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Post by Adam on May 2, 2013 17:26:54 GMT -5
I was going to post this in the "why other countries hate America" thread, but I didn't want to derail that topic. This is one of the things this American hates about America.
A couple years ago, a customer at my girlfriend's work came in to do the usual bank transaction(s), he was originally from England and works on a cruise ship. Since we had just gotten back from our cruise trip, she complimented the person on how incredibly nice the workers on cruise ships are and how much of a great job they do. Then she commented on how you hardly see anybody from America working on a cruise. He replied with, "I hate to say it...but you Americans just don't want to work."
As of now I feel like that statement is mostly true in my experience, especially in the job I have right now. Just yesterday I actually had to get up and walk away from the coworkers that I have lunch with because the whining and bitching was more than I could tolerate. It seems that we want to make good money, but we're not willing to work real hard for it. Any extra work that may need to be done here and there...better get extra pay for it! Have to stay an extra 10 mins to make sure a due date is met...that's ridiculous I can't work in these conditions! It just baffles me how they can say the position is so worthless yet feel like they should be paid much more for it. Granted, is this the job that I always had in mind? Of course not, but (a) it's better than previously being out of work for nearly a year and (b) that's called LIFE. The job was originally through a temp agency, and they offered me a permanent job position 6 months later. That's right, those who worked through the temp agency along with me and bitched all the way through it were also offered permanent spots too...and they accepted them. It is far from demanding, despite the bitching about that too. It just seems like there's no appreciation for a decent job or a job well done.
Maybe it's just how I was raised, or my job history. Anybody else get where I'm coming from or do I just sound like a "corporate drone"? Also to those of you who don't live in the US, does this sound familiar at all?
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 28, 2024 0:29:46 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2013 18:18:44 GMT -5
Most people are just trying to get a paycheck. They leave work at work and what's at home at home. They don't care because they don't value their jobs
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Post by Last Trent Barreta Fan on May 2, 2013 18:28:52 GMT -5
I would love to have a decent paying job. The last one I had fired me because the supervisor wanted to hire his buddies so he fired me and several others. We never did anything wrong. I'm usually quiet and a damn hard worker. I liked that job too. I made some nice tips.
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Post by psicosistijuana on May 2, 2013 18:36:19 GMT -5
But after they complain of the work they had to do( which is part of the job) they blame immigrants for "taking" their job( which they dont actually take; they JUST DO WHAT YOUR SUPPOSED TO)
Sent from my PC36100 using ProBoards
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Post by Lk™ on May 2, 2013 20:07:55 GMT -5
I lost my job for following protocol , basically. Their loss, i had a job offer 2 days later.
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BigEvilNerd
Main Eventer
Joined on: Sept 15, 2003 17:00:45 GMT -5
Posts: 4,659
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Post by BigEvilNerd on May 2, 2013 20:19:49 GMT -5
I think saying "you Americans don't want to work" is painting with a pretty wide brush. Especially coming from a European guy. Isn't France the home of the 4-day work week and like a MONTH of vacation time each year?
Most people working low-paying jobs are going to be bitter to begin with. It's hard to take a lot of pride in your job when you're mopping floors at Denny's. Not saying you should slack or do a half-assed job, but I tend to cut those kind of people a little slack because let's face it....they do sh*tty jobs and get paid nothing for it.
I do however have ZERO patience for people with good paying jobs (particularly pencil-dicked weenies working at a desk) who whine and complain about how hard their job is when they're making close to six figures, live in a nice house, drive a nice car, and barely have to lift a finger at work. Those people give American workers a bad name.
The real root of the problem is the culture of entitlement. The working classes in this country used to operate under the principle that anything worth having was worth working hard for, and nothing was guaranteed. Then in about the last 30-35 years we've seen a sea change occur in how people view employment and how employers view their workers. Employees feel entitled to everything. Better pay for doing less work on less days of the week. Conversely, employers no longer show the loyalty and appreciation to their workers they once did. How many people these days do you hear about working for the same employer for 30, 20, 10, even 5 years in a row? It's dramatically lower than it used to be. So you've essentially got employees and employers going in completely opposite directions and it leads to a whole hell of a lot of bitching.
