O/T American work force............

[Goose]

I'm beginning to absorb a new theory as to why so many American jobs are going overseas. Employers are simply trying to get COMPETENT help. If they can get it at a cheaper price, so much the better.

Recently, after 3 1/2 years, an insurance company I'd worked for for some 10 years emailed me and lured me into coming back to work on a special project that may last six months, maybe longer, adjudicating some past claims. They also hired some temps to do data entry.

Right now, I'm spending an entire day re-doing about a day's work that one of the temps did. Her work is so full of errors, I need to check every entry. This morning, the same gal walked into my office with her cell phone in her hand, said her six month old daughter had chicken pox and asked if it was OK to bring her to work. After I told her, "Not only no, but h*** no", she disappeared for the day.

So, I'm sitting here correcting data entry when I should be adjudicating claims.

My rant for the day.

 

[rrlund]

What you need is some Amish girls working for you. Don't laugh. Last night and a week ago last night,there were documentaries on channel 378 on Direct TV about the Amish. Young Amish girls are doing office work like that in some communities as well as working as waitresses and such. They seem to be well educated and excellent workers.

 

[Goose]

I hear you on that. I live next to a Mennonite community. Some are "old school", some more liberated.

They all have a heck of a work ethic. I painted a pickup for a young man once, and when I was done he wouldn't come and pick it up on a Sunday. All he would have had to have done was write me a check and drive off with the pickup, but he considered that doing business on Sunday.

 

[Anonymous-0]

So who's REALLY to blame here...the incompetent employee, or the human resources person who allegedly screened her, and deemed her fit to do the job?

There ARE competent workers out there...employers just have to NOT hire the incompetent ones, and then pay the competent ones what they're worth. It's a pretty simple procedure, really.

 

[Dave from MN]

The loss of smaller family farms, overindulged kids and parents, allowing failing kids to pass grade levels, basically every darned thing that has been happening in America the last 15 years is causing every "next generation" of workers to be lazy. Even 3 out of the 4 kids I hire for cleanout that have been good for 4 years went waaay downhill, 2 of them even bailed on me with out notice and their parents set the example, now they complain cause their oldest may not pass 12th grade and wont work, youngest is getting busy (yup $ecs)at 13, and both are too ool for the bus. I love my country but we as a nation are making our bed, and we are gonna have to lie in it for many , many years.

 

[Anonymous-0]

"There ARE competent workers out there..."

Let me know where they hang out. I could use some.

This generation of NEA rejects is pathetic. They can't spell, have no idea what proper grammar is and have the work ethic of a bum.

 

[Dick L]

I see you are not an employer in manufacturing.

The last compentent person I hired, starting on a Monday worked three days and stopped showing up without a call. The next week on Friday morning he called and wanted to pick up his check. I told him sure just come to the office. I then ask why he had not shown up or called. He said, Oh I see I was not cut out for that kind of work. This was not a kid and had a good 20 year work record at the same place.
Tuff job it is here, you take plastic parts out of a press lay them on a table to cool and then pack them in a box.

The next three I hired failed to even start. No call just no show. Do all the paper work, file the forms, enter them in the system to print a time card and then no show.

I know I am from Ohio and the lack of jobs here has every one so depressed they just hate to have a job with all there friends out of work.

 

[Anonymous-0]

People don't believe me when I say there is no unemployment, only people that don't want to work. If you think you have it tough in manufacturing where all they have to do is fill a box try construction. Give them a tape measure and watch their heads explode from wondering what all the little marks mean.

I blame the NEA ( No Education Allowed)

 

[Anonymous-0]

I would sure like to know where those competent workers are also. Interviewed 4 individuals last week for a job and all 4 failed the drug test. Even told them in the interview they would be taking the test. 1 was a college grad and 2 were in college. Fired a 26 year old this week because he was nothing but an idiot and of course he didn't care because he stayed at home with his mommy and lets her support him.
I just don't understand why the baby boom generation raised this crap.It's a shame

 

[Anonymous-0]

Simple solution: if they applicant doesn't meet your needs, DON'T HIRE THEM. And if high school graduates can't meet your requirements, raise the minimum amount of education required to qualify for the position.

