For the good of the country.

[nobodobodon]

Barron's today reported something I already knew - an Obama win, and a Democrat congress, is probably going to be bad for my company and thus bad for my job. It will hopefully be balanced by the economy in general improving and that lifting my company enough to compensate

Comments

[spacellama]

I tend to believe that, unless they get us into war (oops:Bush), Presidents don't really affect my life to any big extent one way or the other. Am hoping that's the case for you.

And for all of us, really. Though, if it turns out that our economy tanks and we're all unemployed (well, except for Kept Women, like me: we'll always have jobs), at least the soup kitchens should get some bitchin funding from an Obama executive.

[oliana0]

*blink* I'm going with name of your company being poo-pooed.

Your competitor, based on my experience with them growing up as the place my family shopped at and I considered getting a job at in high school, was a strict union shop (in my town), and is likely very unionized nationwide. The theory being that shops that are already unionized would be better able to handle the promotion of unions via legislation.

The article also says that the chances of your company going union are sill pretty slim, even if the bill passes.

[summernot]

It's a *very* good point -- and if our employer were to unionize I believe it would completely change the culture here. I know a lot of folks get sort of cynical about the culture, the core values, etc, but they definitely are a guidepost. They do have a presence and a role in our decision making and the way we interact. I believe unions would compete with that culture and would be a bad fit in it -- not to mention the fact that this is one of the most democratic companies around as it is. There is greater individual, team, store, regional autonomy and trust than one is likely to find in any other company in this industry. It's not perfect; there are inherent inefficiencies and conflicts in the model, and the system flat breaks down sometimes, but these concepts serve as an ideal that we reference as we plan and execute

[nobodobodon]

Starts with a K.

[drjohn]

I had a similar discussion today with my coworkers and there is much frenzy about what will happen soon in the healthcare field.

It could be bad: decreased reimbursements mean lower salaries or busier, longer days at a time when zero out of many physicians I have surveyed are not considering other careers, cutting back hours, or retirement

It could be great: cutting the fat out of the insurance agencies (their overhead is 33% ish and they cause all manner of headaches in billing) and bringing decent healthcare to all so we don't continue the "I'll ignore it and go to the ER if it gets worse" culture we have going. If that is socialism, I'll take socialism.

There is a lot of spectrum in-between, and there is a complex interplay between elements.

Back to the topic: Generally, I think ones being able to shop for tasty, probably organic food rather than going to the Grocery Outlet is highly related to health of the economy. So...what is good for the economy is good for the slightly upscale marketers that you know.