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Employees say to employers, ‘I’m broke, and it’s your fault!’

Americans are not doing well financially. No surprise there, right? However, what may surprise you are numbers from a Harris Interactive poll that show a decent-sized share of adults are blaming their money woes on … you.

Now, that’s not to say employees think employers are completely to blame — they saved that distinction for Congress (72%) and Wall Street (71%). Another large chunk of adults point the finger at large corporations (63%), state government (60%) and local government (47%). Another 47% say their financial woes are President Obama’s fault.

Then, the kick in the gut. For all your efforts to provide competitive pay and benefits amid the most severe economic downturn since the Depression, 33% of workers age 18-32 and 16% of workers age 64 and older say they blame their employer for their financial situation. I guess it’s true no good deed goes unpunished.

Horrifyingly, in true American fashion, adults say those least to blame for their financial situation are their families and themselves.  A full 85% don’t blame their family and 61% don’t blame themselves. To me, this sounds a little like blaming McDonalds for obesity.

But, perhaps you have a different – and more forgiving – view. What do you think of workers blaming you in part for financial troubles? Who do you credit/hold responsible for your company’s financial situation?

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