What is wrong with middle aged people?

[Looking4new]

I was an employer in California, so ... of course ... you could not terminate anyone. If you did, you would get sued for wrongful termination. So we had to do progressive discipline, documenting all the misdeeds, doing counseling sessions, etc. The finally you could drop the hammer. OK rant over.

We have the same BS up here. There is a guy that works where I work that has done enough damage to equipment over the years that we could almost buy another tank trailer with what we've shelled out in repairs over his carelessness. He has been here for about 20 years, almost always late getting to the customer. He is on a first name basis with many tow truck drivers, they've pulled him out of so many ditches. The company can't fire him. Gotta give him a 'warning'.
I will just bet that if I did as much damage and cost the company as much as he has I would be gone in a New York minute.

 

[Dftodd]

That's the difference you didnt text them.

**** who knows maybe the dude was in the hospital because he bit his tongue so bad he couldn't talk.

Back when that happened texting wasn't an option. It was the bag phone era

 

[Shaneard]

I work full time, I'm a machinist, been here 23+ years. I run a 3 axis milling machine and do all our welding. We're a small shop, me and one other guy out here in the shop. My wife and I also own a store, she runs it. I open the store every morning before coming to the shop and work there every morning and Saturdays. When I work there I have so many people in so many fields asking me if I know anyone who needs a job. One guy told me about a year ago "you know what I've found, everyone who wants to work already has a job". <---That is the truth right there. A few weeks ago he said a guy came by for an interview, younger, and after the interview the guy ask him did he get paid for the interview? That made me laugh!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Best time to find a new job, is when you already have a job....

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I was on a project that was coming to an end, so for my loyalty for staying to the end, i was given a layoff notice, via VOICEMAIL. Thing is I already had a new job lined up within the same company, they still gave me the layoff notice. I keep a copy of the voicemail as a reminder of their ineptness. I left them 1.5 yrs ago, too many young inexperienced clueless managers. This is a large national company. They weren't winning bids for new work, so last yr they just bought a couple smaller, successful companies, so they can ruin them.

 

[YLee Kioti]

This culture begin many decades ago folks.

We had our 'burning platform' speech from our new CEO back in 92 or so.
Survived two rounds of lay offs. We were told we will treat everyone with dignity. Then later on engineers and other professionals were tapped on the shoulder by security and told to leave their lunch bag and they would get them later. Dignity , ha ah yeah sure.

During that speech back then, our union steward asked about loyalty. CEO told us, if I wanted loyalty I'd get a dog. Pretty much set up the tone and culture to this present day.

We've had numerous people retire or forced to resign or quit because someone overheard a joke or comment and was offended. No questions asked, one complaint and you were out period. Today the electricians and I&C are catered and coddled. Please take your work package and go get work start so we can perform these activities. Social media dominates the young ones. Those my age still working want to get the job done.

If it were not for the NRC no telling how bad it would really get.

I quit contracting three years after retirement. The work culture is so PC that it's like walking around the living dead.
Will the pendulum ever swing back to normal? From what I see nationally, don't think so.

 

[Looking4new]

The work culture is so PC that it's like walking around the living dead.
Will the pendulum ever swing back to normal? From what I see nationally, don't think so.

PC (politically correct) is for people that don't have balls enough to say what they are thinking. A whole generation of ball less people.

 

[shooterdon]

There are good people and bad. good employees and bad, good companies and bad.

Being with a bad company, does not justify being a bad employee or person. Find somewhere else to work and get out. You cannot soar with eagles if you flock with turkeys.

I know a guy who was released because he got to be too expensive to keep. He was 62 and had done very well for the company and himself along the way. They could hire two "good" people for what they were paying him. It happens, even in "good" companies. He had no animosity over it...understood the economics of it and they treated him fairly throughout the process.

 

[wagne223]

PC (politically correct) is for people that don't have balls enough to say what they are thinking. A whole generation of ball less people.

I dont think it is about balls. Saying what you think, or just saying "good morning ma'am" can come with major civil and possibly criminal consequences, depending on who you say it to.

 

[k0ua]

I've had it done to me. Hey I need to see you in my office to discuss one of your dealers that's not doing right. Be sure to bring your computer. Then a guy in Detroit tells me I'm laid off over speaker phone. Oh by the way, you cant drive your company car, so call someone to get a ride. I was low in seniority and alot of people got the same notice that day.


My mentality changed then. I dont owe them a darn thing. I do earn my pay, but I dont owe my employer a thing. I do them a favor being a good employee. I haven't quit showing up on time ready to work, but I have had raises canceled or benefits decreased due to budget problems. I have 10 years here, if they decide to end our relationship then it would be a hardship to me. But I can go get another job and they can find another employee. If they dont care about me I dont care about them.

After seeing My large fortune 500 company do exactly that: Kill people without a moments notice many times, including doing it to me I tend to agree. You owe employers NOTHING. I managed to get another job with the same company in another state pretty quickly.. Got killed again by a phone call from a distant state. And believe it or not got another job with them in a few months doing something different. When I got fed up with that. I called the boss and told, him I was done. Of course they wanted me out quick. They did give me a ride home in my company car though!

So hired 3 times, fired twice, and quite once. I am done with them, and more or less retired now, I still sell a little health insurance, so working for myself there. Happier too!