Angry, Heck Yes (Why teach work values in today's society?)greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread |
You know, I just posted to the Kmart response and realized I am one angry woman.Once again corprate American has dictated millions of lives. People everyday work their hinney off for someone and then thay are disposed of. What ever happened to job loyalty? I taught my children " good work ethics" but now I wonder why? So they can bust their but for someone so they can be disposed of. It happend everyday.Why in the world would we teach our children work ethics when everyone is disposible?
-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), January 22, 2002
I posted about a 48 hour notification policy recently. Recently my company had 2 layoffs.They asked for volunteers and many did (to escape crappy treatment).My company phoned the unemployment office and gave the names of those that volunteered. I seems that if you 'volunteer' they regard you as 'quiting',and denied unemployment benefits.Now the company decided that some of those they 'laid off' are needed (duh) and recalled.If they refuse to come back they are 'denying employment' and benefits will be stopped.
-- ourfarm (ourfarm@noaddr.com), January 22, 2002.
Tracy, I understand your anger, but in the case of K-Mart (and other retail establishments, I might add), even the people working there could compare how they looked to how their direct competitors looked to customers, and it was no contest, only a matter of time--they should have seen it coming.I would also think that a lot of people in retail jobs are probably part-time anyway, so it isn't like they lost the major breadwinner's income (I'm talking about people working the shoproom floor as sales clerks, not people in the back offices). People in jobs that don't deal directly with the customer don't have that luxury to be able to get that direct feedback (Enron, for example) of how they're doing in the real world.
I never learned job loyalty, although I did learn good work ethics (or habits), which are useful whether you work for someone else or for yourself. I have always had the mindset that whatever you have now could be gone tomorrow, whether it is a layoff, flood, fire, or other catastrophe, so would probably just get on with things when something bad happened. Such is life.
-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 22, 2002.
I don't get it- if the company is going bankrupt, how can they possibly be expected to keep people on their payroll? And no offense, but I don't shop at the local Wal Mart because, among other reasons, I find their salespeople to be useless when I have questions or need help. I have NEVER encountered a single salesperson in any K-Mart who showed any sign of motivation or pride in doing their job well. Maybe if the employees had worked a little harder at meeting the needs of their customers, their employer might not be filing Chapter 11 , ya think? And while I'm on a roll- I have been trying to build a hydroponics system for home use. I had a few questions and needed some supplies, so before heading in to town this morning I placed a call to Worm's Way, in Tampa (Worm's Way sells a lot of organic stuff, as well as hydroponics and vermicomposting supplies. They do mainly mail order and internet sales, but have a couple of retail locations, one of which is here in Tampa). When I told the clerk what I was after he was not very helpful, so I told him that I would drive in, show him the plan, and maybe THEN he could help me. You know what he said? He told me that unless I was buying my system from them, his sales staff would not answer my questions!! I pointed out to him that even if building my own system, I still need to purchase a pump, nutrient solution, and growing medium. AND I also added that I have already spent several hundred dollars in that store in the last year, so it isn't as if I am not buying something from them. Well, he just wasn't interested. Guess what? I HOPE they go out of business, as they should with attitudes like that towards customers and potential customers. So Tracy, if you are teaching your children a solid work ethic I commend you, and hope they will go out into the world and carry it with the. If they do, they will be in an ever-increasing minority!
-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 22, 2002.
Exactly what I mean. You cant win for losing. I want to be self sufficient. And most others on this forum I believe want the same. It is such a shame that this country doesnt have the same values anymore. Why would anyone try when they know they a dispensable
-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), January 22, 2002.
sorry, I meant that I don't shop at the local K-mart!
-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 22, 2002.
Elizabeth, My point exactly. People dont care. And why should they, they are dispensable..period. Why would you bust your hump and be let go? Been there done it, never will do it again.. Why would I teach my children to have good work ethics? Not sure anymore. Not sure if I should even though it has been instilled in them from day one. Why?? So they can get burned? So they can be used and taken advantage of? Name one company that is still looking out for their employees? Probably not, Very bitter.
