Yes

3 of 13

by Adrian Owens

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Yes, I would take a cut in pay to save a coworker's job. The down slide of the economy has put everyone's job at risk. If a coworker was in danger of losing their job, and they had a reputation for being a good worker, they should be retained as an asset to the company and their department. The option of taking a pay cut should be offered as an solution for retaining workers.

Eliminating employee's jobs adds additional responsibility to those persons who remain. Job assignments assigned to the terminated workers are now dispersed throughout the department. Overtime, added responsibilities, and pressure to meet deadlines can take their toll in stressful and non-productive ways affecting the quality of work produced.

Having personally experienced the results of downsizing, in my department, I would have preferred being offered the option to take a wage cut so the original number of workers could have remained employed. The employees left deal with a hurried, and incomplete retraining program, so they can tackle the additional responsibilities others were assigned, immediately. Most of the time the person who is assuming the responsibility of the laid off worker has little or no previous training in the new assignment and is now under pressure to learn the requirements of their new unofficial title without additional wages.

Working with additional responsibilities for the same pay quickly deteriorates morale. Feeling insecure regarding the quality of work produced is common until the person assigned the new task has learned the skills needed to be proficient in the acquired position. The worker is left to feel they are being taken for granted while realizing at least they have a job. Negative feelings build up, surface, and these are expressed in the work place by inappropriate outburst of anger and profanity making the previously pleasant work environment now hostile.

Taking a cut in pay would ensure, at least temporally, all employees would be gainfully employed and develop solidarity among workers. Having the knowledge you still have a job, though you may have to cut back on certain things, eliminates stress and can build appreciation in the workplace. A feeling the upper management empathizes with your situation can develop. People who feel a sense of loyalty from their company usually will return that loyalty in better job performance.

So, yes, I would take a pay cut to save a fellow employee's job and I would hope, looking at the big picture, they would do the same for me.

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