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Old 05-24-2013, 01:21 PM
 
4,307 posts, read 6,244,839 times
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Here is the definition:

"An empty suit tends to refer to a non-important person — perhaps someone puffed up with his own importance but really having little effect on the lives of others. It is often used as an insult to disparage others who really don’t deserve the title. The true empty suit, which conjures up the image of a business suit of clothing without a person, really doesn’t know what he or she is doing. He or she is ineffectual, perhaps a phony, and is about as relevant or helpful as a suit hanging on a rack."

My company seems to have a large number of these people, many of whom are in leadership roles. Is this typical in corporate America? Do these people generally get marginalized or does this largely go un-noticed, since they're so good at playing the political game?
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Old 05-24-2013, 02:27 PM
 
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,269 posts, read 80,499,367 times
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Not so much anymore, other than maybe an occasion brother-in-law of a CEO. I remember when a major local software giant about 10 years ago discovered that they had some employees on the payroll with no duties, who just went to meetings. They immediately weeded them out. Some will slip through the cracks, but companies cannot afford the cost of an empty suit and have staff and procedures in place to keep that from happening. More likely those people can be found in government.
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Old 05-24-2013, 05:47 PM
 
Location: New Jersey
12,322 posts, read 17,076,249 times
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In recent years as costs and employees were cut, I agree with Hemlock many were weeded out though this also included no doubt many good people who did not play politics of were not the favorites.

An empty suit masters the art of illusion and stealth. Look busy and blend in. Or their affiliations would lend them some protection in some circles.
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Old 05-24-2013, 06:41 PM
 
Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan
29,687 posts, read 24,743,717 times
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I have seen plenty of companies full of these types. What ended up happening as things got more competitive, the company tried to figure out why they are going broke or not making much return. They immediately look to turn the thumbscrews on the lowest level workers to increase productivity. As people get more fed up, quality and productivity wanes. The company's next step is to start firing said workers and replacing them with cheaper workers. Benefits are also cut in the process. Productivity and quality takes an even bigger dive. Empty suits continue to drain the company until eventually the company files for bankruptcy, or is sold off, dissolved, etc. The empty suits will usually jump ship prior to the end and the process repeats.

It's a very frustrating and sad situation to watch. While lower paid, lower level workers work tirelessly without breaks and for less than ever, the empty suit types basically strut their status, spend half the day chatting with coworkers, take several long breaks, etc. If they are even asked to do actual work in a reasonable period of time, they appear insulted. This has changed over the past few years though as companies have limited the number of these types of positions. Instead of 10 empty suits, a company might have 4 productive suits that can do the same amount of work for a reasonable salary. Companies also seem to be treating lower level employees better than before because workers jump ship otherwise.
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