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Workers keep up spirit with teamwork
By TIM GRANT
© St. Petersburg Times, ST. PETERSBURG -- As co-workers are called to active military duty, employees at Jabil Circuit are teaming up to help their family members by mowing grass, babysitting or doing whatever else is needed. Managers at Tech Data are hosting an All-American lunch for 2,500 employees at its Clearwater headquarters Friday. And workers at Tampa Electric Co. have tied red, white and blue ribbons around every tree at their headquarters. "There's just a real sense of patriotism in the building and among the employees," said TECO spokesman Ross Bannister. "It's real vibrant. You can feel it." When Tampa Bay area workers go to the office, they don't leave behind their sadness over the victims of terrorism, their concern over what may follow in the nation's attempt to confront terrorists or their jitters over reports of layoffs and declining stocks. But a surge of patriotism seems to be keeping spirits up, and companies are encouraging it. "When people have a common enemy, they pull together. It's a lot like wartime," said Andrew J. DuBrin, an expert in workplace behavior and a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Business. "It's good for teamwork. Apparently this terrible disaster has brought out the best side of some people." The volunteer program to help military reservists at Jabil was coordinated by John Foster, a manager at the electronics manufacturer. Foster is not in the reserves, but got the idea while wondering what would happen to his family if he were. "In Florida a lot of people have moved from elsewhere and have no family in the area," Foster said. "The intent was to give their significant other a group of people they can contact for lawn maintenance, babysitting or whatever." Foster said he knows of four reservists at Jabil who have been called to active duty so far. Not all managers are taking the same tone to motivate workers distracted by the world outside the office. Tom Johnson, chief executive and founder of Global Imaging Systems in Tampa issued a stern memo to all his managers following the attacks. It read in part: "I'm asking all supervisors to have your direct reports turn off the radios, TVs, and to stay off the Internet except for business. Also, if our associates are standing around talking, please ask them to return to their work." He said he's taking that no-nonsense stance because concentrating on work is the best way to deny the terrorists a triumph over the American economy. Al Leo, owner of Scott Buick in Pinellas Park, said he's keeping his employees motivated by putting his money where his mouth is. One day before the terrorist attacks, Leo signed the paperwork to renovate the Pinellas Park car lot and build two new Saab dealerships. He said he could have backed out of the deal but chose to reassure his employees of their jobs. "Everybody is pumped up about the decision we made, and we're excited about continuing with our deal," Leo said. "We've been planning this for a year and a half. If I didn't go ahead and do this, then everyone would be wondering. Now they know we're going to move ahead." - Tim Grant can be reached at grant@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3471.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
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From the Times Business report
From the AP
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