The ethics of quitting/It would be much easier just to fire you.

Originally submitted by: barcode 2x

The workforce and middle management assume the blame and responsibility for many bigger problems within organizations. I say that if you want to root out the problem, start at the top. Revolution is the overturning of power, the forcible rejection of the status quo. But these seismic shifts in power, however desirable from one standpoint, carry potential risks as well. Fire the guy at the top? Wouldn't it be easier to just fire you when things go wrong? Wouldn't it be easier for you to quit when you get uneasy about your organization's business ethics? What are the ethics of quitting when you know you cannot change things at work? What do you leave behind? Who picks up the slack? This past year, I left a job I had worked for years. The pay was lousy, and the conditions were tough. The work was hard and long, and I wanted a change of pace. It did not take long to find a new job that paid just as badly. I was happier, and the stress level dropped. I was not tearing my hair out any longer. But when I went to visit my old place of business, I noticed how things had changed. My leaving caused others to think about leaving. The overall work ethic diminished. The place was not as clean, and not as upbeat as I remembered it. My former boss is a wonderful woman. She is brilliant, a great manager, great with people. The structure of the business has not changed in many years, despite changes in the rest of the world of business. There are now technologies and shortcuts that would allow for new revenue streams and convenience. But there is no automation here, no new systems. There is an overall resistance to change. The answer is not to change the environment, but just to hire someone to replace me and the other worker who left this past year. One new person to cover for two. A corporate efficiency expert would have a field day at this place. But who wants to change something that works? It's hard, it's a tough place to work, and the pressures are high, but changing the business structure has bigger implications. Wouldn't it be easier to quit or be fired than change a whole business model from the bottom up?