-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), January 22, 2002.
tracy,It has always been that way for the "masses" through the hundreds of centuries the "masses" have always been the victims of the "Group" whether it's Kings,Queens,Governments,Businesses,Militarys. The majority of people have always allowed themselves to be lead and care for by the "Group" inexchange for a few dollars and a place to live. As humans we are a renewable resource, which means we are also disposeable. You leave your job and there is sooner or later someone else there to take it. You die and someone somewhere will come along and take your place at work,home,play,etc.
Like I have always told others "You are remembered, but replaceable!
-- TomK(mich) (tjk@cac.net), January 22, 2002.
Hey, GT! Not trying to be disagreeable but thought I'd point out that for many families, the salesclerk job IS the major breadwinner's income. A new super Wally center opened here recently and I would have to say that 95% of the sales floor personnel, this is their families' main income. (This area has seen many and repeat factory closings.) And I've know quite a few single-parent families relying on their job in retail.Elizabeth, I would e-mail Worm's Way and let them know everything you told us. Or better yet, copy your post along with a link to this thread. I'm sure upper management would wnat to know how their customers are being treated and that it is resulting in negative advertisement for their company.
-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 22, 2002.
Why should they bust their hump everyday? One, because they have pride and want to do a good job,second, because that is what they are getting paid to do and they obviously agreed to or they would not have been hired. NO company OWES anyone anything more than what was promised when they hired you, a dollar two ninety eight and hour and what ever bennies. I don't understand how anyone thinks any more than that is owed to them. How in the WORLD is Kmart supposed to NOT lay people off? They are BANKRUPT. Just as well, Like Elizabeth, I would drop dead before I shopped any of the marts OR target.
-- Laura (lauramleek@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002.
My goodness tracy, are you just going to turn belly up and float to the surface? That is pretty whimpy. Do you want your children to grow up like that? and then what, go on welfare? I don't mean to be awful here but since when does the world owe you anything? You have to go out and work for it. OK, so you get kicked in the teeth, so what? PIck yourself up, show some backbone(and show your kids you have some!)and try again. K Mart is not the only place in town. Try some night classes if you can. I know that is not possible for everyone but you might be able to aim higher if you do. Just a thought. Whatever you do, don't pass along this "roll over on your back and paint a sign on that says kick me" to your kids. They deserve better that that! LQ
-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), January 22, 2002.
Thats why after damn near 20 years with the same emloyer, working "casual" (unpaid) overtime of at least 10 to 15 hrs a pay period, "volunteering" for the most undesirable shifts and assignments because the boss knew my standards of quality, dedication, loyalty, work ethic and all round "company man" who wouldn't let him down, I opted to retire at 41 after being walked out. Of course I keep an active portfolio based on the stock of my former employer.
-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002.
I just want to say one small thing, I work at Lowe's and they are just a different version of Wal-mart, Kmart etc. Most of the people I work with work full time and then some and it is their livelihood (sp?). Many are single parents and so on. I know that the attitude in these stores of the salespeople can be less than perfect, but most of these stores are grossly understaffed and you will have one person many times covering more than one department by themselves. These are large areas for one person to cover and give outstanding customer service. Granted this does not in any way excuse crappy attitudes to the customers, but put yourself in their shoes, these are the hourly people that are continuously told by the "corporate fat cats" that sorry we don't have enough payroll budget to hire more people. Or, sorry you are the only person covering these two depts. tonite, I don't have time to let you do your weekly training.(So they are unknowledgeable because they are told, we don't have time to train you. So to make a long story short, if the corporate shirts would treat their employees with a little respect or even some consideration, their would probably be a lot more company loyalty going on in these big box retail stores. OK so I rambled a bit. Thanks for listening. Kim :-D
-- Kim in Indiana (kwcountrygirl@aol.com), January 22, 2002.
