Dilbert cartoon first published on Saturday 17th August 1996

Dilbert//2681, first published thirty years ago on Saturday 17th August 1996

Tags

no downsizing job is safe quality good news going downhill

Official transcript

The Boss says to Wally, "Good news, Wally. Most of our smart employees quit to get much better jobs elsewhere. Now we don't have to do any downsizing."

The Boss continues, "Your job is safe. We need you to do the work of all the people who left."

Wally, Dilbert and Alice sit at a table eating lunch. Wally asks, "Is it just me . . . or is the quality of 'good news' really going downhill lately?"

Dilbert replies, "I'd have to say you're both going downhill."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

GOOD NEWS, WALLY. MOST OF OUR SMART EMPLOYEES QUIT TO GET MUCH BETTER JOBS ELSEWHERE. NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY DOWNSIZING.

YOUR JOB IS SAFE. WE NEED YOU TO DO THE WORK OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LEFT.

IS IT JUST ME... OR IS THE QUALITY OF "GOOD NEWS" REALLY GOING DOWNHILL LATELY?

I'D HAVE TO SAY YOU'RE BOTH GOING DOWNHILL.

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

The comic strip, originally published in 1996, features Dilbert, a white-collar worker, and his colleagues in a workplace setting. The storyline revolves around the announcement of downsizing and the impact it has on the employees.

• Downsizing Announcement: The boss informs the employees that the company will be downsizing, and most of them will be laid off. This news is met with a mix of shock, disappointment, and frustration among the employees.
• Employee Reaction: Wally, a character known for his sarcasm, responds to the news by saying that he is happy to do the work of all the people who left. This comment is met with confusion and skepticism by his colleagues.
• Boss's Response: The boss responds to Wally's comment by saying that he needs to do the work of all the people who left. This statement implies that the remaining employees will have to take on additional responsibilities to compensate for the loss of staff.
• Employee Concerns: Another employee, Alice, expresses her concerns about the impact of downsizing on the company's quality of work. She asks if the quality of "good news" is going downhill lately, suggesting that the company's recent announcements have been negative.
• Boss's Response: The boss responds to Alice's concern by saying that he would have to say they are both going downhill. This statement implies that the company's performance has been declining, and the downsizing is a result of this decline.

Overall, the comic strip highlights the challenges and concerns that employees face during times of change and uncertainty, such as downsizing. It also touches on the impact of negative news on employee morale and the importance of maintaining a positive work environment.

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