[NicknamedBob]

I understand your point, and I agree with it.

All too often, however, Management is willing to replace people for inadequate reasons. Many seek to operate in a climate of fear. This I believe is counter-productive.

Experienced employees should not lightly be cast aside. An example is clerical employees, who are normally paid a low hourly wage.

Even so, it is the experienced employee who learns to spot thieves and shoplifters, while newer employees are blind to it. Keeping the experienced help is well worth the minor demands such folk make in terms of adjustments in their schedule for growing families and such.

Of course they are replaceable, but not without a cost.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Very true. And ironically in doing that they make their employees strive to be "irreplaceable" which will shoot them down the path to failure faster then anything else.

People who strive to be irreplaceable do not work well with others killing the team concept and they tend to be secretive about how they do things which means if they are unavailable for some reason their systems fall apart.

I have always felt there were only three reasons for firing someone, either they do not work, they will not learn or they are sowers of discord. So, ironically I will fire someone who strives to be irreplaceable but will retain those who do not.

Creating a climate of fear is beyond counter productive IMHO.