Bren- I intend to do exactly that, BUT, I have been interested for awhile in selling Can O'Worms vermicomposting bins, which Worm's Way also carries. Speaking of customer service, I have emailed the manufacturer 3 times, and FINALLY had a response yesterday, referring me to their US distributor. I emailed the distributor yesterday and am still awaiting THEIR response. I want to wait until I know whether I will be selling them in competition with Worm's Way- if so I want to point out to WW management that one of the reasons I have undertaken to do so is that I think THEIR price is exhorbitant, and a rip off to the consumer. I want to be able to offer the bins, and the worms, at a reasonable price so that people can actually afford to buy and use them. And, I want WW management to know that they will have some competition, at least for sales of vermicomposting supplies. And man, if I had a product to sell, and people were sending me emails, I would certainly respond on the first contact, and not wait till the third time!!!!
-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 22, 2002.
My goodness, once again I did not present myself right. Work ethics is exactly what I taught my children. What I am saying is that employers do not respect that anymore. PERIOD. Employees are dispensible, just like their garbage. I am not going to get into a flame war here. It is the facts. People devote 30 or 40 years to an employer to be let go. It happens all the time.Why in the world would I encourage my children to go out, work hard for someone else. I will encourage them to work for themselves. How many people have to give their lives to an employer before they realize it was all in vain? If you do that they are realying on other peoples business desicions. I would encourage my children to make their own.
-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), January 22, 2002.
I don't think corporations have ever been loyal, they just make it seem that way when you're needed. You can't blame the corporations for dictating peoples lives. You volunteer for that when you work for someone else.You can still have good work ethics without 'job loyalty'. Always do your best but do the best for yourself also and keep focused on your own bottom line. It's always your time not 'company time'.
You can't hold Kmart responsible for supporting their employees. If you had employees and business was down or worse in bankruptcy, you'd have to let people go too.
-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), January 22, 2002.
Kim- you're just egging me on!!! I was in Lowe's today, trying to get the stuff I now refuse to go to Worm's Way for. I approached one woman in the garden center to ask about a submersible pump. She was busy moving merchandise and told me that she did not know where the pumps were. I then stood around for awhile near another female employee who was so busy talking to a male employee that she twice ignored my efforts to get her attention. I gave up and went to find the store manager, who was so busy on the phone that I had to wait for 15 minutes before I could speak with him. When I did, and told him my sad story, he called the female employee and told her to help me. He told me if I needed anything to come see him- duh, what did he think I was doing? If I ran the world, or at least his corner of it, I would drag myself away from the phone and tend to some CUSTOMER SERVICE first, then spend some time training my employees to do their job without having to be told. In truth, the girl did eventually find me a pump, but the whole ordeal took 35 minutes and left me feeling pissed off. And the only reason I waited was that I had already been to the other big box home store, and the big box pet shop, and was running out of places to shop! But you know what this makes me realize- it is MY attitude that makes me the highest paid technician in my field in the WORLD- I get hired when the producer/designer/or account rep needs to know that the job will get done, properly, on the first try. Very little room for error when you work on live events with huge audiences. And Tracy, maybe a reason to instill a work ethic in your kids is so that they don't end up being like the rest of the useless slugs working at fast-food joints and big box stores. (I am NOT saying that everyone who works at those places is a slug, but I am saying that for those employees who put forth the effort, there are a lot of better employment options to be had).
-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 22, 2002.
hope I don't come off sounding too self-righteous. Happens sometimes when I write in a hurry. Point is, you can't go wrong by teaching your kids to excel at whatever they choose to do.
-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 22, 2002.
Most all large corporations and bureaucracies have the common pattern of vastly overpaying their CEO's and big shots and vastly underpaying the people that do most of the work out on the front line. And then the customers wonder why service is so gawdawful bad.
-- fred (fred@mddc.com), January 22, 2002.
