starbucks are now concentratng on China. Apparently the Chinese love the outlets.
Thanks for the comments.
Janet