pencilpusher. just because Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I love reading stuff like this.there are people who think of others first after all.And so Paul Levy had all this bouncing around his brain the other day when he stood in Sherman Auditorium.He looked out into a sea of people and recognized faces: technicians, secretaries, administrators, therapists, nurses, the people who are the heart and soul of any hospital. People who knew that Beth Israel had hired about a quarter of its 8,000 staff over the last six years and that the chances that they could all keep their jobs and benefits in an economy in freefall ranged between slim and none."I want to run an idea by you that I think is important, and I'd like to get your reaction to it," Levy began. "I'd like to do what we can to protect the lower-wage earners - the transporters, the housekeepers, the food service people. A lot of these people work really hard, and I don't want to put an additional burden on them."Now, if we protect these workers, it means the rest of us will have to make a bigger sacrifice," he continued. "It means that others will have to give up more of their salary or benefits."He had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Sherman Auditorium erupted in applause. Thunderous, heartfelt, sustained applause.Paul Levy stood there and felt the sheer power of it all rush over him, like a wave. His eyes welled and his throat tightened so much that he didn't think he could go on.When the applause subsided, he did go on, telling the workers at Beth Israel, the people who make a hospital go, that he wanted their ideas.The lump had barely left his throat when Paul Levy started getting e-mails.The consensus was that the workers don't want anyone to get laid off and are willing to give up pay and benefits to make sure no one does. A nurse said her floor voted unanimously to forgo a 3 percent raise. A guy in finance who got laid off from his last job at a hospital in Rhode Island suggested working one less day a week. Another nurse said she was willing to give up some vacation and sick time. A respiratory therapist suggested eliminating bonuses."I'm getting about a hundred messages per hour," Levy said yesterday, shaking his head.Paul Levy is onto something. People are worried about the next paycheck, because they're only a few paychecks away from not being able to pay the mortgage or the rent.But a lot of them realize that everybody's in the same boat and that their boat doesn't rise because someone else's sinks.Paul Levy is trying something revolutionary, radical, maybe even impossible: He is trying to convince the people who work for him that the E in CEO can sometimes stand for empathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentbob1272 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 How did the regular Americans survive The Great Depression? By pulling together and helping one another. I remember that always being the theme of my grandparent's stories of that era. Hopefully we all can get back to that mentality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pencilpusher. just because Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 How did the regular Americans survive The Great Depression? By pulling together and helping one another. I remember that always being the theme of my grandparent's stories of that era. Hopefully we all can get back to that mentality. That's exactly how they did it back then. My mama told me she was on a train in Utah when my oldest sister had just been born and she had no money for diapers when she ran out. She said some soldiers that were on the train got up a card game and gave her all the money so she could get diapers and other things.. But it is so rare today that you almost don't believe it when you see it or hear it. Sounds like good folk at this medical center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pencilpusher. just because Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 This is great! What is great about it is that he didn't TAKE from people to give to the others who were on the chopping block. He asked and the people gave. Giving up bonuses means that one doesn't have to have less so that the other can have. Giving up vacation and sick time is the same way, no impact on his/her check but helps someone who may not have had any hours. Kind of like a free market thing. Christ don't turn this political. It's a great story to appreciate on it's own merit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bad newz birds Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 This is great! What is great about it is that he didn't TAKE from people to give to the others who were on the chopping block. He asked and the people gave. Giving up bonuses means that one doesn't have to have less so that the other can have. Giving up vacation and sick time is the same way, no impact on his/her check but helps someone who may not have had any hours. Kind of like a free market thing.So True My Brother..........Allow us to give.....But YOU WILL NOT TAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pencilpusher. just because Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 ....Christ. I should have known..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pencilpusher. just because Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 SORRY Didn't know this was an Anything But Politics thread. You should have put a disclaimer on the title. Exit stage left..... :ph34r:It's not. But since both sides got us in this mess there are plenty of other threads to discuss politics in. This story is just too good to politicize. People keep screaming for a revolution.. what if THIS was the kind of revolution we had? The kind where everyone realizes.. hey, we are in this together, let's bail each other out together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATL Bear Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Great story. Amazingly, we are more than capable of taking care of each other. That's one of the beautiful things about a free and prosperous country. I'll stop my comments now so as not to sound "political". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pencilpusher. just because Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 I agree. No more politics will be spoken by me in this thread. Truce? for now.... :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bad newz birds Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 It's not. But since both sides got us in this mess there are plenty of other threads to discuss politics in. This story is just too good to politicize. People keep screaming for a revolution.. what if THIS was the kind of revolution we had? The kind where everyone realizes.. hey, we are in this together, let's bail each other out together.Alright Pencil, I dont want Grady to fail, because I know some people that were born there.Also Grady's ICU and Trauma Center is one of the best in the country! There are hundreds of soldiers that come through there every year, to study gun shot victims, and practice treating them before they go to Iraq, or Afganistan. We do need to keep Grady funded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ki46dinah Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I wonder how much the CEO of the hospital makes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pencilpusher. just because Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.