I own a small business. I run it like a liberal.

[Mr. Ected]

Four weeks paid leave every year. Group insurance. SEP IRA's for qualified employees. One full month's salary as a holiday bonus. Etc., etc., etc. Having lived in Europe for several years, I tried to replicate the model over here, on my own. Create a favorable work/life balance, and you'll have a dedicated employee for life; that was my philosophy.

In other words, I had been quite generous with my money. I shared it and my professional success with my employees.

Until last November. That's when I had a change of heart. You see, all but one of my staff of voted for Trump. How do I know? Like so many Trumpians, they loudly celebrated it.

So, effective January 1st, the paid leave was reduced to ten days. No more SEP IRA's. Time clocks were added. There will be no bonuses in December.

If you don't believe in hand-outs, if you scorn those who receive entitlements, rest assured, I will no longer offer these "un-American" privileges to you at the workplace. I only wish you had told me earlier, so I could have kept my money in my treasury and treated you like the willful serfs that you proclaim yourselves to be.

[BSdetect]

1. Pity those morans - if they only knew

what people in other countries enjoyed, example;

Australia - 6 weeks paid vacation plus various public holidays, national healthcare, infrastructue, full employmeny, no financial crisis (because its REGULATED) and

better social mobility than the USA.

Also no stupid guns for nutjobs.

[Fla Dem]

2. I applaud you for the way you ran your business prior to this election.

I hope you made it clear to your employees why you are reverting to a self serving business operation; that based on the the results of the election, the electors voted in a more self serving government and you're just falling in line. I wish there was some way you could protect the employee who did not vote for tRump.

[Phentex]

3. Have you made it clear why you did this?

I think that's the important part. Getting them to understand what they were taking for granted. You did those things because you thought it was the right thing to do, not because others were doing it or because it was expected. How have they adjusted?

[Mr. Ected]

4. Yes....and no

My rationale was that, in light of the impending wholesale changes in government, I needed to scale back and exercise caution.

They knew my roots and my business philosophy from the moment I hired them. They embraced the bennies because they were the recipients. They know where I stand in the political spectrum, though that has never been an abject topic of conversation.

I still offer a comfortable workplace and pay competitive wages. I just co-oped a bit of their greed. I'll leave it up to them to connect the dots.

[yurbud]

9. they won't connect the dots or they wouldn't be righties. I'd spell it out for them.

[Schema Thing]

30. this

or they'll assign perverse/inaccurate motives to you.



Although I'm sure your explanation is completely true as well. I find myself considering selling my house to capture what equity I have and be more liquid.

[Merlot]

39. Sell your house and live where?

Youl'll be paying rent. And were will you put your "liquidity?" Stock market with the posssibility of a crash? Savings account with less than 1 per cent interest?

That's the situation I find myself in. Not enough money to buy a house, nowhere to invest my money.

[Schema Thing]

72. Is a van, down by various rivers :)

Yeah I get you.. I'm in the relatively enviable position of it not being a bad choice either way, financially.


I mean, I think there is a window for me to capture the equity before civilization collapses but if I don't, I have a relatively cheap abode. (but I seriously am the type who can live in a very small place - and I like the idea of being mobile). (my *stuff* is another story, but I can figure that out).


I do believe that horrible markets make for buying opportunities (or shorting opportunities) if one is super attuned.

[Merlot]

85. But what will you do with your equity?

Unless I'm misunderstanding, you would sell your house for the cash. But if the civilization (or just the US) collapses, wouldn't that cash be worthless?

Unless, you're investing in that van, a nice river spot and lotsa food?

[tblue37]

47. Then they would sue him for discriminating against them because of their political beliefs. nt

[Yupster]

55. Yeah, and they probably should too

Where's the Department of Labor when you need them?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. You'll need to spell it out. yurbud is right. . . . nt

[plimsoll]

42. Being explicit will harm you and become a cause celebre for them.

Your answer is as close as you should come to explaining anything. They may not understand, and it doesn't matter, the operant conditioning regime they voted for will eventually change their behavior. If you tell them then you will be a typical "liberal" who is penalizing them for their political beliefs, and they are martyrs. As it stands your explanation should conform to their world view. I suspect you may experience some attrition, my observation is that consistency is not a value for the right, and they probably believe those bene's are their right and due.

[yurbud]

49. I'm hoping the OP is meant as a parable or something

Even if the employees were righties, I'd feel morally obligated to do things the way he originally did.

And then tell t b em it's the Christian thing to do (even if he aint).

[plimsoll]

86. Possibly, but

Given the chiroptera feces stuff we've already seen, why shouldn't he believe he'd be penalized for providing "gold plated" benefits to his employees?

