Getting Through the Tough Times: Creative Alternative to Layoffs

This isn’t my first post on “getting through the tough times” and undoubtedly won’t be my last. Among other things, I’ve argued against the massive layoffs that occurred last year and that continue to occur now. I’ve tried to offer alternatives that are worth considering.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports on a creative alternative that’s refreshing in a time of bottom line, tough luck, cost cutting mania. When Komatsu, a heavy equipment manufacturer located in Chattanooga, had to halt production because of today’s tough times, the company decided to continue paying its 200 hourly workers to perform community service at their regular hourly wage.

Komatsu has worked hard to assemble a group of good employees and doesn’t want to lose them. Moreover, the company decided that this was a way to give back to the community that’s always been supportive of Komatsu.

Many of the service projects focus on public schools at a time when the schools are struggling with their own budget problems. Other projects involve Habitat for Humanity and a homeless shelter.

Komatsu concedes it won’t be able to do this forever and hopes that its business prospects will turn around. For now, it’s “trying to do some good.”

We all know that every company struggling to keep its doors open during this severe economic downturn can’t do what Komatsu is doing. It would be heartening, however, if the Komatsu model were, at least, on every company’s list of alternatives.