You are absolutely right Elizabeth. There are a lot of slugs working at these places. Most of them have slithered their way into management to get out of actually having to do the "work". I have been with Lowe's for over 8 years and am working on the "being my own boss" thing. As a matter of fact DH and I are going on a property scouting vacation in April. WOOOOOHOOOOO. I can't wait until I don't have to work for them any more. Sorry you had such a bad experience. It always makes me feel ashamed when I hear the "bad customer services" horror stories. I don't work on the sales floor, I work in the receiving department. But when I do have to venture out onto the sales floor I ALWAYS treat people the way I want to be treated when I go into a store to shop. To bad not all of us are like that. I too hate the "it's in aisle 49" <<>>>>, I always take the customer to the product, because for heavens sake I still get lost in this huge store. There was even a day when I was furiously racing to the restroom and a customer stopped me in front of the carpet cutting machine. I explained that I would be happy to help them if they could wait for just a couple of minutes because my bladder wouldn't, they said okay ( as if to say yeah right) but as soon as I came out I went right back to help them, they were so gratefull. That makes my day when I can make someone happy, that is why I do it. Kim
-- Kim in Indiana (kwcountrygirl@aol.com), January 22, 2002.
OK last post I promise, well maybee. Look at what you all posted, poor costumer service, etc. Why??????? Because people dont have the job security they once had.... If you are being paid $5,15 an hour anf know you can be replaced tommorrow, why would you try? What incentive do you have? Again, people work for 20, 30, 40 years just to be "downsized." AT&T, KMart, what is next, it happens everyday. That is why the unemployment rate is up. Send the jobs to Mexico, we can pat them $3.00 a day, yahoo. Think about it people. What are we teaching are kids? I will not teach mine to get burned as bad as I did, I will teach them how to be self sufficient.
-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), January 22, 2002.
Tracy,Teaching your children a work ethic is something an ethical person would want to teach their children, loyalty to a company NO. That doesn't mean go ahead quit your job because someone burned or PO'd you. Simply give two weeks notice with a different job in hand. Commiting to a compaany from death to retirement is not a practical attitude to have in this day and age.
An example of a practical attitude: My sister was a key figure in mid-management for a major publicly held company. She put 18-20hr days in for several months to get a project created and completed. She did this because she want to move up the corporate ladder. When this was accomplished they rewarded her with promoting a male who had little or knowledge about this well publicized project to VP. She rewarded them right back!
She then put to use all her work experiences and landed a job as ceo of a company owned by two men. She might not make as much money although I'm sure it's at least 5x this plant rats gross. DOGGONE, she is respected and appreciated which means a great deal to her!!!! I know she doesn't regret having a strong work ethic!
That project has since met a fast descent back down in quality and is flaundering!! Moral of the story.....You get what you give!
-- Katie in WI (4gnaturegirl@chibardun.net), January 22, 2002.
I would have to agree with tracy on many of her thoughts. Recently my sister-in-law who works for a production company had a small accident which was caused by the maintenance people who was working on her conveyor line. The line was down, but she was trying to do her job by taking advantage of the situation and trying to get ahead so she wouldn't have to put in overtime to make up for the down time. And it wasn't just her, it was everybody on that line, and it was something that they do anytime the line is down. But without warning the maintenance people turned the conveyor on and her hand was smashed between two boxes.Instead of her supervisor being written up for allowing everybody to continue working on the downed line. She was written up as if it was her fault and told she could be terminated the next time.
She has been a faithful employee for the last 6 years without any incidents. Now she is so mad at them she wants to quit, but afraid to with the way the economy is becoming.
-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), January 22, 2002.
Tracy, I still don't get it. If the prospect of being an expendable $5.15/hour employee is unappealing, why be that employee? Go find another, better job with a better employer, making the kind of money that you want to make (speaking rhetorically here, I know that you personally don't want to work for anyone else). I think the reality is that when a person accepts an hourly job, without a contract, there is no reasonable expectation that he/she will NOT be laid off, especially in times of economic downturn for the company. Teach your kids to be the manager, or the CEO who doesn't get laid off, LOL. And even with a contract there are no guarantees. I have lost TONS of work since 9-11, some of which O held under contract. Big Deal. The producers don't have the money, there is no show, there's no work for me, and that's how it goes. I am sure disappointed, but I don't feel as if any corporation or producer or other employer owes me anything. Hmm. be nice if they did, though.
