[Verse 1] When companies try to give workers a voice There's legal landmines in every choice Section eight-a-two says "no company unions" Courts might call your councils labor intrusions NLRA watchdogs guard the line Between genuine voice and management design [Chorus] Four walls blocking the way Legal fears and power play Cultural shift and time delay Obstacles every day Management won't give up control European dreams can't take hold Short-term costs are hard to sell When old ways work so well [Verse 2] Boardroom bosses don't want to share Unilateral power's always been there "We decide, you comply" - that's the American way Employee voice means less management say Giving up authority feels like defeat When you're used to the corner office seat [Chorus] Four walls blocking the way Legal fears and power play Cultural shift and time delay Obstacles every day Management won't give up control European dreams can't take hold Short-term costs are hard to sell When old ways work so well [Bridge] Social partnership works overseas But here we worship the CEO's decrees Democracy stops at the workplace door "That's just how we've always done it before" [Verse 3] Co-determination slows things down Every decision needs buy-in from the ground Training costs and meeting time Meeting legal design guidelines Better choices take much longer But the process makes teams stronger [Chorus] Four walls blocking the way Legal fears and power play Cultural shift and time delay Obstacles every day Management won't give up control European dreams can't take hold Short-term costs are hard to sell When old ways work so well [Outro] Legal, cultural, power, cost Four reasons why the vision's lost But understanding where we're stuck Might just change our workers' luck
← 3 — Applicability Outside Europe | 1 — Principle: Managers Own People, HR Owns Infrastructure →