I think we're all assuming "normal." Does anything we've watched in the last week seem "normal" to you? And I'd be cautious about the "Christian thing to do" position. Your intent would clearly be the "liberal" view of Christian behavior, but given the support Trump got from the Evangelical Christians you could argue that what he did was the "Christian thing to do." As I said, not normal.

[Cha]

74. They'll notice.. thank you for your OP, Mr Ected..

Really, what else could you do?

[Mr. Ected]

78. Thank you, Cha.

I truly value your opinion here.

[Cha]

84. Well Thank You!

I'm honored.. backatcha!

[fescuerescue]

48. You should make it precisely clear why you did this.

And let them know that you'll reconsider in 4 years.

There is nothing illegal about business planning in response to the Whitehouse occupant.

[Hoyt]

5. Hate to say it, but something is missing in the selection process. But, I hear your disappointment.

[braddy]

6. I'm self employed and my boss sucks, no vacation time, no health care insurance, less than minimum

wage, no overtime, no guaranteed holidays.

[dawg]

7. My boss is just like yours.

Of course, he occasionally lets me post on DU during business hours, but I get paid nothing for that time. (Except for the few pennies George Soros sends my way )

[Rorey]

40. LOL, I'm self-employed too, but I just love my boss

She lets me have as many coffee breaks as I want. I can take as many vacations as I like for as long as I like. Best of all, her political views are identical to mine.

Her husband is an ass, but I'm just trying to ride it out until he realizes what a stupid mistake it was for him to vote for trump. She's my boss, not him, so who cares what his views are.

[frankieallen]

67. How do you have a boss if your self employed?

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

80. Self hating?

I'm self employed and my boss sucks.

[frankieallen]

82. 😊 I'm self employed and I told my boss to " this job and shove it,

I aint working here no more"

[Throd 2.0]

75. Same here. My boss treats me like shit.

[yurbud]

8. if more employers did things the way you used to, we wouldn't need charities OR government

but you're rare enough that neither are in danger of going out of business.

It's funny how few people apply their political or religious ideas to their immediate personal circle apart from telling others how they should behave.

[Mr. Ected]

10. I'm amazed at how many people believe that their personal economy

Was entirely self-created and did not require the cooperation of a society to attain.

[yurbud]

23. a guy boasted to me about his animation company in South Korea that he had outsourced US jobs to...

and said he did it all by himself and the government didn't help him at all.

I didn't realize until later that South Korea EXISTS because of massive US spending on the Korean War and arguably on our ongoing military presence that also cost a lot of money.

If you have employees who know how to read, if you expect products to travel over roads to or from your business, and on and on, you benefit from our government.

They probably know that, but they are just looking for an excuse to be selfish.

[SamKnause]

11. Good for you.

I would do the same thing if I owned a business.

[Cal Carpenter]

13. Honestly,

that sounds really fucked up and hypocritical to me. And sad. And paternalistic.

Either you stand up for your principles, which should be universal, or you don't. And you clearly don't.

If you think reasonable working conditions should be a right, it should be so for everyone. You don't get to judge and punish certain people for their beliefs. Employers should not punish their employees for their political views and what they do in the ballot box. That shit goes both ways.

Way to let divide and conquer win.

[Mr. Ected]

14. I see your point and admit to more than a bit of shame for what I've done

I've compromised my beliefs to punish the beneficiaries of my generosity.

They're not being vilified for voting for Trump. Their workplace is still comfortable and their wages higher than market.

They just don't get the goodies for which they rail about against others.

If even one of them realizes that what they want done to America has just been done to them, then my shame will evaporate and it would have been worth it.

I appreciated the benefits afforded me in Europe and never took them for granted. I offered my employees the same...but they took it for granted. Their loss.

[Mr. Ected]

16. Anti-Worker Fuckery?

For limiting vacation time to significantly MORE than what other businesses offer? For tracking work hours with a time clock? For failing to fund SEP IRA's that would displace over $100,000 in revenues to parties who would deny the same to their employees if the tables were turned? When no other small business within 100 miles offers such largesse?

Surround yourself with Trump fanatics as employees, and get back to me with that.

[Cal Carpenter]

17. Such noblesse oblige, simply heartwarming

Those poor misguided peasants should be grateful, you're right.

[Mr. Ected]

18. Indeed. Thanks for your understanding.

Those peasants will be dismissed one by one if Trump's economy buries us. Their choice, their future. I'm shoring up for the coming storm. Under Obama, we thrived, and the gifts were plentiful. Under Trump, I have grave concerns, and will not sacrifice myself and my family's future under the circumstances.

