Phase 2 of Countrywide’s “Protect this House” Campaign? Block ML-Implode.

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Numerous loyal readers of the Mortgage Lender Implode-O-Meter, who happen to also be Countrywide employees, have reported that the popular industry news web site has been blocked by Countrywide web servers. Countrywide and Mozilo, who have been the kings of spin in trying to put a positive face on the company’s problems, seem to be using some of the black-hat tactics they’ve used in duping shareholders and the public in to buying in to the Countrywide story. When the story is bad just obliterate it, right?

Perhaps this is phase 2 of the crisis PR firm Burson-Marsteller’s employee morale improvement plan “Protect this House”? The “Protect this House” campaign was launched with much internal fanfare to Countrywide employees who were asked to sign a “Loyalty Oath” in order to receive the “special” bracelet.

Step one: rubber bracelets. Step two: censorship.

It is apparent that employees have a trust issue with Countrywide management, and this development isn’t going to make that better. You can have as many rah-rah speeches you want; but if your employees don’t trust you, you’re just wasting your money – and frankly, it makes you look like idiots.

I have an idea for the brilliant executives who decided to censor the Mortgage Lender Implode-O-Meter; instead of shutting off the information flow to your employees, why don’t you improve it? If your employees weren’t so worried about losing their jobs every day or getting their commission structures revised down after being promised a raise, or didn’t keep hearing about people not getting paid on deals after leaving, perhaps they would spend less time on ML-Implode and more time on the phones.

It doesn’t surprise me, but what do you think?