In February, I asked a couple of questions about ethics. Later that month, President Trump fired the head of the Office of Ethics. No comment.
Now, I am moving on to the ugly term: trimming the fat. Who and what will it hurt, and who and what will it help? When it is all said and done, will we learn anything?
How will all those newly laid-off government workers find work and survive in the private sector? I have switched between the public and private sectors for decades, and the expectations are very different. I had a friend whose husband is a postal worker ask what I thought might happen to the mail service. I said, well, there is always Amazon. The grass is not going to be greener in the private sector because expectations are very different.
Locally, I wonder how Midland ISD will cut over $40 million from their budget. My doctoral dissertation was in school finance and continues to be a passion. Midland ISD may need to take lessons from the private sector. Cut administrative costs and duplication and send most of those folks to the customer, in other words, the students.
ISDs should stop issuing contracts when they are not required. Letting a poor performer go is far easier when there is no contract. Teachers have contracts, and although they have been maligned for decades, teachers are hard workers. The duty-free lunch and conference periods are seldom utilized between planning and meetings; they are too busy instructing, monitoring behavior, supervising students at recess and lunch, and so on. If you want a better picture of a teacher, read the article in the February Texas Monthly.
Midland ISD is being transparent about its financial issues, which is only what I would expect from the superintendent, Dr. Stephanie Howard, one of the most ethical people I have worked with in the past 40 years.
Now, Chevron is leaving California and moving its headquarters to Houston. In the same week, they announced the elimination of 15-20 percent of their workforce. Well, Governor Newsom, why were you not reading the room? From a human resource standpoint, California is over the top in terms of employee rules and regulations. Upon hearing of Chevron’s departure, I thought of The Sound of Music and the lyrics from its Rogers and Hammerstein song, “So Long, Farewell”—namely, “We hate to say goodbye,” and then the line, “We hate to leave this pretty sight.”
States like California have done it to themselves.
And now, Southwest Airlines is laying off 15-20 percent of their private sector workforce, a first in the company’s history.
Back in March, I raised a couple of other issues. Will deregulation reduce inflation? So far, no. I paid almost six dollars for 12 eggs a couple of weeks ago. I have given up eggs.
I also advised my readers not to quit their current jobs. I still recommend that, but as I listen to my young friends, I see that they are often afraid of the future of their current employers and are looking for, or have moved to, another job since the beginning of 2025.
One of my younger friends, who works in engineering, had two offers and many interviews, and so far, he is pleased with his new job. His comments to me have been remarks like, “The people at the new company work and do not mull around at least 25 percent of the day complaining and/or wondering what to do for lack of direction from their superiors. If the bus leaves for the field at 7:00 a.m., it leaves on time. If we have a training meeting from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the training is on point, and the timetable is followed.” Is this military behavior or better efficiency?
If you want to compete with a well-organized workforce, be on time, make training valuable, and only accept exceptional work behavior. There is no room for Debbie Downer.
Now, are all these mergers going to increase efficiency and profits? Is leadership too busy trying to be as large as or larger than Exxon and Occidental? This race to the top may not be productive in the long run, especially for your employees.
In the end, will President Trump’s and Elon Musk’s efficiency improve services? Will the massive government employee reductions strengthen our safety and security? Will deporting illegal immigrants help with price reductions? Will tariffs reduce our costs?
I am reading a lot about what is happening in Argentina, and their leadership’s policies have cut inflation.
From the Human Resource standpoint, salaries will continue to rise if prices do not stop or slow their movement upward.
I do not know about you, but I need to see the results sooner rather than later.
Michele Harmon
“Your employees are the heart of your organization.” Dr. Michele Harmon is a Human Resource professional, supporting clients in Texas and New Mexico that range in size from five to more than 3,000 employees. Email: micheleharmon1@gmail.com
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