Competent people ARE out there, if you look in the right places and pay them what they're worth. If you're paying crap wages, you'll get crap employees. And if your hiring standards aren't high enough, even if you pay decent wages you may still get crap employees, but then it's YOUR fault for hiring them and thereby rewarding their incompetence, even if only temporarily.

 

[Anonymous-0]

But he probably stopped in Monday with cash in hand- no bounced checks, no credit card charges. Amish here tend to do cash business also. RN

 

[trucker40]

Good workers already have jobs.They probly make more than you were going to pay the temp.The temp is probly trying to do a job she doesnt know very well.About the only way to get help is train them yourself or pay for experience.

 

[tlak]

You could outsource it to India, and then you wouldn't know what they're talking about either.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Try being in the landscape bis and do that with out Hispanics. years ago i would all most jump out of my chair to hire that young man that walked in like me when i left the farm a filled out my first job app the only thing listed for work exp was my dad and how many years i helped on that farm and when asked about pay you really didn't know.10 years ago those people where out there,now if i have seen one in 5 years id be lucky. And odd as it may be the last (farm boy) i hired started his own company.seems all that's left out there is us old guys, asked lobors BA what was happening and he even said thy were having a hard time finding workers. let me rephrase that there are a lot of workers out there most only remembering one thing pay day was Friday. but how may could remember what time to be at work,that 20 calls on your cell phone during work was not allowed,maybe trying to show up sober and ready to work my be nice,and my be my biggest pev 2006 F350s crew cabs dashes and seats are not for mud covered boots.Bosses don't mind when they walk out and look at $35,000.00 covered in s**T.Most farm pepole take better care of spreaders then some employees do trucks. And for the best part they remind us how fortunate we are that they work for us!!!!!

 

[DickL]

What you are proving is you can type, have an opinion, with no idea of what you are talking about.
Start a Company, hire employees for 30 years and see if you still have the same opinion.

I am only 70 so I will wait around for the opinion in 30 years.

 

[DickL]

What you are proving is you can type, have an opinion, with no idea of what you are talking about.
Start a Company, hire employees for 30 years and see if you still have the same opinion.

I am only 70 so I will wait around for the opinion in 30 years.

 

[jose bagge]

google up "millenia generation" and see what we are having to work with....the current generation is all about lifestyle but totally unwilling to put the work in to afford it; unwilling to put the time in to advance; and unwilling to get dirty or inconvenienced in any way. Nothing is their fault; they have never known accountability. My heart aches for the future of this country.

 

[Spook]

GM took applications here for jobs @14 per hour, had thousands of applicants. Wall Mart had 15,000 apply for 300 jobs here. I do agree on the drug thing, many young people are on things like ritilin, or anti depressants.

 

[rrlund]

Yup,when my boys decided they didn't want to milk cows anymore and wanted to get jobs,I told them to be SURE they said they had milked cows with me when they applied for a job.

 

[jim wise]

i have a body shop, its depressing. cant work kids sick, has an appointment, im commision ill try and come in at eight. the man who trained me would have fired him on the spot for this crap. my favorite line, well well finish tomarrow jim

 

[kyplowboy]

Temps are a trip to work with for the most part. I worked in a factory one time as a temp. After 6 weeks I was top man on the pole in my department. I started training 6 guys in 3 weeks for one job one time. Finaly got a good one, he worked 3 weeks and got called up in the guard.

Here at the water factory we had some general painting and cleaning we could not get caught up on. I tried to get the bosses to get some college interns for the summer. They went with temps. First one came back from lunch the first day unable to walk well and stinking of pot. Second one was totaly unable to operate a weedeater. The 3rd was by far the best. I came in one night and every one was tore up because our temp had gone to the hospital. He was painting the trim around a 12' door and the cherry picker dropped him. A hose came off the up and down cylinder. I called BULL CHIT! Went out and there was bout 10 gallons of oil on the ground, paint was everywhere, my boss was about to cry thinking we were going to get in a law suit, and a 1/2" hose was hang'n loose. I got to looking IT WAS THE DOWN PRESURE HOSE THAT WAS LOOSE. Went to the tool box and sure nuff, there was a cresent wrench and a pair of channel locks covered in hydrolic fluid! We pulled the tape out of the security camera, good ol' boy went out tryed to cut the line with a knife, took it loose, pumped out all the oil, tossed paint every where, went back in the shop. Last I heard the temp company still had charges pressed against him.
You just can't find good help anymore.
Dave

