I worked for this man for eight years and I have very mixed feelings about this announcement.
On one hand, you all know that I'm a huge patron of the arts. I think it's great that Atlanta is trying to do something with the High Museum. In recent years it has attracted some very good traveling installations and was the home of the much lauded "Rings" installation during the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Wieland's are avid collectors, filling their home and offices with art that is usually geared toward homes and construction. They've always been very generous with their art, as well, lending several Finsters to the High for their permanent collection. The permanent collection, or the lack thereof, has been the problem at the High. It's very, very lacking. Perhaps John and Sue's gift will help correct that.
However, John is the cheapest man in history. The stories of his penny-pinching are legendary. Seriously. I could entertain you for hours but his hard-working attorneys would probably but the kibash on that. His cost-cutting also seems to extend to his employees. Some of my readers can give me the exact figures, but at about the time that this $12 million was promised (2001)John Wieland Homes, a company privately owned by John, was laying-off a quarter of their employees (ed. - It was actually 10%).
I love the arts, but I love my friends even more. I don't know. Just seems wrong.
Posted by mikewolf at February 20, 2003 11:17 AMthe layoff was 10% not 25% but it was still a latoff
Posted by: on February 20, 2003 12:10 PMThank you anonymous Wieland-ite. I apologize. Ten percent is much, much less. I really do like John and Sue as people. I'm just a bit befuddled.
Posted by: mrw on February 20, 2003 12:13 PMBut many companies are letting staff go! At one time about 2 yrs ago there were 200+ people in our office (not a Wieland office) and now there is 40 (that is if no one has been let go this week, there were 3 last week). We have not gotten pay increases (not even cost of living) in 2 years but our insurance premiums has gone up 46% in the same 2 years. But no one can complain because they have jobs. (Now I am sure that I will get my pink slip soon! big brother is always watching)
So those Wieland friends are in good company, in sprit anyway!
No, no. I totally understand that, Christy. I'm just questioning donating $12 mil at the same time that you're letting people go. It's a private company, John's bottom line is the company's bottom line. Admittedly that $12 mil is tax-deductible and people aren't.
Posted by: mrw on February 20, 2003 01:56 PMI agree but that is not the only company doing stuff like that. My employer is also privately held and at the same time they are saying that they have to cut expences (employees, benefits ect) they are purchasing other companies (2 in the last yr one large and one small). What really stinks is that they are letting go long time employees (15 to 25 yr employees) and having the new companys do there jobs or having old employee train the replacement (from the new company) to work in another state.
I agree that it hurts when your employer chooses to give money away rather than invest that (or less) money in there current employees. Personally I would almost rather be one of the ones that have been let go than to be one of the ones that is left and have to play nice and wonder when your "last day" will be.
Yes.. I'm thankful to have a job, too, but I'm pissed that we live in a country where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer... Companies that make millions and millions of dollars and then cry poor and lay people off and cut their benefits right and left. And then those same companies turn around and sponsor exhibits and private helicopters for their executives.
It's just disgusting.
(Ooh. Sorry. I'll get off my soapbox... this isn't even my blog!)
Posted by: zeebah on February 20, 2003 04:07 PMNo need to step off that soapbox. That's a familiar platform around here.
Yeah, it's really unfortunate in this particular situation. The Wieland's are incredibly philanthropic on one hand but were "forced" to ax a bunch of folks in the same breath. I left on my own accord. If I hadn't I'd surely be damn pissed.
Posted by: mrw on February 20, 2003 04:18 PMWell, in my view, when you LAYOFF people, you leave the door open to rehire when times get better. It wasn't a layoff. We were fired. Let go. Axed. And the purging continues. My husband still works there and he tells me everyday about the latest casualties. People that have worked there for years.
In addition to the $12 million to the high, the company had a RECORD year of profitability the same year we were let go and continue to report huge profits. I used to respect the man, but find that difficult when I saw things happen that showed he was not worthy of that respect. The thing that keeps him from being a total megalomaniac, is his wife Sue, who I believe is a kind and decent person. I think character is character. You have it or not. You can't be kind and compassionate in one area and a complete monster in another.
Posted by: susan on February 21, 2003 08:24 AM