[demigoddess]

21. I think you are doing the right thing. I have seen many businessmen who

have run businesses the way trump would run them. Badly for the employees. And one thing they all have in common is that their businesses went under. The trumpites need to understand that a business should be run the way you were running yours. The country needs to be run the way you were running your business. For healthier workers, for healthier people, mean a healthier democracy.

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. Yeah, I was a bookkeeper for a landscaping business

They griped that guys would take a job with a competitor for a 25 cent an hour raise. Of course, my thought was that if they wanted loyalty, they needed to pay more. Of course they wouldn't do THAT.

[Piasladic]

68. Whatever helps you sleep at night

Why is it that small business people always *sigh* and say if it weren't for them, the little people wouldn't have jobs, instead of thinking that without the workers, the owners would have no business? Oh yes it's because the workers can always find a nice job where someone pays them a dime more. America is the land of opportunity after all.

The "charity" this guy thinks he's running is a business that pays his bills. We cannot trust in the generosity of "liberal small business owners." Here at best, we have a guy that wants to punish workers to make them see the errors of their ways and at worst, simply wants punish them because they think wrong.

What we need are rules that in good or bad economic environments or under good or bad business owners, workers should always have basic conditions like good minimum wage, paid leave, vacation and overtime.

Don't let the poisonous assholes crush the liberal in you.

[kcr]

50. Your generosity?

That's real liberal of you to put it that way. That's a core liberal principle, viewing worker's benefits not as entitlements of hard workers, but as gifts bestowed at the whim of the owner.

You pay way too much attention to the politics of your employees. You might find it easier to resist the urge to compromise those spectacularly awesome liberal principles of yours if you'd mind your own business.

[Yupster]

52. I'm surprised that you consider

a retirement plan and vacation time for your workers to be handouts.

[ffr]

19. Trumpsters are the 'I got mine' demographic

Time for a workforce turnover and phase out of positions in favor of qualified individuals that'll give you bang for your buck.

[logosoco]

22. We need more people like you in the world!

Or at least this country. I do not blame you for changing your practices because that is what the "leaders" of our country are now standing for. Give those people what they asked for!
I had a job I really enjoyed even though it was getting hard physically for me to do. But i got so sick of the owner putting profits before people (it was a day care!) that it was easy for me to quit.

(as a side note to this story, it was the only job i ever had where someone (the director, not the owner) got escorted off the premised by the police. She is one of my tRump supporting friends on FB!).

[sinkingfeeling]

25. I think you have acted appropriately. I have started this

year with changing where my charity goes. I will still support my political, animal, and environmental organizations, but will contribute nothing to local, state, or national groups filling the gaps for Americans. Making monthly donations to Doctors without Borders, Peace Bridge-Syria, and UN Refugee Fund.

[MontanaMama]

26. We own a small business too.

We also offer company matched IRA, paid vacation, Christmas bonus and flex time off. We pay a monthly stipend to each eligible employee to fully pay for their health insurance purchased through the ACA website rather than group insurance because the mean age of our employees is 30 and we found that as a group, our age (50ish), vastly raised our premiums as a group. This last December, my husband took the 4 full time guys to Alaska for a fully paid deer hunting, halibut and salmon fishing trip. We work hard to keep our crew happy and secure. We need them.

During the primaries, I found out three of our employees were not registered to vote. I gave them a paid hour to go to the elections office to register because I thought it was THAT important. Turns out, of the three, one voted for tRump and the other two voted but did not vote for president because they "didn't like either candidate." Now the rubber is hitting the road for them.

Now that disaster has struck, I've talked to each employee individually about our benefit package and had to let them know that if the ACA is repealed, we may not be able to provide the health benefit that they are accustomed to. We are not a big enough company (6 people) to get a health plan that won't break us. We will still provide the stipend we do now, but it may not fully cover the price of their insurance. My premium alone, for my husband, son and I is $1600 a month!

They are just now realizing that their vote mattered. It is really hard for me not to say I told you so.

[yardwork]

37. It sounds like you are being reasonable and thoughtful.

Votes really do matter. There really was a very stark difference between the candidates. Now that Trump has taken over, he's following through on campaign promises. People who didn't want his policies shouldn't have voted for him. What were they thinking?

[KentuckyWoman]

27. That's crap

Sorry but it is.

You don't treat your employees how you do based on THEM. You treat them how you treat them based on your own beliefs. To do anything else shows a sorry lack of maturity.

The childishness that it takes to react in business the way you describe is appalling. If you really do own a small business I hope you are rightfully ashamed of your little snit and straighten up. You have the ability to be a light in the darkness rather than a reactionary selfish child.

