What Constitutes a "Good Worker"?

A young lady who was recently laid off, fired, downsized or whatever they call it now days asked the question. Why was I the one fired, doesn't it matter if you're a good worker, who never calls in sick? Why was it me? I listened and but I didn't have much to say, other than take a couple months vacation, rest and get your head together. Then look for another job. Don't listen to the media too much about how bad the economy is because there is a lot of money out there in the world.

But this conversation made me think about what is a good worker? From being in corporate America for more than thirty years I've learned that "good worker" can mean many different things depending on the bosses perception. What you might think is a good worker may not be your bosses perception of a good worker. A good worker can be:

One who helps the company cover up all the dirt and deceit it's involved in.
One who can come through in an emergency and write-up policies and procedures to help the company keep accreditations, pass inspections and meet the neccesary guidelines it needs to operate.
One who smiles and acts like they agree with everything the boss says.
One who takes the blames for blunders in an area and is rewarded.
One who does their work, goes the extra mile, is not involved in mis conduct such as:
theft, fighting, sexual harassment, habitual misses or tardiness or disrupting the work area.

Well a good worker can mean many different things to a manager or boss. Good worker is in the eye of the beholder. Who knows what kind of lens a manager or boss is wearing on any given day? Who knows how dirty or clean their lens is. Is it foggy from their superior telling them what a no good manager they are or that they need to get their employees in line. Is it clean because they have a clear direction of where they are going and most of the people in their area buy into this vision. What measuring stick are they using? Is the bosses are trying to make sure their bottom line or pay/incentives are getting bigger and bigger?

I am asking you what is a good worker in the 21st century? Why are companies using the euphemism "laid off," when it really means "fired? How come it's so difficult to be honest with the employee these days, you'd rather lay them off verses fire them. whether they are laid off or fired the house payment is still due.

A "Good worker", Bad worker the worker still controls the production! Is that why so much production is sent out of this country, even when they lie and say it was made in America.