Boy have things changed from the way people have to look for a job, are hired today and to how the workplace is! Obviously years ago, the Sunday paper ruled when looking for a job! I remember going to some cheap restaurant for a $3.99 full breakfast and circling the ads with a pen. Today, a person had better know how to use a computer and fill-out an online Application! Heck, The State Unemployment Office didn't have computers for job seekers. A board with 3 x 5 Index Cards showing jobs, fill out an "interested" type piece of paper, take to the clerk at the counter, or drop in a box, and wait to be called to check out the jobs you were interested in. I really remember, back then, I was offered a job right after the Manager read my application and talked to me for a few minutes........and this was without a resume! I even remember one job interview that I didn't even get the interview! The company liked the person before me so much, that person was hired immediately. There was only one opening and they got it! Didn't make me happy that I didn't at least get an interview, but that's the way it was. As far as today's workplace...........not nearly as strict as years ago! I remember having to go into a manager's office, when he/she wasn't in there, and make a phone call during a break. Or, had to use the payphone that was in the Break Room. With today's cell phones, and so many employee's carrying them, no more waiting for someone to get off of the payphone in the Break Room or sneaking into a manager's office to use his/hers. And, people ordering Christmas gifts on their desk computer, and young employee's not caring if anyone sees them doing it. Shocking, isn't it???? And, on top of that, salaried employee's coming and going whenever. Come in late, no big deal. Go home early, no big deal either. But, then again, some employers will put up with this behavior while others definitely won't. What do you think? How was your "workplace ethics"? Mine, well, let's say this, my wife's is much, much better!! I made the phone calls and definitely used my office computer for other things (buying gifts, checking ESPN for scores and playing online games. Got my job done, but.......
Yes, it's shocking alright. I think that today's workers... well, there's just no pride in workmanship, or in service if it's a service type of job. It seems that "hey man, let's get this work day over so I can go play" takes higher priority than taking care of your customers, clients, or patients, etc. Very sad to me. I had to trudge into places that were hiring... both with help wanted ads, and sometimes without.. just to get an application in. How I would have loved to be able to fill out an application online... that would have been so much less tense for someone like me! My answer is from "back when" there *were* no computers on our desks, so it wasn't an issue of how to use them... I remember being thrilled when my one boss allowed the workers to have radios... sure made the day better, and helped morale and production.
There was a report on tv the other day, talking about cell phone use at work and how employees are talking on them during working hours. Breaks and lunch is one thing, but other times is different. It said that production was down due to it. I do remember, on my last job, the warehouseman would go in the back of the warehouse and call/talk to his wife. There were times that I went in the warehouse and seen him back there with his cell phone to his ear. He would just look at me and continue talking. He was in his mid 50's. I didn't say anything b/c I had my own vices at work. It didn't bother me at all to go to a company and fill out an app and, if asked, give them a resume. Only thing was, I'd show up for an interview in a dress shirt, tie, slacks and dress shoes. That's just the way I'd dress for an interview, but the interviewer looked at me and would say "you do know that this in an hourly job and you don't wear clothes like this?" I'd acknowledge that, but said "this is just the way I dress for an interview." My wife's boss acts like she owns the company. She is salary and gets to work an hour or so after her start time and many times leaves an hour or so before she's suppose to. My last boss (Director/Supervisor of Materials Dept) actually went to the Driving Range (golf) for an hour or so in the morning after getting to work. How do I know that, he took me one time! I was his Assistant and he fully trusted me to handle any Department problems when he was gone. He worked part-time as an Instructor at a local college and, for a couple of days during the week, would leave the office at 2PM. His class didn't start until 7PM! He was salary and his hours were suppose to be 7AM to 3:30PM. A maintenance man one time came into my office and asked where he was. I said "he left for the day" and the guy said "sure wish I had his hours". He was 51. So, when e Baby Boomers and older talk about how bad the work ethics are with today's young folks, I do indeed have to laugh b/c back in mid 2000's I was doing non-company stuff in my 50's!
The world has undergone a "technocratic" revolution resulting from a relatively few individuals having unwavering belief in their own technical abilities. Doubtful that Gates, Jobs, Wozniak, and such, foresaw the coming extent of the "revolution" to be, nor did they realize back then that more billionaires would be created in a few decades time than had been ever before. IOW, they likely did not see themselves becoming fabulously wealthy as a result of their "basement" efforts. Terminology has changed as part of it. Folks are no longer "Personnel", guided in their jobs by "Personnel Managers". Instead, they are "Associates", if in the Services Industry, hired by "Human Resources Managers". Only the "Manager" part has remained unchanged! The "Boss" is still the boss! Frank
I have very good work place ethics. I will have to say that I have come to realize one reason I do: I can't get by with anything. If someone doesn't do it and I don't, it will be my fault. Everything is my fault. This line of thinking can drive me crazy. And it's the truth. I've never had an easy job. I've had jobs on my feet and at 56 it's getting harder and harder. A couple of my first jobs were doing dishes, working in a canary. Don't get me started on the present work place. Cell phone abuse is rampant. Unethical co-workers. Liars. People who are delusional. Corporate sociopaths. I need to get out of my job on a full time basis ASAP. If I can just get my home thing straightened out.
@Kitty Carmel It sounds as though the only place you are obtaining any support is from within yourself. Are you completely alone, that you must continue to strive under unacceptable conditions? Wish there were something beyond only moral support which we could offer as help. Frank
I have experienced the classified ads in the Sunday paper. That's the reason why I buy newspaper every Sunday just to look at the job openings. Even when I already got a job, it has been my habit to check the classified ads for vacancies that I qualify and I regularly send letters of application. Our college professor had taught us that habit as a way of improving our writing skills and our verbal skills in interviews. I don't know how they do it now but I heard about the job fairs being conducted by big companies. There's also the wanted ad in social media that the younger generation is lucky for they don't have to buy a newspaper. And with the application, they can just send it via email, so easy and the follow ups could be done via the phone - text or call. Well, we are undergoing a paradigm shift and you will be left behind if you don't keep yourself updated.
From what I understand, a lot of companies today are skipping the "ad" thing in a Sunday newspaper. The will go to Indeed.com,, Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and others. It does cost a business to list with these online sites, but they feel like they get more qualified applicants than what the Sunday newspaper would give them. And, all of the jobs available at the local State Unemployment Office are online now as well. Thing is, today, the old computer has taken over doing so, so, so many things. I'd really hate to be a person that doesn't like, or even hates, using a computer! Like I said in my original post, my wife is much more "work ethical" than I ever was. She was a manager at one job and her staff found out, fairly quickly, just how "easy going/laid-back" she was. I call it being a "pushover". If one of her staff didn't finish something, that was suppose to be finished by the end of the day, she would finish it...........and not say a word to the person. We both know, and have talked about it, that she simply doesn't make a good manager or supervisor. She hasn't even applied for that type of job (manager or supervisor), even though she definitely has the experience for the position. As for me, from being in the military, and knowing what discipline/strictness is, I could have been a manager or supervisor. "Don't do the job right, or on time, you'll hear from me!" Of course today, that attitude may not make it with some owners/Presidents of companies.
@Cody Fousnaugh "Don't do the job right, or on time, you'll hear from me!" Of course today, that attitude may not make it with some owners/Presidents of companies." With today's enforced political correctness, the discipline/strictness to which you refer is likely a "rights violation". More fodder for an ever-increasing base of litigious endeavors.