How Not to Keep Your Job

With all of the turmoil in Nortel's prospects, and especially for its component businesses, I have to wonder what it is that these people are thinking. Even though French workers have a decidedly unique way of dealing with labour disputes - with tacit approval by the government with their hands-off approach to worker criminality - this action against Nortel is simply stupid.

Now is the time when every worker at Nortel should be striving to increase the "curb appeal" of both themselves and their business units. They are, after all, on the selling block. If you were a prospective buyer, would you want to purchase a business whose employees would openly threaten sabotage and violence against you?

I can sympathize with their plight as their lives and incomes are thrown into disarray by the troubles of their employer. However, they are doing themselves a disservice by this gross misbehaviour. They are only increasing the chance that their employment troubles will become permanent.