Go Slow

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Have you ever heard of the term, "Go slow?" It is a term commonly used in a workplace environment when workers become unsatisfied with work conditions, pay, or other issues that they feel are important to them that are being ignored. It happens when bosses become unruly or disengaged, or when they don't necessarily hear their employee's concerns nor appear to care about them. It happens when their work environment becomes less than desirable. Employees, rather than stop work altogether or initiate a full-on strike, simply go slower. They work a little bit less hard and produce a little bit less than they normally otherwise would. It is still designed to do similar things as a full-on strike might. Just with a little bit less pain to the employer than a full-on strike would cause. Just enough to make a difference and perhaps enough to be recognized. Just enough to send a small reminder to the employer who it is that helps them to butter their bread. You see, no matter what it is that we do in life, when it comes to work and business matters, the people who run the machines matter as much as the ones who put the machines there to run in the first place. Both parties are necessary and are really actually partners. Managers are not just there to boss you around and shove their authority on you. They are there to foster an environment conducive to a good relationship between the employer and employee, which in turn makes everyone happier, more profitable, and more successful. No one side has all the power. And no one side should wield all of it. Both sides should work together toward a common goal and listen to each other, and not forget the important roles each individual plays in getting things done at the end of each day. It does not always mean that the employees who choose to "go slow" are always in the right. It just means that perhaps a more open dialogue would better serve both sides to understand the problem.