Yes I'm being harsh. I own a business and know better. I'm also within a few years of the end of my lifespan and don't have the time or the patience to play nice anymore.

Be a liberal. Do the right thing regardless of anyone else's ideas.

[Mr. Ected]

28. I discovered that my liberal principles are abhorrent to my employees. Hence their vote for Trump.

I've done them a favor. They now get to LIVE their principles, instead of simply mouthing them as if they only applied to others.

I'm a liberal, and I'm principled, but I'm not in the business of self-destruction either.

[KentuckyWoman]

29. I just disagree with you in the strongest terms possible.

You make a grave mistake running your business by someone else's principles.

Use your own. You'll be better off and your business will be better off..... unless this kind of thing IS your own principles. In that case, liberal might be meaning something different to me and I'm the one who's out of line.......

[yardwork]

33. In his defense, he still offers generous benefits.

And, it sounds like Trump's policies will hurt his business, so he has to cut back on expenses. So it's cause and effect.

[kcr]

57. I'm with you, KentuckyWoman. I can't think of anything liberal about what he's doing.

Viewing benefits as handouts to be revoked or reduced punitively based on disagreement seems entirely like something a Trump supporter would do. You're in the right on this one.

Small business owners who are way too up in their employees' business are irritating, too. Serious boundary issues, there. While they have their own issues, larger corporations can actually be the better bet employer-wise. Unless you luck into a halfway-decent one, small business owners can be hell to work for on a day to day basis, and the OP shows exactly why.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

60. People like those employees simply don't get it,

and need to have their noses rubbed in what and who they are voting for.

Especially since the OP had given them very generous benefits, exactly the kind that Republicans abhor. They need to live their own values. Essentially, Fuck 'em.

[Yupster]

63. Yes, employees should vote for who the employer wants them to

or suffer the consequences.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

66. They are the ones who are the proud and vocal Trump supporters.

And no doubt they have no use for unions, welfare, or liberals. As I said, they need to live their beliefs. And at that they have better benefits and working conditions than far too many here.

I'm reminded of police, fire fighters, and airline pilots, just to name three groups with strong unions who are intensely anti-union. They don't understand in the slightest just what their unions did for them. I wish they could get some kind of a six-month experience of life as so many others live it. Maybe some of them would grow some compassion, but probably not.

[kcr]

64. Do we actually want "generous" benefits for workers, or not?

Because we aren't going to get them if the message is they're conditional. Or they're gifts from a benevolent class who gets to determine who is worthy of them. We either support workers or we don't. I don't get the support for the OP. There is nothing liberal or progressive about it.

[frankieallen]

81. The OP described these employees as "highly qualified, dedicated, and loyal"

Then punished them for not thinking the same way he does. It's a fun story to read, but seriously...

[snort]

31. Sounds to me like you still have a good place to work.

You could go full on shit gibbon and use their bonuses to buy a lousy portrait of yourself, maybe posing next to an eagle. Hang it in the lobby.

[colorado_ufo]

32. If you keep doing the same things the same way

and expect different results, that is the definition of insanity. Your employees would never be appreciative or change their attitude toward their fellow man without a wakeup call. They need to be prepared anyway for what this new administration has planned. Unless you make some changes, your business could go under.

Make it clear how and why and when benefits will be earned and reinstated. They must understand that this will be driven in large part by the administration's policies.

[WhiteTara]

34. I don't blame you.

I only give my money to companies and people who did not vote republicon or for trump. Our money is our only real vote.

[LanternWaste]

88. you force them to live their principles, while you cave on yours.

"they now get to LIVE their principles..."

Oddly enough, you force them to live their principles, while you cave on yours.

[cynatnite]

35. I can't approve of retaliation against employees for their political opinions...

That's what Trump and his minions do.

[yardwork]

38. It's more than opinion. Their votes have a sharp economic impact.

[Merlot]

41. It didn't read like retaliation to me

The employees still have a good place to work. The business owner needs to make sure the business can survive and things will change quickly with the new gov't. The owner should have done this no matter the employees political beliefs because having the business survive is the priority.

[cynatnite]

44. It feels like it to me...

I don't think employees should be punished for their political opinions even if they don't agree with mine. It's wrong.

I would be curious if ALL his employees were Trump supporters.

[Yupster]

54. Sounds like the kind of thing we fight against doesn't it?

The more you live, the more you realize that so much of politics goes with that old adage, "It depends on whose ox is being gored."

[demmiblue]

58. I am surprised by the support (although, I totally expect it from several here).

I sure as shite wouldn't let righties alter my core values.

[Sunny05]

36. Follow your gut feeling

on whether to share your reasons w/ employees. I understand the suggestions here. But you never know; there could be safety concerns if a disgruntled employee is a little more "off" than people realize.

