2008 Woodie Awards
Muskie Mailbox: Incompetence in the work force?
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Opinions
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It was a warm day in the food service area, ovens blazing and pretzel steamers…steaming. I get to thinking in these solitary moments where no one notices the food guy. Then one person came up to buy something. He wore a t-shirt that said "f***ed." Honestly, I have a low opinion of the guy for it, but I really would not have cared, except for I realized he worked in the same store as I did. It was his day off. However, the shirt would create a hostile environment for the customers, and no doubt his employers saw him wearing the shirt, which makes me wonder how much he cares about the job. This made me think deeper: if we need to employ people like this, how bad are the people we do not employ?
I think, quite possibly, our unemployment rate is too low. We are putting anyone with a pulse and heat signature in a position of responsibility, and quite honestly, I think we're financially compensating far too many people who are undeserving. The same employee did not stop simply with the shirt. He had argued with management on their policies in the lamest way possible: "I don't want to." Playing dead might have been lamer, but at least it would have been creative.
The unemployment rate was 2.7 percent in July. This means out of 100 people you walk by, two and a seventh of them are unemployed. Do you trust 97 and a third of those people to do something competently? With my experience with Americans, I don't trust that many of us to care about our jobs, let alone do them competently.
I think the standards of employment have gone down because of incompetency. I think it doesn't help that store owners are even among these people. Unfortunately, I'll put money on one percent of that 2.7 would likely make a good employee, but by some slight of fate they were pushed into a position where they cannot find a job.
In short, our employment rate is too good, too much incompetence is currently saturating our work force, and on your day off, don't wear a shirt that says "f***ed." It just looks bad.
Unemployment rating derived from:
-Anonymous
I think, quite possibly, our unemployment rate is too low. We are putting anyone with a pulse and heat signature in a position of responsibility, and quite honestly, I think we're financially compensating far too many people who are undeserving. The same employee did not stop simply with the shirt. He had argued with management on their policies in the lamest way possible: "I don't want to." Playing dead might have been lamer, but at least it would have been creative.
The unemployment rate was 2.7 percent in July. This means out of 100 people you walk by, two and a seventh of them are unemployed. Do you trust 97 and a third of those people to do something competently? With my experience with Americans, I don't trust that many of us to care about our jobs, let alone do them competently.
I think the standards of employment have gone down because of incompetency. I think it doesn't help that store owners are even among these people. Unfortunately, I'll put money on one percent of that 2.7 would likely make a good employee, but by some slight of fate they were pushed into a position where they cannot find a job.
In short, our employment rate is too good, too much incompetence is currently saturating our work force, and on your day off, don't wear a shirt that says "f***ed." It just looks bad.
Unemployment rating derived from:
-Anonymous
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