-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 22, 2002.
It's not because of the pay it is the possibly the result of never being encouraged by parents to strive for excellence(read no goals), lack of respect by mangement(read double standards) or personal problems(read they are lonely people with a lackluster personal life).Your job for most people is just that. It is a means to attain goals that involve needing money.
-- Katie (4gnaturegirl@chibardun.net), January 22, 2002.
Bren, thank you for bringing that up, although when factories close, don't they have to provide job training? The other thing you said, that many factories were closing in your area, well, that could be a warning to move somewhere else for a better job (maybe live with relatives for a while) instead of settling for a minimum wage retail job. I would not stick around if I could see the local economy tanking all about my ears....Teachers are in real short supply in many areas, so are nurses (and some places are even footing tuition if you teach/nurse in their area for 2-3 years), so there are good-paying jobs available if people want to learn new skills. Lots of places are also short of police officers, too.
Tracy, I don't know if you meant to do so, but it sounded in your last post that if people were paid better they'd work better? I don't believe it. People usually do not put years in at minimum wage jobs, unless they do not want to take the initiative and learn new skills.
I know people who deliberately take minimum wage jobs so they have little responsibility, or can do other things (like read a book or do homework) during downtime, or they like the flexible hours because they have children. Most jobs that pay good money do not have those attributes, so you have to take the good with the bad.
-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 22, 2002.
How many Mom and Pop businesses have the big box stores destroyed? The English, the French, the Axis, the Japaneese, the Communist have not been able to affect us. The big box stores are allmost through, its time for their history to stop being recorded through their non existance.
-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 22, 2002.
GT, yes, they are giving job training but I don't know if that was available several years ago when the first really big shut-down occured. Most of the people affected by these shut-downs come from 4 generations or more living in this county. Their relatives are already here and are in the same boat. Many do leave the area but for others, they just can't leave their "home". Job training doesn't do much good if there are no jobs. The jobs available at Wal-mart were seen in this county as a salvation for many. These jobs were actually seen as a step UP with higher wages and benefits. Wal-mart is now this county's largest private employer. Your suggestions are great just not applicable for most people in this area.
-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 22, 2002.
Bren, I guess if it were a choice between supporting my family and leaving someplace that had been "home" (relatives and all), I would opt to support my family, and if that means moving, well, that's it. I can always write, or call, or email, so it's not like I would have no contact with family back home.Moving can be seen as a tragedy or a great adventure. And just because you move now doesn't necessarily mean you can't ever come back, if you really wanted to (and you might not want to come back, once you've moved). In other words, a job loss now could be the opportunity of a lifetime in disguise, but because of the attitudes of the people you were mentioning, they'll never know, will they?
There are lots worse things in life than losing a job. There are lots worse things than having to move from one place to another.
Do I feel sorry for people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own? Yes. Do I feel sorry for people who then refuse to face reality and either choose not to learn new skills on their own or refuse to look for opportunities elsewhere? Not very.
-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 23, 2002.
GT,I couldn't agrre with you more. When I was first RIF'd, I tried diligently to secure employement in the engineering field. When it became evident that wouldn't happen without relocation, i evaluated the multiple streams of income potential at my disposal. Six months later, between investments, small scale agronomics utilizing two gardens and my learned skills from my career, I can freelance a variety of skills and gross two to three times what my salary was. Someday I may go back to the engineering field of my proficiancy, but only out of a need for excitement or change of pace. My full energies will now be directed toward my home place and freelance ventures. Should make for an enjoyable early semi- retirement.
-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.
Life is an adventure with no guarantees. I can not imagine anyone thinking that the work ethic has anything to do with pay scales or the employer. I was raised, as were my parents before me and my children and now my grandchildren, to do the job I was paid to do with the best of my ability.If I start my own business and end up hiring people, I would pay them as well as I could and provide the best benefits I could and expect them to do their jobs. Change is hard; but it is here. Having a bad attitude about the employers, the company or whatever is very self defeating.
