Constricted

Where did the perks go? Where are the decent salaries hiding?

Better question - how did fairness get left by the wayside, thumbing to hitch a ride with dignity on the road to despair?

All I'm hearing lately is how most companies are dialing back on their standard practices when it comes to reimbursement and fair wages, in the end essentially screwing over their workforce.

Numerous friends and colleagues are facing substandard "offers" from potential employers. The general excuse is, "We're lucky to have the funds to hire."

I think this is a crock. And this crock has led 1/4 of the nation to be "under-employed".

Yes, the economy sucks. And yes, consumer spend is down. And, oh yeah, outsourcing is all too rampant. Ah, and lest we forget, we're all a dime a dozen.

Still, do companies not value their employees any longer? Or wish to entice them to stick around for the long haul? Or give them incentive to kick some ass and take names?

Case in point - my friend was just hired as a salesman for an educational software company. He was told that:

- he'd have to supply his own laptop
- he would need to pay for his mobile usage
- he would receive no mileage reimbursement
- his base salary totals about $10.50/hr
- commission would only be paid a month after the customer's paid in full
- he has to build up an entire new book of business with no draw or guaranteed commissions while getting up to speed

So what exactly is the incentive to get him to stay? So that he can reap the benefits of his sales four to six months after he made the sale?

Or maybe to pony up the cash for gas so he can drive all over East Egypt (his territory is everything east of Springfield Missouri and south of Champaign IL)?

No, wait, could it be to increase his mobile plan to "unlimited" and pay an extra $50/month?

Education sales and printing has pretty much been his entire career. He is, in a word, stuck.

How can his employer expect him to rally every day, knowing that he's fast losing the battle to stay afloat? He's got a family to feed, to provide for.

I feel somewhat fortunate being in the advertising business, because in my experience, St. Louis agencies are competitive when it comes to wages. Not so much in other industries, it seems.

I think that when the dust settles, whether it's in the next year or five years from now, these companies that are expecting to get stellar employees for a song will be sorely out of tune. Hell, if karma has anything to do with it, they may be silenced altogether.