CAHILL'S FREE SPEECH BATTLE


On August 22, 1989, the St. Petersburg Times printed the article below
that was written by free-speech activist Bret Cahill.  He has continued
to pursue his basic idea of networking information on companies as
given by ex-employees.  His pursuit has now reached the federal
courts and may soon result in landmark opinion.  More on that later.
First his idea.

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JOB SEEKERS SHOULD ASK FOR COMPANIES' REFERENCES
by Bret Cahill of Tampa, Florida


	Unless you are retired, you'll probably be interested in this
proposal.

	The idea is simple enough.  Next time you look for a job,
replace your resume with an application that asks the prospective
employer for last year's turnover rate, a short history of how the
managers got their jobs and, of course, the names of some expert
references on the company: the former employees.  Think of the time
and money you'll save.  Think about how many more options you'll have.

	What's not so simple is getting someone to fill it out.  Until
now, the information exchange that accompanies job placement has not
been symmetrical.  The employer routinely asks for pay history and
references, yet the job applicant would never dream of asking to speak
to a recently fired employee.  Most job search books include a
paragraph on the importance of this kind of information, but they
don't explain how to find it.  It simply isn't available on the
small to medium-sized companies responsible for most of the job
creation in this country.  In a society that likes to think of itself
as fair and open to the individual, this will certainly change.

	To get started--and getting started is all that needs to be
done--the state employment offices can maintain a network of former
employees of different employers.  After an employee left his job,
he would have a suitable location to file his name, phone number
and the names of any former employers he was willing to discuss with
job hunters.  He, in turn, could contact references on other companies.
Not only could he share his experiences with someone who was truly
interested--a potential applicant of his former employer--but he
could quickly gather information on a large pool of employers.  The
cost would be negligible.  A phone line would make the service
really convenient.

	The advantages to the job seeker are obvious.  He could
screen many more places than with his informal network.  He could
get both sides of the story.  He wouldn't waste time driving to the
wrong places.  He could prepare for interviews.  He would have much
more control over his livelihood.  Once a job was accepted, he
would have a better idea what to expect.  He could plan.

	The indirect advantages to our economy are much more
important.  The fundamental problem of employee/management communications
would be largely alleviated.  Managers would have both the proper
atmosphere and incentive to speak frankly with employees.  (The
Japanese keep repeating that American managers refuse to talk to 
the people who know what is going on: the employees.)  Owners or
stockholders could get a point of view free of any conflict of
interest.  A former employee has no economic incentive to give
anything except his true opinions.

	Other advantages to business: Accountability, responsibility,
even imagination would be encouraged while cynicism and non-productive
wishful thinking would decrease.  An employee who can plan and
knows what is expected is a better employee.  Employer-related
litigation such as "wrongful discharge" suits would decline.
Companies would be better managed with fewer managers.
	
	Instead of a lot of costly, ineffectual labor legislation
that has bureaucrats making highly judgmental decisions on matters
they have little knowledge of and no interest in, these choices would
be left to the job hunter.  He's the one who is going to be working
there.  The diversity of employer "cultures" can be thought of,
not as a problem, but as a national resource for employees.

	Besides, what's good for the individual is good for
America.  As Bishop Richard Cumberland said, "Every idea is the
product of a single brain."

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Bret Cahill's article from the St. Petersburg Times

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-Joe Gaut