Tribute to the little guy

Over the past year I've been to a few spectacular sendoffs, lavish lunches and rapturous retirement dinners. But sadly, for the vast majority of good people making excellent contributions in the broadcasting/advertising/marketing industries, no such honours wait in store. Please consider this my simple tribute to those who are too often forgotten.

In part, as a consequence of consolidations and conglomerate buyouts, we have recently seen a wave of layoffs. A new owner often spells trouble for the old staff. Or perhaps it is someone new at the helm implementing a series of cost cutting measures. Or a bad ratings book. Or it may just be an employer who has forgotten the meaning of loyalty.

Being a middle aged, mid-level manager without a job has become frighteningly common. Nobody is lobbying on behalf of those individuals. This is not to make light of the prejudice that others in our communities have faced. Those are serious situations that society is working to address. But who speaks for the little guy who has been cut loose: the working family man and woman who have tried to do their best for so many years simply to find themselves friendless when whatever power they had is gone. All of a sudden, people aren't so quick to return their calls.

This piece was prompted by a couple of recent emails I received which were farewell notes from friends recently shown the door. That is a true mid life crisis. They need to make a living to support their families but find a decided lack of openings for someone with their experience. Starting over in a different field is a daunting challenge. Employers aren't exactly champing at the bit for trainees in their forties or fifties.

Even more insidious is the threat to their sense of self-worth. Somewhere along the line our priorities have gotten dangerously out of whack. Politically astute gladhanders get gala dinners while truly decent, conscientious hard working individuals get forgotten.

No Hall of Fame in their future. Well, those people are my heroes.

Why do we respect the smug and sometimes cruel people who misuse power? I think of a well-known senior executive who gleefully told the story of how he reduced one of his managers to tears.

In the end, I will remember those who gave it their all, acting with humanity, and always keeping their priorities straight. After all, a great cost per point, a number one in the ratings, or one's ability to exceed sales quotas aren't really worth much as an epitaph. I know that, to some, this sentiment may seem quaint or even humorous. We'll probably never share the same values.

The ones I respect are all those that face adversity with dignity. That fight on for their families while maintaining the respect of their friends. I may not be able to afford a gala, but you'll always be welcome at my place for dinner.