In my opinion, the thing to do is to find a career you enjoy, work your ass off at it, and know that you're holding up your end of the deal....even if the employer might not always recognize it. If you can go home at the end of the day and honestly feel you've done a hard day's work then nothing else really matters.
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Post by HR2X on May 2, 2013 21:58:10 GMT -5
Most people are just trying to get a paycheck. They leave work at work and what's at home at home. They don't care because they don't value their jobs This is correct to an extent, but the other side of it is that people don't feel valued at their job. Sometimes, it's as simple as being passed over for multiple promotions despite working your ass off to get them.
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Post by Hulkamaniac on May 3, 2013 7:10:57 GMT -5
Most people are just trying to get a paycheck. They leave work at work and what's at home at home. They don't care because they don't value their jobs This is correct to an extent, but the other side of it is that people don't feel valued at their job. Sometimes, it's as simple as being passed over for multiple promotions despite working your ass off to get them. Being passed over for promotions isn't anything new. It's been going on for ages.
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Post by T R W on May 3, 2013 7:59:02 GMT -5
Many Americans definitely have a sense of entitlement when it comes to working and how hard to work. Of course, as Big Evil Nerd said, many employers treat their employers worse, expect more for less, and show zero loyalty and less incentives. I think both are equally to blame. But there is also a reason you see immigrants owning franchises and gas stations. It requires working every day of the week, often 12-16 hours or more a day, and rarely taking time off even for illness. Many people scoff at the immigrants who own a gas station or Dairy Queen, I admire them, because it is hard work, long hours, and they usually work together as a family to give their children a better life and a chance at college.
A lot of jobs that are physically easy are absolutely soul crushing too. A lot of people I work with have been working 80 hour work weeks for 20+ years. Sure, they make really good money, But they never get to enjoy it. Their wives hate them, and their kids hate them. Even when they go on vacation, they are working. In the end, a lot of them die before or shortly after retirement due to the stress, and despite all the money they earned, their lives were actually pretty miserable.
Sorry, I kind of rambled there.
But the best advice I can give anyone younger, is to not chase after money. Don't get a degree because you think it will help make you money. Find an occupation that you are passionate about. That you want to do, and find a way (whether it be a degree, vocational school, apprenticeship, or whatever) to make that happen. Even if you don't make a lot of money, you will be happier. Most working people in their 30-40's biggest regret is not having a career that they enjoy or are passionate about. In the end, it will make you a lot happier than lots of money will.
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Post by John Zero on May 3, 2013 13:10:32 GMT -5
Most people are just trying to get a paycheck. They leave work at work and what's at home at home. They don't care because they don't value their jobs This is correct to an extent, but the other side of it is that people don't feel valued at their job. Sometimes, it's as simple as being passed over for multiple promotions despite working your ass off to get them. I see the opposite a lot too. People who feel like they are entitled to get a promotion, while they haven't done what they need to do to get it. When they get passed over, their work ethic gets even worse. That just brings everyone else down.
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Post by Hulkamaniac on May 3, 2013 18:21:44 GMT -5
Many Americans definitely have a sense of entitlement when it comes to working and how hard to work. Of course, as Big Evil Nerd said, many employers treat their employers worse, expect more for less, and show zero loyalty and less incentives. I think both are equally to blame. But there is also a reason you see immigrants owning franchises and gas stations. It requires working every day of the week, often 12-16 hours or more a day, and rarely taking time off even for illness. Many people scoff at the immigrants who own a gas station or Dairy Queen, I admire them, because it is hard work, long hours, and they usually work together as a family to give their children a better life and a chance at college. A lot of jobs that are physically easy are absolutely soul crushing too. A lot of people I work with have been working 80 hour work weeks for 20+ years. Sure, they make really good money, But they never get to enjoy it. Their wives hate them, and their kids hate them. Even when they go on vacation, they are working. In the end, a lot of them die before or shortly after retirement due to the stress, and despite all the money they earned, their lives were actually pretty miserable. Sorry, I kind of rambled there. But the best advice I can give anyone younger, is to not chase after money. Don't get a degree because you think it will help make you money. Find an occupation that you are passionate about. That you want to do, and find a way (whether it be a degree, vocational school, apprenticeship, or whatever) to make that happen. Even if you don't make a lot of money, you will be happier. Most working people in their 30-40's biggest regret is not having a career that they enjoy or are passionate about. In the end, it will make you a lot happier than lots of money will. I dunno. I kind of agree with this 100% and disagree with it in parts. I'm a working person in his 30s. I enjoy what I do. One of my biggest frustrations though is seeing people who are slackers get promoted ahead of people who work their asses off. I can come in early, stay late and work through lunch and the guy who dodges every case that comes his way unless it falls in his particular specialty and then knocks off early when the boss isn't around gets promoted. That is soul crushing to me.