It has been said that we should be prepared to actually be retrained several times in our lives now. There is no such thing as a life time job any more and we need to adapt to that or suffer the consequences. Crying and kicking and screaming and wasting a lot of energy on anger will not change what is. Adaptable people succeed and thrive, those that are not lose. Facts of modern life.
-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.
Loved your post Elizabeth. The point in teaching our children a work ethic is to earn their keep, and to point out all along the way that flipping the burgers is fine for those who can only do that, but owning the burgers is always what you shoot for. Kmart filing for bankruptcy is just another sign economic times, Enron folding is just another sign of the politically corrupt times. Think both republican and democrates alike should give back all those campaign contributions to the workers retirement programs! Vicki
-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.
Well said, Diane!
-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.
In the first 20 years or so of the 20th century, 80% of the people of this country worked for themselves. Now only 20% do. After WWII, all of our education, starting from high school, was focussed on turning out employees -- there certainly was never much said in my high school days about starting your own business. It was all about Yes, if you like to do X or Y, you can get a job working for someone else as X or Y, you can work for this kind of business or that kind of factory. Our whole education is geared toward making employees. And gumption, dignity and pide have nothing to do with being an employee.
-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), January 23, 2002.
Snoozy hit the nail on the head. The school system wants to churn out a "workforce" and "taxpayers"- those are quotes from our district. The community leaders, usu. bureaucrats, local politicians, and business heads engineer this. There is very little education or encouragement to work for yourself, only to "get a good job" so you can consume, not build assets. As we all know, consuming is rewarded and asset accumulation increasingly penalized. Buying houses, cars, stereos, and the like on credit enslaves you to the system and guarantees you will work and pay taxes so the bureaucrats can repeat the cycle with your children and keep their own comfy little fiefdoms. Lose your job? Go back to the school system for re-training, see the beauty of it? The banks own everything and you work for them. I wish I knew this stuff 3
-- K.Grable (grable@penn.com), January 23, 2002.
Some good books (but you have to wade through a LOT of filler) that address the issue of what schools are really training you for are the Rich Dad, Poor Dad books by Robert Kiyosaki. Get them from your library or pick them up used.
-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 23, 2002.
Maybe I look at things a little differently than most here but I'll share my opinion, nonetheless. If you work for someone else and they pay you at the end of the week, you're even. That's the bargain you made. You traded one commodity (your time and efforts) for another (money). Each of these things are, except in rare cases, fungible commodities. You can sell yours elsewhere, they can buy different than yours with no appreciable differnce to either of you. If that's all you want, so be it.If you choose to be an employee but want more, it's up to you to make yourself less dispensable. Learn additional skills to add value to yourself as an employee. Learn how to do more than one job where you work. Develop better ways of doing things. Save the company money and time. If you're lucky enough to be working in a non-union environment you'll be rewarded. You'll be paid more because you made yourself worth more. You'll be the one offered the overtime in any department, because you learned all the jobs. In lean times, you'll be the last one laid off for the very same very reason.
Teach your children a work ethic because it's the right thing to do. Teach them how to make themselves more valuable as employees if they choose to be employees because it's the smart thing for them to do.
-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 23, 2002.
With my good work-ethic, if I get downsized I know my current supervisors and co-workers would provide me with an excellent reference. When I retired from the Navy I never thought that I would work for anyone I knew. Turns out I did. A former division officer was a manager of a company I had applied with. Even after 6 years he remembered me and knew my work-ethic. When I left that company he gave me an excellent reference which helped me get my current position. If I didn't have a good work-ethic who knows where I would be today. You never know when someone from your past will enter your life so you should try to give a good impression with everyone you meet.
-- mike (uyk7@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.
