Not Just Another Downsizing

I thought I'd close out this year with an uplifting story about a company that downsized with dignity. When Cox Media, distributors of the ValuePak blue coupon mailers, decided they needed to close a plant with 440 employees, they employed some real out of the box thinking to show both the employees affected by the downsizing and those remaining just how much they value their people. Rather than delivering the standard restructuring, job redundancy message, the CEO charged a vice president with the task of finding a buyer for the plant. Not only did they find a buyer, IWCO Direct, a direct mail company, to absorb the employees, but the new company plans to invest millions in the plant and add 100 jobs in the coming year. While downsizings are a reality of corporate America and everyone should have a career management strategy that takes this fact into account, it's still wonderful to read about a company that is able to creatively and empathically manage the needs of their employees in the face of a changing business environment. Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year!