Help!
Small business owners know what this is about. Nobody knows better than us. We all work most, if not all, the days of the week. Rarely do we go home before 12 hours of labour. “Weekends” do not exist and holidays are defined as a chance to go for a workout.
Why? Because there is virtually no help to be had! The stories abound.
How many can recount the times that the following scenario has played out in their business? Someone applies for a position and agrees to various conditions before being given precisely the shifts and hours they ask for. The Handbook is read, the job description understood, staff introductions are made, the web site has been introduced, philosophy shared and the first shift has been scheduled. Then, a no-show. No call. Nothing. Messages are left expressing concern for the person’s well-being. Nada.
How many of us have experienced the 2 a.m. emails declaring a resignation from a job (without notice), or an inability to make it for a 7 a.m. shift five hours later?!
Have you called an employee to ask, after four weeks of employment, why they did not come in to work? How about the response that “I forgot to tell you that I have another job”?!
I am sure that there are some pretty interesting stories out there. More intriguing, perhaps, is the comment these vignettes make about our present social conditions. How did we evolve into this being that so cavalierly rejects the respect and courtesy for employers and jobs that we grew up with in the 50’s through the 80’s?
So, along with my on-going rant about the failure of so many to support the local, small businesses that give our culture some colour, I find myself questioning the links between the erosion of our interconnectedness with our environment (social and physical) and behaviour of people toward employers…
Jul 13, 01:21 pm
How true. A friend of mine manages a store in Vancouver in Kitsalano and has shared a number of stories. Most recently there was the girl he had just hired, she went through all the interviews, training etc. then the day before she was to start work calls and tells him that she wants about three weeks off in two weeks, hasn’t even worked a day yet. He said that he couldn’t accomodate this request at this time so she quit before starting work. Then there was the guy he hired who worked two hours, left for a coffee and never returned. Then there are those potential employees who apply, he lines up interviews and they never show, no email no phone call just don’t show up. He called one once and asked if they were coming in for an interview and they said , “no, I am down enjoying the sun at the beach”.
Where is the sense of responsibility? I believe there just may be too many jobs like the one’s he is trying to hire for these days and employees , especially younger one’s who just don’t care.
How do you retain these people, not sure what the answer might be. Higher pay and benefits don’t seem to work either.
Aug 22, 04:21 pm
I work at UVic – with a variety of students… and I am seeing this more and more and more: Kids that feel that the World, not only owes them a living… but owes them time off on demand… on the Cayman Islands! One of my friends pointed out that in tropical areas of the World, people live on Island time. That “Island Time” attitude has come to Vancouver Island… and Canada. Lots and lots of young people are due for a wake up call.
But who is dialing?
Aug 22, 07:28 pm
Reality is dialling as building starts drop, inflation rises and the global economy and climate falter.
Mar 5, 02:38 pm
I am wondering if any of the employers ever consider hiring someone who is a little more mature? There are some of us out there, who have a very good work ethic but don’t get the job because of our age. Some of the employers prefer to hiring a younger looking person, without even considering me. Not only am i very good looking and 40, i am reliable,understand responsiblilities, and i am not intimadated easily. These are some of my concerns about hiring practices out there, trust me, if some employers would give us more “mature” indivuals a chance, the turnover in staff would be alot less, and you wouldn’t recieve an email that i quit on the spot, or i would never not show for an interview….
thanks for you time
Jenesse..
Mar 5, 08:05 pm
Jenesse, I could not agree with you more. We have been VERY open to “older” folks who apply. We find ourselves, at the moment, enjoying the company of three (3) employees over the age of 45 and a few in their mid-30’s.
For a while we had the pleasure of working with a retired gentleman in his mid-60’s.