Efficiency Experts Fired The Most Efficient Employee, Company’s Business Comes To Zero From 200k
A surprising number of experts and analysts are hired to improve business efficiency despite knowing little about the companies they serve. They focus more on self-promotion and securing corporate clients than providing meaningful analysis or significant statistics. Ultimately, they aim to deliver some result, which managers—who often don’t understand the data—accept at face value.
In today’s story, OP shared an incident at his workplace from 20 years ago. He worked at an electrical parts supply house, with Ford Motor Company as their largest customer, spending $200,000 monthly. The business was thriving until new young management aimed to boost efficiency by laying off four employees they deemed unnecessary. Consequently, Ford’s business plummeted to zero. During an emergency meeting, it was revealed that the decline was due to laying off Ken, an older, highly productive employee who handled Ford’s orders but lacked computer skills, making him appear unproductive in reports.
Continue scrolling down to read the full story.
Source: Reddit
1. Efficiency experts mistakenly fire the top performer!!
2. About 20 years ago, OP worked at an electrical parts supply house serving industrial companies in Southeast Michigan, with Ford Motor Company as their biggest customer, spending around $200,000 monthly.
3. The company brought in new young management focused on maximizing efficiency and cutting dead weight. They implemented changes and laid off four employees they deemed unnecessary.
4. Mysteriously, the Ford business plummeted from $200k to zero, prompting the new management to call an emergency meeting to address the issue.
5. During the meeting, someone explained that Ford’s business had dropped because the employee responsible for their sales had been laid off.
6. Ken, an older employee with a strong relationship with Ford, struggled with the computer system and handed off Ford’s purchase orders for others to input, making him appear unproductive in reports.
7. Ken, was the first one to be laid off by the new young management, thus Ken and OP both were puzzled by the decision.
8. On the day he was laid off, Ken made a single phone call to a competitor and was quickly hired.
9. The new company provided Ken with a company vehicle and commission, perks he didn’t have at his previous job. As a result, his annual pay increased by about $35k.
10. Following the meeting to address Ford’s halted purchases, they promptly contacted Ken, acknowledging their error and pleading for his return. Ken declined their offer with a simple “nah.”
Now that you have read the story, it’s time for you to see what Redditors had to say about this. Read till the end to see what are other people’s opinions on this.
11. This story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of careful deliberation before making significant decisions.
12. Young upstarts often believe they can impress owners by cutting costs, particularly by dismissing older employees who hold valuable business knowledge.
13. Is there any evidence of these 20-something MBAs actually making any real improvements, or are they just known for causing havoc?
14. Econ majors and consultants, devoid of real-world experience and practical involvement, are often criticized as detrimental to the working world.
15. It’s the principle of Chesterton’s Fence: before dismantling it, understand why it stands.
16. Here’s a rare case where corporate greed ends up harming even the greedy themselves.
17. Youth brings knowledge, yet always leaves gaps unfilled!!
18. Losing a job can sometimes be a blessing, especially for capable individuals—it often paves the way to increased earnings.
19. The story seems a bit odd…….How could a successful salesperson not ensure their numbers were credited to them?
20. I can’t fathom why companies sacrifice thousands to save mere hundreds. Their short-sighted cost-cutting defies logic.
This story serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of hasty decision-making and the undervaluation of experienced employees. Ken’s dismissal, based on superficial assessments, led to significant business losses and highlighted the importance of understanding and appreciating the unique contributions of each team member. Do share your thoughts on the story in the comments section below.
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