I recently saw Up in the Air, that new movie about a career-guy (George Clooney) who finds himself—or starts to—all the while working as a corporate downsizer, a calling that I'm sure struck many audience members are extremely close to home.
In the film, Clooney works for a company that other companies hire when they have to lay off their employees. So, Clooney's character flies all around the country, firing people one-by-one, consoling them, and handing them a packet with their severance information and advice on finding work. He's a smooth talker and very good at it, although the firees are usually taken aback at first—"Who is this guy? He doesn't even work here," etc.
Then this green Cornell grad shows up (Anna Kendrick), who's on a mission to cut costs at the firm by initiating virtual layoffs. Under this system, both firer and firee sit in front of computer screens with webcams and headsets, allowing Clooney & co. to layoff thousands of workers without the expenses of travel. Cons: no hand-holding.
I think Ms. Cornell's methodology is meant to be an exaggeration—the epitome of the young, tech-reliant generation, prone to shaking things up. But virtual layoffs, although heartless, seem eerily plausible into today's streamlined world.
Then again, maybe it doesn't really matter. Either way you're getting fired, right?
Have you ever been laid off? How do you react to the concept of a corporate downsizer? If you see a movie, read a book, or even hear a song that strikes you as job- or finance-related, let us know!
Comments (6)
Do companies really hire people to fire people? o_o I've never heard of this practice.
@black_lie@xanga - I haven't heard of this either.... but I suppose it has its perks... like not having to deal with the messy business of telling someone they are fired face-to-face.
I've heard of consultants that do this, mostly the focus is on efficiency. There are many movies that played off of the recession.
People are already getting fired via the phone now, so it wouldn't surprise me one bit if they started doing it that way.
It doesn't surprise me that Hollywood is starting to make movies like this, though. A lot of people have been fired or laid off, especially in this economy. That means that there are a LOT of people now that can relate to being laid off or fired, and all of the worry, fear and frustrations that go along with it and with trying to find new work. That means that if they do it right, Hollywood could easily churn out tons of movies like this and have a great chance at at least a lot of them ending up being pretty successful.
It at once raises even more awareness for an already hot-button topic, and speaks to a wide majority of people who can relate to the movie in some form or another.
That's what a lot of very successful Hollywood movies are about, something that a majority of people can relate to. If you can relate to it, then you can feel for some of the characters, which means you can put yourself in their place. And that means you can REALLY get into the movie. :) So, that's why things like that make great movies.
I don't think I can relate to this movie nearly as much as the movie Post Grad. I just graduated college, and have been trying to find a career in my field whilst juggling my finances, a boyfriend, an apartment, family, and all that jazz.
Lace Wigs
Wedding Dresses