How soft and scared has our society became ?

JumperJack

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I really thought this thread was going to be about how human adults have allowed themselves to be terrorized by something they have a 99.8% chance of surviving. As if it were London during the Blitz.

Driving on ice, though, is a little more scary.
 
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TortElvisII

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Back in 1977 and 78, we would leave our house at about 9, go about a half a mile away in the snow, and sled all day long. Kids today don't do that. I see it at work with toughness. I'm 55 and I've got 22-year-olds melting on me. My job requires you to be outside during the summer and doing some physical work. You can get angry all you want, society as a whole is getting softer.
 

dgtatu01

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I just checked in , my biz is swamped due to inadequate number of staff showing up . I'm headed in , its what owners do if they care about their business , but I'm not scheduled .
Are you paying enough to show up? Obviously you make enough to show up? Every $ for your employees is a $ less for you and vice versa. This is the trade-off of business right? Owner v labor and who gets the money. It's a battle as old as time and it's the root of almost all political battles if you cut through the BS.
 

dgtatu01

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Back in 1977 and 78, we would leave our house at about 9, go about a half a mile away in the snow, and sled all day long. Kids today don't do that. I see it at work with toughness. I'm 55 and I've got 22-year-olds melting on me. My job requires you to be outside during the summer and doing some physical work. You can get angry all you want, society as a whole is getting softer.
Maybe you're not paying them enough?
 

dgtatu01

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How much someone earns has nothing to do with how they can take heat or cold. Also I do not determine their wages.
How much someone gets paid has everything to do with how much work they are willing to do. That attitude that people should just be glad they have a job at all is BS and typical of companies that don't value their employees.
 

Kentucky#1

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How much someone gets paid has everything to do with how much work they are willing to do. That attitude that people should just be glad they have a job at all is BS and typical of companies that don't value their employees.

This is an entirely backwards perspective. I’ve had employees that made $45/hour that were sorry as **** versus some that made $20/hr that out worked them in all regards. Obviously, the pay rates/employment status of the respective employees ultimately changed.

Work ethic is generally an inherent trait that shows itself regardless of wage rate. In my experience, if an employee isn’t worth much at $x/hr, bumping them up to $y/hr isn’t going to change their ambition or skills.
 

TortElvisII

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How much someone gets paid has everything to do with how much work they are willing to do. That attitude that people should just be glad they have a job at all is BS and typical of companies that don't value their employees.


You have zero knowledge of what you are talking about. You have no idea what these people make. In some instances, these are PhD's, so spare me your unearned condescension. Condescending twit. Nobody said they should just be happy to have a job. It is a requirement in natural science to be in the field. Otherwise you just wind up being an incompetent wind bag. You seem to have expertise there.
 
May 22, 2002
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I really thought this thread was going to be about how human adults have allowed themselves to be terrorized by something they have a 99.8% chance of surviving. As if it were London during the Blitz.

Driving on ice, though, is a little more scary.

What is the survival rate of those that drive in ice? Asking so I understand just how much scarier it is.
 

dgtatu01

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This is an entirely backwards perspective. I’ve had employees that made $45/hour that were sorry as **** versus some that made $20/hr that out worked them in all regards. Obviously, the pay rates/employment status of the respective employees ultimately changed.

Work ethic is generally an inherent trait that shows itself regardless of wage rate. In my experience, if an employee isn’t worth much at $x/hr, bumping them up to $y/hr isn’t going to change their ambition or skills.

Are you sure? Did you clearly communicate what you needed to have done? Did you let the employee know they weren't very productive? These are all feedback opportunities. I have found as a leader just telling someone what I want them to do and the following up gets done what I need done. If the quality or timeliness is not good then I communicate that. People generally go where they are led. If someone really can't do a job then fire them and find somebody else. Also pay at the front end helps. There is no point in recruiting at $10/he to see if you find someone with a good work ethic in order to pay them more. If you want people with a good work ethic offer good money and then be selective in your hiring.
 
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bushrod1965

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Many jobs will gladly axe you if it saved them a dollar on the bottom line. I’m not risking my health and safety for them.
This x 10. Back in the “good old days” the resident conservatives like to reminisce over, there was some sense of employers actually taking care of their employees. Even blue collar jobs seemed to be careers that many spent a lifetime working with wages that would support a family, along with guaranteed health insurance and pension benefits. Workers felt a sense of responsibility to their employee for these things. These days, many of these similar jobs offer crap wages, poor if any health insurance, and a fund your own “ain’t it wonderful that it’s portable” 401k retirement. So, why should employees being willing to risk themselves for their employer when their employer thinks so little of them?
 

