[Susan McLean]

Pain Management

The management has gauged how much you’ll take
before you buckle or walk out. They care
about your health—at least until you break,
use up your sick leave, or require repair.

The management endorses your retiring
early. They will help you out the door,
so that they can economize by hiring
fresh blood for half of what they paid before.

The management can't monetize your gain
in knowledge or experience. They doubt
that anything you'd do if you remain
could beat their savings if you're shunted out.

They needn't fire you, just increase your stress
through higher workloads and adverse conditions,
until exhaustion, strain, and hopelessness
force you to leave, fulfilling their ambitions.

[Glenn Wright]

Very effective, Susan! I like the N’s position as an impartial observer. Each of your four quatrains focuses on a specific way that corporate America insults its work force.

I was lucky enough to be able to retire when I wanted to with a defined-benefit pension. I have a lot of sympathy for younger workers, who seem to be treated more often as labor providing androids than human beings. Good job!

Glenn