Just had to add this: "That's not my job". How many times have you guys heard that one? Just because it, whatever "it" may be, from doing filing or mopping the floor, is not in the job description, most people won't take the intiative and just do "it".My, my, and folks want to know how to survive in today's economy. I have survived five layoffs where I work because whatever the other person who was laid off was doing, I am now doing. Yep, and for no more money either. But I have a job. I started out with one type of job description and now could add at least three more pages to my description. I think it comes under: "other duties as assigned". Sure it sucks and sure I didn't agree to do all those other tasks, but our company is hurting, people are getting laid off right and left, and those of us who are left had best buck up and accept the extra responsibility or there won't be a place to work at all. Do I like it? No. Will I keep doing it? Yes, until I find something better. Is it the same the world over right now? Pretty much. I was taught to do the best job you can do, no matter what. If I agreed to take on a job, then I should do it to the best of my ability, no matter what the pay, hours, or who the @@@&*** was for my boss. If I didn't like it, I could leave. There is no job security now nor corporate loyalty to employees. The days of 40 years and a gold watch are OVER! - hello - where have you been during the last twenty years? The average worker will have at least five jobs in their working lifetime and will be re-trained at least twice. Me, I started in law and ended up in quality and may move into the medical field. But where ever I end up, I will do an excellent job as long as I hold the job. That is the way I was taught and that is why I have kept the job I have. Gotta have a little gumption to keep a job nowdays. So the next time you hear someone say "That's not my job", keep in mind that they may be right - they may get laid off and so fulfill their own prophesy. There is no one, not even the President of the USA, who is indispensable. And there's always someone waiting to take your job. Someone, who will do a little more, for a little less, cause the economy dictates it. It should not matter whether you're paid minimum wage or not - a good attitude and work ethic should prevail whether you work at KMart or you are the President of ABC Corp.
-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), January 23, 2002.
WORK ETHIC: Giving a full day's work for a full day's pay.Whether or not the pay is equal to what you think your worth or not. Unemployment is over 13% here, however, the really good workers are getting back into the workforce hundreds of times faster than the slackers. One young lady that was recently cut loose from K-Mart landed a Administrative assistance position because K-Mart gave her a glowing reccomendation.
My granddad always said "Do the job, Take the pay, Get more Education, Take more pay" Seemed like good advice back then might be good advice now.
-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.
Not My Job: Keep in mind that in some areas, if you perform a job that isn't in your job description then you could be fired. By performing a job outside of your scope you may be infringing upon someone else's livlihood. This really comes into play with the unions.
-- mike (uyk7@hotmail.com), January 24, 2002.
All the above responses re: good work ethic are true to a point, but it all comes down to the bottom line and politics. If you are a long-time employee, you will often be downsized despite being a good employee because they can hire someone younger and cheaper. Sometimes you can escape this fate by schmoozing with the right people but I have seen some excellent workers treated pretty shabbily while lazy ones prospered. This hurts companies in the long run but that's small comfort when you have played "by the rules" and had them used again
-- K.G. (grable@penn.com), January 24, 2002.
Mike, yet another reason why unions have become over time the reason many jobs are going overseas. I'm not saying they didn't do good in the beginning, like bettering working conditions, but when you artificially raise salaries with no corresponding rise in production/level of service, of course people are going to take the most cost-efficient option. Let the market determine wages, and let people take the initiative to better their skills instead of hiding behind unions.
-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 24, 2002.
Hi; I have always been a very hard/smart worker.I always chuckled to myself when I saw slackers hiding behind unions.I know that not all union workers are slackers,but I have seen my share.I believe that unions were needed at one time to protect workers.I thought(until recently)that unions were no longer needed.I know believe that we have come 'full circle' and now we need protection from large companies for economic reasons instead of working conditions.I know that it is all 'the bottom line' but I would be willing to take less stock profits for more 'quality of life'.My skills are technical so I choose to not work for myself (I am a type 'A' person and would end up working 100 hours a week for myself).It is sad and unfair that company loyalty and work effort are not worth much anymore.It will only get worse.
-- Tradesman (Tradesman@fakeaddr.com), January 24, 2002.