[Throd 2.0]

43. I also own a small business. I have no political litmus test.

I just want talented people.

[Blue_true]

45. You did the right thing. Those that do not

Believe in sharing good fortune should not receive good fortune.

[PETRUS]

46. I'm with KentuckyWoman and Cal Carpenter

To me, taking advantage of economic leverage (secured for you by the state and its monopoly on violence) to discipline labor is definitionally right wing and I simply can't celebrate it in spite of your stated motives.

[Piasladic]

70. exactly -nt

[Warpy]

51. Tell them it's their "Trump Tax" because the cost of doing business is going up

It will, you know.

I'm sorry your employees are fools. Do realize that most of the anger that swept Trump into office is frustration with a government that is run by and for Goldman Sachs. Trump is a Molotov cocktail. Unfortunately for the fools, he'll blow up all the wrong things and Goldman Sachs is still running the economy.

[Mr. Ected]

59. Yes, a Trump Tax. That's about right.

Perhaps I couched the OP in a retaliatory tone, and believe me, my anger at the election results may have temporarily led me to become a reactionary in the way I run my business. HOWEVER, the truth is, the future of our country is uncertain and weighs in the balance, and it is simply good business to put a freeze on all extraordinary benefits until we have more clarity. It may actually work to these employees' advantage to be conservative at this juncture. They are not political prisoners. They are not being mistreated because of my disdain for our Petulant President.

I hired each one of these employees knowing full well that they are dyed-in-the-wool Republicans. They are highly qualified, dedicated, and loyal. If all of us are wrong, and our current economy continues to grow as it did under Obama, I'll revisit those benefits. I'd welcome the opportunity.

[frankieallen]

71. Don't back track now, that is complete 180 from your original post.

You clearly stated,
"Until last November. That's when I had a change of heart. You see, all but one of my staff of voted for Trump. So, effective January 1st, the paid leave was reduced to ten days. No more SEP IRA's. Time clocks were added. There will be no bonuses in December"

Many, certainly not all, responses applaud your actions, you did the right thing, or in some cases didn't go far enough.

I don't understand though when you say " I hired each one of these employees knowing full well that they are dyed-in-the-wool Republicans"

and then say

"I only wish you had told me earlier, so I could have kept my money in my treasury and treated you like the willful serfs that you proclaim yourselves to be."

then you punish them when they actually vote Republican.

Based on your description of benefits originally offered to employees before Drumpf won the election, you are obviously a very successful small business owner, and your business is doing very well.
Please consider reinstating the benefits. It is the "liberal" thing to do, not to mention when you drop an employees compensation as much as you did, your "highly qualified, dedicated, and loyal" employees will probably not be employees very much longer.

I know I wouldn't be.....

[fescuerescue]

79. Why would you hire Republicans?

Wouldn't you rather have smart people working for you?

[Hayabusa]

53. That's harsh, but in a way I can see why you did it.

You're giving them EXACTLY what they wanted....

[HassleCat]

56. Your employees are typical, sadly.

I hear it all the time. "I work hard. Nobody gives me nothin!" They just don't appreciate what this country has done by enlarging the middle class to include so many. Now they're going to throw it all away because they think Mexicans are stealing their jobs and Muslims women are sneaking around in hajib. This does not seem to be the America where I grew up.

[starshine00]

61. I do not blame you one bit.

Not one bit. Tell them you have read "The Art of the Deal" and have decided to adopt Trumpian economics. You should play them the videos where people who did work for him talk about not getting paid. Actually ten days is very generous.

[TeamPooka]

62. Treating them the way they voted. Can't argue with that. nt

[cigsandcoffee]

65. What about the one who voted for Hillary? nt

[Paula Sims]

69. If you do that, it's your choice, but don't tell them why

You have no idea how they might retaliate - and retaliate they will.

Just say it's "a sign of the times". . . which it is. . .

[former9thward]

73. Cool story bro...

[greytdemocrat]

76. Exactly.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

83. Hey,

you took my line.

[Alpeduez21]

77. While it sounds like retaliation

I believe that only a 'we are at war' mindset will set the country right. Conservatives are a real problem to the United States. Take a look at the polling for top conservative issues: abortion, civil rights, gay rights, worker rights, women's rights. voter rights. The polling consistently shows Americans are very much in favor of all these policies. Conservatives push against these values. If you support that mindset there is no way I will support you.

[LanternWaste]

87. In effect, you changed your business model due wholly to the mere beliefs of other people.

In effect, you changed your business model due wholly to the mere beliefs of other people rather than for its own sake.

I see that as small-minded. At best.