 

[kyplowboy]

Well said. Every so often I hear people talking about a brother or son who just can't find a job, been looking for a year, there just ain't no jobs out there. I give every one my phone number and tell them to have this person call me I could find something for them to do. Don't tell them I have some locust post to packed out of the woods, post holes to dug, barn roof to be painted, ect, ect. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PERSON CALL ME!!! They ain't look'n too hard or just ain't hungry yet.

Dave

 

[Anonymous-0]

They're probably paying you more than the temps, too. You get what you ask, er, pay for. Where I work they got rid of the "high" paid jobs because temps are cheaper. They got rid of all the stock people and use temps. Other night (I work nights), I called stock for a simple stock item, had to tell them what it was because it had no stock number, they can only look up items by computer, and told them which warehouse it was in. All he said was "where is that?" The kicker is I can't go myself to get it because I'm locked out. Only the temps have clearance.
Hey, everybody should do their job but there's a reason they're called temps. Thats the way they want it. Low pay and the highest quality worker. "What do you mean you're quitting for more money?!" You can buy a man's employment but you have to earn his loyalty.

 

[Anonymous-0]

DickL , my thoughts exactly! When it comes to business , lots of people have all the answers. They tell us business owners all we are doing wrong , and the simple fixes. Fact is , it doesn't matter how smart or ambitious a person is , if they've never been in business , they DON'T HAVE A CLUE! If the truth be known , successfull business owners put in many many hours. An unbelievable amount of money flows through the business. After all expences(including employee's) are paid , the business owner HOPES to make a little money.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I wish all you guys would call your states education department with your thoughts! As an Ag teacher I am seeing very few kids these days because they are being pushed into college instead of learning a trade and entering the workforce. Not everyone is cut out for a 4 year degree. In fact majority dont use the 4 year degree when they get out. Some people- guidance councelers and the higher ups in education- dont see the value of a trade- No child left behind is the biggest pile of $#it there ever has been!

 

[utupuller]

This will stir up the pot. I will start with saying I just turned 31, married with 4 kids oldest is 7. 7 years ago I started working with pigs. Until a year ago I make enough to support my family not much more. So, my wife had to take part time job in the evening so I could retire my 89 1 ton ( 460 engine) and pay for a vehicle and gas. The work ethic are in a some younger people.

Look at role models you have 2 parents that work so kids are in daycare being raised by someone else, because mom and dad are chasing the the almighty dollar. They sat in front of the tv with bevis and butthead , sponge bob, simpsons and so one. At school the have old teachers that are not up with the real world, just getting there pay checks because the have the union saying no you have to keep them. School counselor's that tell kids they need a 4 year degree to be able to get a job, and trade school??? no no no that is for the dumb kids that are to lazy to go to college. When trade school you can learn a good trade and always have a good choice of jobs. College the kids go so far into debt for the next 20 to 30 years for what. They need to start out at the top just to pay for everything.

Who knows maybe the baby boomers wanted to think of there kids as kids, not just as labor on the family farm. Maybe that is why there kids are a little less ambitious than those who had to work on the farm.

Good fix is let the government help those who need it when they are out of work. After a month of hand outs quit, there is no reason someone could not find a job it that amount of time.

Lend a helping hand to pick someone up not hold them up.

 

[Goose]

I'm not down on temps. I've done a few temp gigs myself when necessary. Had fun and met some interesting people and worthwhile contacts.

This particular temp's work is full of typos, wrong data entered in the right cell, right data entered in the wrong cell, etc. Of this bunch, the best temps we have are several ladies, middle-aged or older. They pay attention to detail, focus on doing the job right, and don't have a freakin' cell phone glued to their ear all day.