Lower the headcount, Chinese say - Tom Doctoroff

Tom Doctoroff

Comparing how China and Japan are facing the financial crisis, offers huge differences, writes JWT China CEO Tom Doctoroff in his latest contribution for The Huffington Post. His company faces cuts in costs, and his Chinese staff preferred the dismissal of unproductive people.

At JWT, we have had to "derisk" our budgets, not only on the mainland but in Hong Kong and Taiwan as well. The Chinese have accepted staff cuts with no fuss, no muss. As long as the selection of "nonproductive" employees is performance-based, we avoid morale hits. (I asked a few employees whether we should fire a few people or lower salary to save jobs. The answer was unanimous: reduce headcount, please.)

The reaction in Japans was so much different. Tom Doctoroff compares both.

Commercial
Tom Doctoroff is also a speakers at the China Speakers Bureau. When you need him as a speaker, do get in touch. He will be in San Francisco in the third week of April. If you need him around that time in California, do get in touch.