Everything Sends a Message
We like to say that everything sends a message. The Wall Street Journal's recent The Small Stuff column discusses cost-cutting measures that say cheap rather than frugal:
The headlines go to the big cost-cutting decisions -- moving production overseas, laying off workers or jettisoning certain businesses. But for many corporate employees, it's the smaller, less-visible moves that have the biggest impact. And most annoying. For while plenty of the small cuts make sense -- eliminating lavish company outings, say, or country-club memberships -- some small cuts accomplish little more than to point out to people that there is a fine line between being frugal and being cheap. Indeed, when the consequences aren't fully considered, moves like putting timers on lights and even taking away small perks like free coffee can turn out to be as grating on customers as they are on employees.