Kentucky#1

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Are you sure? Did you clearly communicate what you needed to have done? Did you let the employee know they weren't very productive? These are all feedback opportunities. I have found as a leader just telling someone what I want them to do and the following up gets done what I need done. If the quality or timeliness is not good then I communicate that. People generally go where they are led. If someone really can't do a job then fire them and find somebody else. Also pay at the front end helps. There is no point in recruiting at $10/he to see if you find someone with a good work ethic in order to pay them more. If you want people with a good work ethic offer good money and then be selective in your hiring.

Yes, I’m pretty sure they were bad employees.

I obviously communicated goals and expectations.

I generally start my guys (non-skilled) at $23/hr so starting pay is solid.

So after further consideration and review, I still consider your previous post and perspective backwards.
 

CB3UK

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Guys...Guys........GUYS!!!!




Man this thread has gone sideways.

Both sides have made some valid points about things, I think we've almost gotten off track here. Dan, it sounds like you and your employees are done for the day. I would say yes, if that's the case, they could have made it in. I understand your frustration, and doubly so now seeing that you're the owner of your business, and not just a boss. That's your livelihood. Everyone's perspective changes in that scenario.

To the guys going on about loyalty and wages and such, I agree. Libs aren't wrong about everything. Employers used to take care of the average Joe with solid pensions. That's definitely something that I agreed with old school Democrats about. You want people to show up on days like today when your business needs them, the pay and benefits had better be commensurate.

And another good point made above about work ethic. Totally agree with that. I've worked all manner of jobs. Some people are good workers and some aren't and money ain't changing that. Typically, the more you pay, the more discerning and better caliber candidate you can get. It also gives you leverage to expect more, whereas someone who works at say Kroger (trying to think of lower wage jobs that are more essential on a day like today) is less likely to risk going in to work on a nasty day.

Myself, I do shift work and I'd be punching the clock right now to start my day. It's nasty out, and it's just beginning. Hence my earlier diatribe about safety and not shaming folks. Days like today are part of what PTO are for.
 

Tinker Dan

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Guys...Guys........GUYS!!!!




Man this thread has gone sideways.

Both sides have made some valid points about things, I think we've almost gotten off track here. Dan, it sounds like you and your employees are done for the day. I would say yes, if that's the case, they could have made it in. I understand your frustration, and doubly so now seeing that you're the owner of your business, and not just a boss. That's your livelihood. Everyone's perspective changes in that scenario.

To the guys going on about loyalty and wages and such, I agree. Libs aren't wrong about everything. Employers used to take care of the average Joe with solid pensions. That's definitely something that I agreed with old school Democrats about. You want people to show up on days like today when your business needs them, the pay and benefits had better be commensurate.

And another good point made above about work ethic. Totally agree with that. I've worked all manner of jobs. Some people are good workers and some aren't and money ain't changing that. Typically, the more you pay, the more discerning and better caliber candidate you can get. It also gives you leverage to expect more, whereas someone who works at say Kroger (trying to think of lower wage jobs that are more essential on a day like today) is less likely to risk going in to work on a nasty day.

Myself, I do shift work and I'd be punching the clock right now to start my day. It's nasty out, and it's just beginning. Hence my earlier diatribe about safety and not shaming folks. Days like today are part of what PTO are for.
Good post.

However, the last sentence will stir the hornet's nest once again. lol
 
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Ukbrassowtipin

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Many jobs will gladly axe you if it saved them a dollar on the bottom line. I’m not risking my health and safety for them.
Yeah but your literally job is to increase the line...so of cutting you saves on it, it means your job wasn't necessary to begin with. I mean I get it..the govt creates jobs just for fun, but no one else creates jobs just to hand out money
 
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joeyrupption

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Man I guess I'm getting really old . Grew up in there 80s and don't recall doctors offices and clinics closing because of an inch or 2 of snow .. you kinda went about your business . Now its " oh to hell with it I'm not going to work " I had 4 of my 6 employees call off . The one that drives the farthest came in . 35 miles . All females scared to. death of driving with snow on the road .
In the 80’s, how many doctors office and clinic appointments were you making and subsequently driving to as a child?
 
