A Better Balance

The phrase used in human resource circles is an “absence control program.” It's a program in which employees receive demerits company-determined infractions such as an absence or being late for a shift. If a worker accumulates too many demerits or "points," s/he is fired. I worked at a restaurant job in the 1980’s with this kind of program. Many absences such as having car trouble or calling in sick were considered excused absences by our managers so many of us never received any "points." But what I’ve been learning lately about these programs illustrates how some of them completely…
Yesterday was a notable one in the efforts to improve working conditions for U.S. poultry processing workers. At a Perdue chicken processing plant in Salisbury, Maryland, faith leaders and worker advocates delivered some special packages to company officials. Thirteen hundred miles way in Springdale, Arkansas, the U.S. largest poultry company announced new initiatives to improve conditions for its poultry processing workforce. I tip my hat to the diverse coalition of worker advocates who set the stage for these event. More on their contribution below, but first the story from Salisbury,…