The facade of corporate modernization
In today’s business landscape, the rhetoric of modernization often serves as a disguise for decisions that could be considered ethically questionable. An example of this is the Cadí cooperative, located in La Seu d’Urgell, which has been immersed in controversy over its labor practices. According to a statement issued by the workers, the measures adopted by the company appear to reflect a strategy of labor discrediting that, in the name of efficiency, worsens the conditions of its employees.
The phenomenon of silent dismissal
The term ‘silent firing’ refers to an insidious method designed to force those workers that the company considers ‘undesirable’ to voluntarily leave their jobs. This approach is particularly aimed at those employees with more experience and high salaries, who become an ‘obstacle’ to new business models that prioritize turnover and cost reduction.
The impact on veteran workers
Employees who are close to retirement are seen by the cooperative as an unaffordable cost. Their labor rights, accumulated over years of service, are ignored while the company opts for solutions that involve discouraging their continuity in the workplace. Workers complain that the compensation offered is insufficient and that unemployment benefits, although legal, are presented as an immoral solution.
The true nature of ‘modernization’
Cooperative employees argue that what is presented as ‘modernization’ is, in fact, an effort to dismantle the working conditions that veteran workers had achieved. This implies a restructuring that not only seeks to reduce costs, but also undermines the quality of work and service provided to customers.
Demotivation strategies
Silent firing tactics include various forms of psychological manipulation. For example, more experienced workers are excluded from important meetings, depriving them of information essential to their job performance. They are also overloaded with insignificant tasks, while constantly being criticized for minor mistakes, thus eroding their morale.
Consequences for the organization
The tendency to replace employees with higher salaries with workers with less experience and training not only affects working conditions, but can also compromise the quality of services offered. This dynamic, disguised as modernization, can have long-term repercussions for the sustainability of the organization and its reputation in the market.
Final thoughts
The Cadí case is a paradigmatic example of how companies can use the rhetoric of modernization to justify questionable labor practices. The labor community and regulatory bodies must be aware of these strategies to defend labor rights and ensure a fair and equitable work environment for all.