Whatever happened to the work ethic?

[Katyusha]

Everyone who's said something to the tune of "having a work ethic is bad," and "the slackers get everything while the hard workers see nothing," and "managers suck the blood out of everyone," and "fuck up and move up," etc., is someone I wholly agree with. And what's worse is that there isn't a single person left that I know personally who does or has worked for big business that DOESN'T feel this way.

I have a degree in business administration. I was already disillusioned by Corporate America and the way it treats its workers and its customers but when I started that program, I hoped I'd learn that there was at least a halfway decent reason for doing this. After graduation, I was even more bitter and disillusioned. The companies we studied relating to this, the ones that were models of balancing employee relations and reward with high customer satisfaction, the ones that truly valued the peons out on the floor in addition to their executives, were all European and Asian companies. Companies that may have branches/plants/stores/offices here, but are foreign nonetheless.

That made me sad. Corporate America is quick to punish, slow to reward, and so slow to change that they don't even realize when their current MO's aren't working anymore. An awful lot of the time, THAT'S when you start to see massive layoffs and other serious cost-cutting measures; they don't want to change. But their shareholders see that drop in profits and start screaming for something to be done NOW.

The sad thing about that is that cutting costs doesn't increase revenue. It just makes the bottom line look fatter, which shuts the shareholders up.

I work for a huge company as well and what I'm starting to see is that they're letting all their bigwigs go in all their regions so they can promote younger people who are willing to do those jobs for half the pay. Why? So they can save money. They're pissing off all their independent branch operators by hiring minimum-wage-quality workers and paying them minimum wage, but it's saving them money. And blah blah blah blah blabbity fucking blah. It continues this way until the company quite literally can't fatten its bottom line by cutting costs anymore.

It's about money and it's about power. Idiots get promoted so that the idiots handing out the promotions don't have anybody who's threatening their job. All companies want to see is all those almighty dollars flowing in. We, as in you, me, and every other employee, don't matter one bit.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

MONAZYX

Over 50 years I've observed companies go from stable and friendly to unstable vampires. The vampires bleed companies into bankruptcy then move on to the next victim. And theyre in every industry.

Whats happening now happened before in our history. Powerful British corporations bribed GEORGE III to do as they pleased in America, and they wrecked the American economy until we had enough of the abuse and revolted.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Working for the government? Lucky you. Most of us actually have to earn our money.

Hardly. I'm in retail, standing up all day and wearing out my feet, while they chat and eat snacks (not permitted at the counter, but they don't care) and talk on their cell phones. Damn them!

Then again, most of them get paid the bare minimum....while I make more. But still, it gets old after a while. I've applied for transfer to a different department in the same store, but who knows what will come of that. Sheesh!

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

For me, it's just a matter of personal integrity. That's the thing about me. I'm Stoic enough to have principles and uphold them. I'm also Cynic enough to believe that few other people are like me. I tend to assume that dishonesty is normal for both business, government, and labor. But that's based on my observation of human conduct. Assume the worst, and you're right most of the time.

Which reinforces my anti-Wilsonian view of diplomacy. I'm quite convinced that most countries will become dictatorships eventually, especially if silver-tongued orators get their way and promise enough "bread and circuses" (free food, entertainment, and social services). Just look at Mussolini's Italy.

I consider every democracy outside of the Anglophone world to be on probation, as it were. If, by some miracle, it lasts a generation, it has a fighting chance to endure. Which is why I don't think that invading to impose democracy is a good use of citizen-soldiers and the public treasure.

But, back to my point. The loss of a work ethic makes me wonder if even the Anglophone countries are doomed to tyranny one day, once a demagogue promises them an easy life if they simply give up their freedom.

Call me a pessimist, I guess. A pessimistic Libertarian, in essence.

 

[Handprints]

I spent three years working in a very visible role for what may be the most screwed up company in my industry. Every generalization here about typical behaviour in a corporate environment was specifically true of them and we could add an extensive list of other (wholly internal) problems as well. After shouldering my way to the front of a firing queue (thank god for market cycles), I went out hunting my next job knowing what company behaviours to look for to identify places I didn't want to work.

It's decade later, I'm genuinely fond of my last four employers and every single one of them made a specific, visible point of paying me very well for a combination of: having a strong work ethic, knowing what I'm good at, and noting carefully what I am and am not likely to succeed at.

If you have a strong work ethic, I think it's worth a lot. You just have to find an employer who's capable of valuing it.

H

 

[jomar]

Intermission.

Time to watch Office Space.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

---cuts---

But, back to my point. The loss of a work ethic makes me wonder if even the Anglophone countries are doomed to tyranny one day, once a demagogue promises them an easy life if they simply give up their freedom.

Call me a pessimist, I guess. A pessimistic Libertarian, in essence.

I wonder this too, and not just because of the decline in the work ethic, but because of the fraying of the entire social fabric. I don't think it will come about by people being promised an easy life, though, but by being promised easy answers.

Democracy is not as strong as we like to think. It depends entirely on mutual respect and trust within society, and more and more these seem to be in short supply. You see it not only in the loss of the work ethic, but in the politics of win at any cost, the demonization of the two parties, the loss of objectivity in news reporting, and the acceptance of lying in campaigning.

 

[rgraham666]

Hey. People tend not to like democracy for the same reason they tend not to like capitalism. Both require a sense of personal responsibility. Most people hate being responsible for their actions.

That's why ideologies become so popular. Even for the people in charge there is no personal responsibility. You're 'just following orders'.

