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Ever wonder what the BS of UBS stands for?
It seems as though not enough people have - since UBS (which claims to be the crème de la crème of wealth management) managed to lose not only the cream, but much of the milk itself. Translated into francs and centimes, this means that UBS has racked up some ultra-strength financial losses.
But not to worry… UBS has a multifaceted plan to make this all seem better.
According to Reuters, UBS customer-facing employees may soon be asked (or told) to forego those valentine-red frillies in favor of flesh-colored underwear. There may also be less spice in the food department because “smelly” foods are another proposed no-no. Tobacco could also be out, not particularly because of health concerns - but because it, too, stinks.
Cover-ups, as in facial make-up, would be in. This female-specific part of the proposed UBS dress-code is based upon the premise that “wearing make-up gives the impression of competence.” This from a company that proclaims its commitment to (a) “engaging, developing and retaining a high impact workforce,” and (b) employee “diversity in gender, ethnicity, age and other factors…”
Two immediate questions come to mind: Why would a truly “high impact workforce” need to accentuate the positive with eyeliner? And - are male employees afforded their own opportunity to put their best face forward?
The more compelling questions are these: Could this emphasis upon creating a surface impression be a subtle form of skirting an underlying issue? If so, would face-saving tactics like these best be relegated
to the “Thou shalt not” pile?
Which begs the larger question: In many corporate and other professional settings, have we (long ago) reached the point at which profound wisdom is overshadowed by cosmetic improvements?
Resources
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6BD10720101214
http://www.ubs.com/1/e/about/ouremployees.html
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