Would you take a pay cut to save a coworker's job?

by Shawn Keegan

Created on: December 15, 2010

America was constructed on the idea of doing whatever it takes to get ahead. In other words the harder you work, you achieve greater things. It would be in good faith to help a co-worker keep their job, but that is not the mind-set of America. The mind-set here is to watch your back and get ahead any way you can (not illegal ways). There is a reason why your co-worker is getting laid off rather than you.

Maybe it is because you are a better asset to the company, or you work harder. That is something to be proud of, not something to give away.  In the preamble, one of the inalienable rights is the pursuit of happiness. There are no limits to the “pursuit of happiness”. I would hate to see a co-worker lose their job, and struggle with bills and such. Although what I would hate even more is to see myself struggling to stay afloat.

Hopefully this situation will never arise, but when it does, I will reluctantly turn my head, or give him/her advice on how to keep their job. Remember there is a reason why they are going and not yourself. Maybe they must work harder, increase productivity, change their behavior, or become a better communicator; etc.

Especially with the current economic recession in America, I could not afford a pay cut. Unfortunately for the co-worker it would be extremely difficult to find another position of employment. Unemployment benefits does not pay the bills. Anyway back to my point, this refers to the American dream. The American dream is to achieve, to work hard, and you can do anything you want.

In the process people get left behind, that is an inevitable fact. That is also a fact of life. I would not put my career in danger for anyone else, although I would help them in any other way that I could, it is the conscious thing to do.

To anyone that has the will power to give something like their own pay up, to save a co-worker is a great person. I just could not do that, and jeopardize my quality of living, nor my families quality of living. Remember do whatever it takes to get ahead of the game, because on day you may be in that spot with the chance of losing your job. This is America, not a charity.

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