 

[Monazwx]

MONAZWX

Over 50 years I've observed companies go from stable and friendly to unstable vampires. The vampires bleed companies into bankruptcy then move on to the next victim. And theyre in every industry.

Yep, 100% true, and more employees, the worse the level of work ethic from what I can see.

Intermission.

Time to watch Office Space.

Best. Movie. EVER!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

DOC

I read 2 military books this weekend. One involves the Parris Island Marine Corps boot camp, and the other involves West Point cadets.

Both books indicate that today's kids are self-absorbed and materialistic. Theyre also smarter, healthier, and larger.

Consequently, the work of both institutions isnt so much academic-physical fitness as it is work ethic, teamwork, and leadership. Plus kids have not experienced the challenges and delayed gratification of earlier generations.

 

[Monazwx]

kids have not experienced the challenges and delayed gratification of earlier generations.

Yeah, they don't want everything now; they EXPECT it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Corporations and professions are trying to unionize commerce in America. And I dont mean workers benevolent associations, either.

I mean theyre carving up commerce and using government to restrict competition with regulations and friendly tax codes.

Here's a good local example of what I mean: BIG BOX came to town, bought two large prime commercial sites, demolished all the mom & pop stores, and built 2 large super centers. The city charges BIG BOX a token property tax and helped the corporation get a load of tax breaks from the state and county. So BIG BOX pays about as much in taxes as a florist or barber pays.

BIG BOX then allowed the city to install traffic cameras on its property, to catch and fine drivers. State law prohibits traffic cameras on state highways, so the city has to use private property. And the city is now making some serious money catching speeders and red-light jumpers and illegal turns and expired tags, etc. BIG BOX has the money to pay for stuff the city wants, and in return it gets to chase off competition, and tax breaks.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Corporations and professions are trying to unionize commerce in America. And I dont mean workers benevolent associations, either.

I mean theyre carving up commerce and using government to restrict competition with regulations and friendly tax codes.

Here's a good local example of what I mean: BIG BOX came to town, bought two large prime commercial sites, demolished all the mom & pop stores, and built 2 large super centers. The city charges BIG BOX a token property tax and helped the corporation get a load of tax breaks from the state and county. So BIG BOX pays about as much in taxes as a florist or barber pays.

BIG BOX then allowed the city to install traffic cameras on its property, to catch and fine drivers. State law prohibits traffic cameras on state highways, so the city has to use private property. And the city is now making some serious money catching speeders and red-light jumpers and illegal turns and expired tags, etc. BIG BOX has the money to pay for stuff the city wants, and in return it gets to chase off competition, and tax breaks.

Yeah. They raise consumers now like sheep or like chickens in industrial poultry farms. Herd them here, herd them there, and fleece them. Let them out into the pasture where they can garner their pay and then herd them into the sheer stalls where they trim them. They know just how much they can take before the sheep start dying and they take exactly that much.

It's not just taxes. It's marketers too. They're even worse.

Zoot's Law: The taxes you pay are inversely proportional to your income group's political power.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

DOC

Sure. Industrial psychologists know everything about you worth knowing, plus how to manipulate that knowledge so it benefits Mega-Corporation. The bait and lures are too irresistable for most people.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I wonder this too, and not just because of the decline in the work ethic, but because of the fraying of the entire social fabric. I don't think it will come about by people being promised an easy life, though, but by being promised easy answers.

Democracy is not as strong as we like to think. It depends entirely on mutual respect and trust within society, and more and more these seem to be in short supply. You see it not only in the loss of the work ethic, but in the politics of win at any cost, the demonization of the two parties, the loss of objectivity in news reporting, and the acceptance of lying in campaigning.

Well, polarization does to tend to lead to that....and to the downfall of a free society. It's as if we really are two nations in one country now. And then there are some of us who don't belong to either. I'm not a true Red or Blue stater, since I'm a mix of Libertarian and economic nationalist.

It's as if everything has become stratified and factions have replaced personal responsibility. Rob isn't far off in that respect. The parties themselves are nothing coalition of militant factions, but the trouble is that they have polarized around two unifying and yet divisive ideologies. Class warfare and everything. Quite disturbing. And I blame the New Right and the New Left both for this. The old right and the old left were Americans first, conservatives and liberals second. Now, the ideologies and the goals of the factions have become ends in themselves, not merely means to an end.

Class and party have replaced country as the primary identities.

 

[ishtat]

I spent a few years in academia then a few more with a couple of big businesses. I guess I learned a lot by their bad examples. At 35 I was lucky enough to be put in charge of a small statutory authority. We were so fat jobs had to go and I reduced the staff from 720 to 480. 90 of the people who were asked to leave considered themselves managers and supervisors!

It's not fun getting rid of excess staff but it's a job which if it has to be done shouldn't be delegated. Any way within18 months we had a sweet profitable organisation with minimal management and no-one working more than one spot away from the client base. The workers were great, they worked their butts off.

Then the Government sold us to big business. I and a few others were given the flick which was fair enough but our new owners put in various managers which alone increased the staff by 40 and the employment costs by 15%

They ran the organisation down so badly that within 4 years I was able with a couple of partners to buy it very cheaply. Basically we whacked the excess management again, made sure everyone worked close to our clients and ensured that people had a chance to do what they were good at. Another 5 years and I sold out my interest to a group of staff and took grossly early retirement. It really isn't that hard but you have to get rid of ego and all the crap that brings with it . Do what you do well ,price it properly and if you can't make it work don't hang around moaning. Business really is pretty easy if you don't complicate it.