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| First Person |
The Firing Line
Alan L. Sklover
08/02/2004
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Surprisingly,
perhaps, not one of my clients has left a company to seek greater financial
rewards. Rather, each has resigned based on factors prized more highly than pay:
the “three Cs”—clarity, commitment and community. Clarity describes the degree
of certainty about where one stands in the company’s hierarchy. Commitment is a
general sense of job security. Community equates with an estimable sharing of
the wealth that the employee helps produce. I am not writing a socialist fairy
tale here, but simply recommending that employers be clear about a few issues.
They should explain the employee’s role in the company, offer a reasonable
amount of notice and transition assistance in the event of a layoff, and agree
to a formula for compensation dependent upon achievement.
Commit to Commitment
Successful people are successful in large part
because they value the right things. This stands true for both employers and
employees. From the employee perspective, the long-term foundation is more
important than the short-term rewards.
Valuable employees seek commitment, or
by another name, simple job security, first and foremost. They may achieve this
by using a combination of an employment contract, an agreed minimum notice of
termination and an “honorable discharge” if departure becomes necessary. That is
it.
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