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Post by T R W on May 4, 2013 9:15:50 GMT -5
Many Americans definitely have a sense of entitlement when it comes to working and how hard to work. Of course, as Big Evil Nerd said, many employers treat their employers worse, expect more for less, and show zero loyalty and less incentives. I think both are equally to blame. But there is also a reason you see immigrants owning franchises and gas stations. It requires working every day of the week, often 12-16 hours or more a day, and rarely taking time off even for illness. Many people scoff at the immigrants who own a gas station or Dairy Queen, I admire them, because it is hard work, long hours, and they usually work together as a family to give their children a better life and a chance at college. A lot of jobs that are physically easy are absolutely soul crushing too. A lot of people I work with have been working 80 hour work weeks for 20+ years. Sure, they make really good money, But they never get to enjoy it. Their wives hate them, and their kids hate them. Even when they go on vacation, they are working. In the end, a lot of them die before or shortly after retirement due to the stress, and despite all the money they earned, their lives were actually pretty miserable. Sorry, I kind of rambled there. But the best advice I can give anyone younger, is to not chase after money. Don't get a degree because you think it will help make you money. Find an occupation that you are passionate about. That you want to do, and find a way (whether it be a degree, vocational school, apprenticeship, or whatever) to make that happen. Even if you don't make a lot of money, you will be happier. Most working people in their 30-40's biggest regret is not having a career that they enjoy or are passionate about. In the end, it will make you a lot happier than lots of money will. I dunno. I kind of agree with this 100% and disagree with it in parts. I'm a working person in his 30s. I enjoy what I do. One of my biggest frustrations though is seeing people who are slackers get promoted ahead of people who work their asses off. I can come in early, stay late and work through lunch and the guy who dodges every case that comes his way unless it falls in his particular specialty and then knocks off early when the boss isn't around gets promoted. That is soul crushing to me. In the corporate world, networking will get you a lot further than hard work 90% of the time. And quite often, being too good at your job, or too hardworking can actually hurt you, as management finds you too valuable at a lower role to promote, or peers get jealous and don't want the competition.
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Post by TurboEddie on May 4, 2013 11:16:52 GMT -5
I do maintenance for Goodwill. I may not like my job, but I certainly don't bitch about it to anyone. I keep it to myself.
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Post by Hulkamaniac on May 4, 2013 11:46:51 GMT -5
I dunno. I kind of agree with this 100% and disagree with it in parts. I'm a working person in his 30s. I enjoy what I do. One of my biggest frustrations though is seeing people who are slackers get promoted ahead of people who work their asses off. I can come in early, stay late and work through lunch and the guy who dodges every case that comes his way unless it falls in his particular specialty and then knocks off early when the boss isn't around gets promoted. That is soul crushing to me. In the corporate world, networking will get you a lot further than hard work 90% of the time. And quite often, being too good at your job, or too hardworking can actually hurt you, as management finds you too valuable at a lower role to promote, or peers get jealous and don't want the competition. I was told by my boss last week that I will likely not be promoted beyond a certain point. The reason for this is because my knowledge is so broad and not so specific. they would rather promote someone with deep knowledge in one subject than someone with deep knowledge in multiple subjects. Sent from my XT907 using proboards
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Post by Yeezy's Mullet: Team X Blades on May 4, 2013 11:57:20 GMT -5
I dunno. I kind of agree with this 100% and disagree with it in parts. I'm a working person in his 30s. I enjoy what I do. One of my biggest frustrations though is seeing people who are slackers get promoted ahead of people who work their asses off. I can come in early, stay late and work through lunch and the guy who dodges every case that comes his way unless it falls in his particular specialty and then knocks off early when the boss isn't around gets promoted. That is soul crushing to me. In the corporate world, networking will get you a lot further than hard work 90% of the time. And quite often, being too good at your job, or too hardworking can actually hurt you, as management finds you too valuable at a lower role to promote, or peers get jealous and don't want the competition. I've seen this soooo many times. I work in Corrections. A field where competence is of the absolute utmost importance. I've experienced being pigeon holed into one or two particular posts because I worked so efficiently in them. While it's good to have that trust from your superiors, the monotony, and the idea that you may actually be stuck there for a while can be crushing. But I have to agree with Big Evil Nerd. Growing up, my Mom and Dad had two very different perceptions when it came to work. Mom always told me to go to college, get a degree in anything with a high net worth, and make lots of money. My dad who was as blue collar and as "nose to the grindstone" as one can get urged me to NEVER invest your life into a job that you hate. I've grown to agree with that 100%. I've had jobs that I hated with a passion, and while I did receive promotions, the added responsibility and liability only made me resent it more. Couple that with the fact that this place treated it's employees more like walking , talking advertisements than actual people and it was a recipe for for clinical depression. At my current job, I couldn't be happier. All that being said, it depends on what kind of person you are. I'm an optimist. Even though I hated my old job, I kept a smile on my face and made it a point to never be "that guy" who sat around and complained all day every day.