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awf

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It’s not about being scared. There is liability in having employees come in during a winter storm warning. Also there is opportunity cost with amount of customers that will come to business in the middle of a winter storm. Sometimes it’s not profitable to be open.
liability for having employees come in during a "winter storm warning".... [roll] ......I have framed houses in weather like this.....or be down in the hole framing the basement for concrete walls.......people have gotten soft.....
 

ukalum1988

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Back in 1977 and 78, we would leave our house at about 9, go about a half a mile away in the snow, and sled all day long. Kids today don't do that. I see it at work with toughness. I'm 55 and I've got 22-year-olds melting on me. My job requires you to be outside during the summer and doing some physical work. You can get angry all you want, society as a whole is getting softer.
I remember Matt Bevin getting roasted when he mentioned about society getting soft as evidenced by people panicking over a little bit of snow.
 

awf

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I just checked in , my biz is swamped due to inadequate number of staff showing up . I'm headed in , its what owners do if they care about their business , but I'm not scheduled .

That is why you make the big bucks...........
 

awf

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Are you paying enough to show up? Obviously you make enough to show up? Every $ for your employees is a $ less for you and vice versa. This is the trade-off of business right? Owner v labor and who gets the money. It's a battle as old as time and it's the root of almost all political battles if you cut through the BS.
Paying enough to show up? A little business lesson is needed here........labor cost is cooked into the prices.......you pay a comparible rate as your competitors do....if you don't.....you lose your employees to them.......which leaves you under staffed.......and you lose business.........there are no jobs that I know of that gives bad weather bonus to come in.........you probably want people to get a certificate to come in because the roads are bad??????? How about leaving for work earlier and keep your end of your employmnent agreement up..........
 
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rudd1

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-lexington lucked out and got sleet instead of freezing rain, thank you lord.

-prayers up for se/ne ky...y'all are gonna get drilled.
 
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BMoore2

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Paying enough to show up? A little business lesson is needed here........labor cost is cooked into the prices.......you pay a comparible rate as your competitors do....if you don't.....you lose your employees to them.......which leaves you under staffed.......and you lose business.........there are no jobs that I know of that gives bad weather bonus to come in.........you probably want people to get a certificate to come in because the roads are bad??????? How about leaving for work earlier and keep your end of your employmnent agreement up..........
Unless you follow the McKinsey Group’s advice, which was to outsource as much labor as possible. Conservatives have their hearts (sometimes) in the right place..advocating for a person’s pay to be based on a combination of the labor they provide and the actual percentage of revenue their labor produces would be the most fair way to do it. Ability to outsource and pay someone in a communist country $2 a day should not impact fair pay.
 

awf

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Unless you follow the McKinsey Group’s advice, which was to outsource as much labor as possible. Conservatives have their hearts (sometimes) in the right place..advocating for a person’s pay to be based on a combination of the labor they provide and the actual percentage of revenue their labor produces would be the most fair way to do it. Ability to outsource and pay someone in a communist country $2 a day should not impact fair pay.
Evidently you have never had a job where you had to work harder because of a slacker......good luck in your Utopia.......
 

MegaBlue05

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I’m not risking my life for a job. That’s what vacation, sick days and PTO are for.

That’s wage slave mentality. Used to work for a company that made us come in when it wasn’t safe, only to get there and have nothing to do before getting sent home early.

Work smarter, not harder.
 
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MegaBlue05

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Many jobs will gladly axe you if it saved them a dollar on the bottom line. I’m not risking my health and safety for them.

This.

My last company sucked. I stayed too long. They didn’t give raises to anyone for 5 years (but executives took bonuses every year).

The last winter I was there, I called out on a snow day. Got the guilt trip. Told my boss if they’d agree to give me a raise, I’d come in. He said no. I stayed home.

It was a means to an end. A paycheck. Not something I’d die for.
 

BMoore2

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Evidently you have never had a job where you had to work harder because of a slacker......good luck in your Utopia.......
I have. I work at a place in which bad employees are difficult to get rid of. Still, the pay is good, and I make good money in a sales-based environment, and I like and feel good about what I do.
This.

My last company sucked. I stayed too long. They didn’t give raises to anyone for 5 years (but executives took bonuses every year).

The last winter I was there, I called out on a snow day. Got the guilt trip. Told my boss if they’d agree to give me a raise, I’d come in. He said no. I stayed home.

It was a means to an end. A paycheck. Not something I’d die for.
That’s the thing-conservatives don’t consider how different the work landscape is now. From the 60s till now, wages have been fairly stagnant, at least relative to inflation.
There is very little job security, blue collar jobs are gone, and the company is constantly looking for reasons not to pay you or to surplus your job. Not the way it used to be.
 
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