Questions for Composition

Chapter 8: End of Essay Questions

“Lay off the Layoffs”

1. Pfeffer said that layoffs are closer to bloodletting an organism rather than amputating. It is stated that there is a cycle that follows layoffs. Instead of cleanly getting rid of employees with no after effects, a company will weaken from the effects of a layoff for quite some time. The companies will lack in areas such as: customer service, innovation, and productivity. Instead of recovering from the layoffs the companies will more than likely suffer the consequences and continue the negative cycle until it is forced out of business.

2. Widespread downsizing hurts the wider economy because there would be a possible recession. There would be many people unemployed and without those people to stimulate the economy the economy as a whole will enter a recession. With smaller amounts of sales due to the recession there could possibly be more layoffs as well, which could be a never ending cycle.

3. The wider effects of the anger and depression caused by layoffs would be the odds of self-harm and suicide rising. It could also spawn in the form of alcoholism, smoking, and drug abuse. It not only affects the person who was laid off but their families as well.

4. I think using Southwest Airlines as an example is a very effective beginning. It was a shocking time for all of America and the thought of flying was very frightening. Southwest didn’t gave in to the pressure and didn’t downsize their company. They benefitted from that and now are the top airline in the United States. If he were to change the example at the beginning he could have used any other company who has stayed by their employees by not letting go of them.

5. I feel that the balance of anecdotal evidence and scientific studies is fairly effective. He gets his point across without depending on one more than the other. There is a fair balance of evidence points and studies in my opinion. The essay is very well written in that...