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Post by Mike Giggs' Munchies on May 4, 2013 12:08:06 GMT -5
In the corporate world, networking will get you a lot further than hard work 90% of the time. And quite often, being too good at your job, or too hardworking can actually hurt you, as management finds you too valuable at a lower role to promote, or peers get jealous and don't want the competition. I was told by my boss last week that I will likely not be promoted beyond a certain point. The reason for this is because my knowledge is so broad and not so specific. they would rather promote someone with deep knowledge in one subject than someone with deep knowledge in multiple subjects. Sent from my XT907 using proboards Is the answer not therefore to start focusing on one area, as frustrating as that may be?
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Post by Hulkamaniac on May 4, 2013 12:12:00 GMT -5
I was told by my boss last week that I will likely not be promoted beyond a certain point. The reason for this is because my knowledge is so broad and not so specific. they would rather promote someone with deep knowledge in one subject than someone with deep knowledge in multiple subjects. Sent from my XT907 using proboards Is the answer not therefore to start focusing on one area, as frustrating as that may be? And wind up to where you are an expert in one area and completely and totally clueless in every other area?
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Post by Mike Giggs' Munchies on May 4, 2013 12:16:06 GMT -5
Is the answer not therefore to start focusing on one area, as frustrating as that may be? And wind up to where you are an expert in one area and completely and totally clueless in every other area? Perhaps, if that's what gets you the promotion you want. Although you might be able to retain most of your broad knowledge whilst specialising, thereby gaining a further advantage over specialists. Not fair but may be what needs to be done.
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Post by T R W on May 4, 2013 13:14:56 GMT -5
Is the answer not therefore to start focusing on one area, as frustrating as that may be? And wind up to where you are an expert in one area and completely and totally clueless in every other area? I find that for whatever reason, in the IT world today, most management prefer to have 12 people for 12 products who are specialize in one product rather than Have 12 who are all good at 6, or even 2. Which is hilarious since they always preach redundancy yet have none. General knowledge in IT these days seems to be a ticket to the middle of the pack. If you are really good at one thing you are more likely to be noticed than if you are pretty good at everything.
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Post by Hulkamaniac on May 4, 2013 14:44:20 GMT -5
And wind up to where you are an expert in one area and completely and totally clueless in every other area? Perhaps, if that's what gets you the promotion you want. Although you might be able to retain most of your broad knowledge whilst specialising, thereby gaining a further advantage over specialists. Not fair but may be what needs to be done. The thing is that's not what they're looking for. Someone with a broad and vast knowledge of a number of different topics is far more valuable to the company in a lower level roll than a guy who has deep knowledge of one particular topic. From a company perspective promoting me doesn't make a lot of sense. If promoted I would only get cases on one topic (say hardware). Well, they can find a lot of guys who they can groom and teach 'til they have knowledge in just that subject. Getting someone who has broad knowledge on a number of subjects is harder to find, but not so valuable in a senior roll. There the knowledge on the other topics goes to waste.
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