All year, people have been losing jobs, and employers, especially big ones, have been stripping benefits from workers, making it even harder for people to support their families.  Most of it has been happening in small numbers, too small for the news to take notice, but just as painful for those effected as a big Reduction In Force (RIF).

That makes the Archway bakery story all the more sweet.  I remember their slogan "Archway home style cookies... the big cookies with the small town taste" which makes it somewhat ironic that the company that closed them down as a 'private equity company' and not one that knows anything about baking.

Normally when you hear about companies being bought, especially at auction, means nothing good. But according to CNN,  Lance, Inc. not only put 60 of the 300 employees immediately back to work, after the  firm that owned the bakery closed it suddenly, but gave all 300 former employees $1500 gift cards. It's fairly safe to assume that bakery workers are not earning top dollar to begin with, so that money will likely come in very, very handy.

On top of that, Lance intends to have the bakery fully operational again by end of 2009.  That's what a responsible company does, it cares about it's people, and Lance went above and beyond, because those people were laid off before they bought the company.

If you have ever been laid off, you know the blow your ego takes, along with your wallet.  It's tough, it shatters your confidence in yourself, leaves you unbalanced, and when it happens so close to the holidays, usually means a meager Christmas.  These folks have been through a lot of buyouts, apparently, and their insurance got cancelled.  I can imagine the stress they've been dealing with in the last few months. But Lance, Inc. stepped up and took responsibility, even when they weren't the ones who laid off those 300 people.

If you admire this behavior in a company, let Lance, Inc. know. I did.  This isn't just white knight behavior, it's downright Santa Claus-ish.

And ironically, Wal-Mart is settling 63 class action law suits related to unpaid wages and denied break time at the cost of $352-640 million.  I can't help but compare the company that does it because it's right, and the company that is forced to by consolidated legal action.