...what's absolutely unforgivable is the financial benefit top management people get for laying off people. There is no excuse for it. No justification. This is morally and socially unforgivable, and we will pay a heavy price for it. -- A cantankerous interview with Peter Drucker, Wired (August 1996)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Drucker condemns executives profiting from layoffs as morally indefensible, warning that society will face severe consequences for such unethical behavior.
- In plain terms
- It is wrong for bosses to get rich when they fire workers.
- What can you take from it?
- Executive bonuses tied to layoffs are unethical and harmful to society.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Should CEOs face moral limits on compensation?
- How do layoffs affect community trust?
Another view
Some argue restructuring is sometimes necessary for survival.
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