Where Layoffs Are the Last Option

(CBS)  In Columbus Georgia, the Burns family faced a familiar recession drama. Dolanda Burns had a choice. Move to Texas, or lose her job with a downsizing mortgage company. Alonzo Burns worked for Aflac, the insurance giant, which has no offices in Texas.

Aflac has 4,700 employees and a reputation of doing whatever it takes to keep all of them, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

"We have never had layoffs in Aflac's history," said Dan Amos, the CEO of Afflac. "We will let an unproductive worker go in a minute. But, if you are a great employee, we will do everything in our power to keep you."

Employees like Alonzo Burns. Aflac retrained him - so he could telecommute from the family's new home in Dallas.

"It meant the world to the whole family," Dolanda said.

More than 5 million Americans have lost jobs in this recession.

But some companies have never laid off anyone: Nugget Grocery Store, Devon Energy, QuikTrip, NuStar Energy,Stew Leonards Grocery, Scottrade, and Publix Super Markets. Also on the list is the Container Store.

In Dallas, Container Store CEO Kip Tindell has cut costs everywhere, but his payroll.

"I do worry that sometimes some people just sort of knee-jerk layoffs as the first option," Tindell said. "It should certainly be the last option."

Dan Amos, Aflac's CEO, even gave up his bonus and golden parachute, worth about $16 million and helped save 500 jobs.

"I think it did send a message to employees because the employees know that I care," Amos said.

If business gets significantly worse, both CEOs say layoffs could still happen. Still, Susan Ough won't brood about it.

"If that were to happen, everything possible would have been done to avoid that," said Ough, a Container Store Employee.

With so much job insecurity out there, some workers actually trust the paychecks will keep coming.

[searingtruth]

"We could reduce the cost of society by eliminating those who contribute the least to it.

The idle rich who enslave the working poor."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave

[Meg003]

But do we really want to eliminate the poor schmucks who could not make a living without a driven, ambitious business owner creating them a job?

[sjc_1]

Business owners do not create jobs, they exploit the workers and profit from their labors. Business owners do not want to employ people, they have to employ them to get work done. As soon as they mismanage the company and run it aground, the fire all the productive employees and lay low until they can exploit a new batch.

[phoebet]

Their stockholdings are a matter of public record -- it is a public company. I am not jealous of their wealth, just pointing out that he is no saint for giving up a bonus. He is worth HUNDREDS of millions and he installed his son in another ridiculously overpaid position, making millions as well. They don't lay off people because they must have a sales force and support people to sell their useless product -- they do not produce anything, they merely sell insurance.

How sad that you think it amazing that he'd give up his bonus ... if his company is losing $$ then he does not deserve a bonus.

And John Merritt -- what do you make of all those who, by your standards, are NOT "faithful with much" and make fortunes -- or those who ARE "faithful with much" and LOSE their fortunes? (and what the heck does "faithful with much" mean?? what does it have to do with BUSINESS??) Do you really think that Amos establishes a relationship with the community because he is godly and good?? Pu-leese!! He does it because it will make him more MONEY!!! It's all about the money.

If that means that, by chance, employees keep their jobs, then great. If the CEOs make lots of $$, then great for them. But don't make Amos -- or Buffett out to be selfless saints. They are money makers, nothing more. They do not sacrifice diddly squat so that others may have more, I assure you. And I know that firsthand, nonewsday.

Also, Aflac is based in a small town and its major stockholders are all friends, family & neighbors of Amos there in Columbus GA, so he needs to keep them all satisfied that he is not taking advantage of the company.

[sjc_1]

All wealth comes from labor and the wealthy take it from them. The people that actually do something productive deserve the rewards that come from their efforts. The greedy just make sure they take it all and leave a few crumbs for the peasants.

[Meg003]

Phoebet, the Amos family started up the business from nothing in 1955. All the people who work for the company have jobs because the Amos family took a huge risk, investing their own talents, time, and creative energies into starting up a company.

You just don't get it, do you? Employers like the Amos family came up with new products and strategies-yes, insurance policies are products-and marketed and supported them well. Otherwise, they would have gone the way of most start-up companies and lost their investment and gone out of business within the first few years.

[rightbehind]

Be checking out aflac for my next insurance quote.

[skeezix06]

Me too. Employers like that are pretty rare.

[phoebet]

Dan Amos will be pleased to add your premium to his paycheck ....

[John_Merritt]

I have always believed that those that are faithful with much will be granted much. Aflac, Devon and Publix and Berkshire Hathaway are four great companies and I have witnessed firsthand their desire to establish a relationship with the community. To them community starts within and has no boundaries and I commend companies that place their employees over profits. I hope people are taking notes of all these companies mentioned above.

[azure13]

So you're pissed just because the guy got rich? I don't see a problem with it. And he should be given credit for not taking a bonus during these times. *** is wrong with you?

Aside from that.. If these companies would start to realize that laying people off only hurt them and the economy in the long run (loss of consumers to buy their goods and services), we would be much better off.

They always take the easy way. Just dump people instead of looking for creative forward thinking ideas to save money. Such small simple thinking.

[azure13]

That was in reply to phoebets comment btw...

[phoebet]

Dan Amos is NO saint for giving up his bonus -- $16 mil is peanuts to him! He has more money (and houses and land and assets) than he knows what to do with -- As does his son, who is also a very well paid honcho at Aflac (can you say "nepotism"?!). They have tons of stock & huge salaries ... they'd look terrible to their stockholders if they took bonuses in this economy.

[creeper00]

Yes, Dan Amos is an evil capitalist.

Here we have a man who has fought tooth and claw (successfully to date) to keep all his employees and you come along and whine about him. Are you nuts? Do you realize that without Dan Amos those 4,700 people DO NOT HAVE JOBS?

Go back to school. You need to learn some logic skills.

[wano1948]

In a free society you are supposed to work hard and be paid any amount of money your ability will let you have. This person has achieved success and apparently still has a concern for his employees. What is wrong with this?
Seems like a certain part of society these days wants to bring everyone down to their level. The level of failure and whining. Grow up!!! The Govmerent can't support you forever.