Downsizing at Boeing
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In recent years, much attention has been given to downsizing, rightsizing, trimming the fat and other euphemisms for laying off workers. Generally, companies suggest that they are "forced" to lay off workers in order to cut costs and remain competitive. The financial community likes downsizing because it reduces the shortterm labor costs that companies must bear. Management likes downsizing for the same reason. This research considers the effects of downsizing and whether it is truly the panacea for a company's ills, or whether it brings with it more problems. A specific company, Boeing, and recent downsizing decisions it has made is also considered.There are immediate local economic effects when a company downsizes; the larger the company and the greater its relative importance to an area, the greater these effects. Initially, the short-term effects are to reduce the amount of disposable income in the local area. This has a direct effect on retailers and those providing services. Home loans may be put in jeopardy, which affects the amount of capital available to the community. If a plant is the single largest employer in a small town, closing it in the name of downsizing can ruin the town's economy. Long-term economic effects are a shift in the economic balance of the region. If a plant closes, skilled workers are likely to relocate in order to find employment. This reduces t
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at any time without cause and without notice. Over the years, however, legislation and court decisions have modified the at-will concept. While the applicable limits vary greatly from state to state the areas of regulation generally fall into four categories: discrimination laws; union collective bargaining agreements; contract law principles; and plant closing laws.
Various federal, state, and local laws protect employees from a wide range of discrimination, including discrimination when employment is terminated. The most prominent federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment are: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (barring sex, race, religion and national origin discrimination), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age discrimination) and the Americans With Disabilities Act (disability discrimination).
Unions and collective bargaining and all the issues and problems they raise are a separate discussion. Key fact to union contracts is that they usually restrict an employer's ability to conduct a layoff in terms of advance notice, the selection criteria and sometimes even the right to reduce staff. Unions are generally very aggressive in protecting their contract rights requiring careful legal advice
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Managing Economy, Example Boeing, Economic Effects, Quality Issues, Practices Historically, Disabilities Act, , Notification Act, Effects Short-Term, Long-Term Long-term, economic effects, discrimination employment, local economic effects, local economic, amount disposable income, plant closings, government concerned, downsizing overview, labor law, valuable source, government contractors, labor law journal, costs companies,
Approximate Word count = 1689
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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