The changing face of the work force

I didn’t grow up in what some consider to be the “normal” model wherein mom and dad go to work every day or perhaps one parent stays home while the other works.

Instead, the folks owned a couple businesses. Johnson Diversified was an independent contractor that was responsible for operating the Seattle Post Intelligencer and the Seattle Times throughout most of Kitsap County. And it did quite well; paid the lion’s share of the bills for more than 20 years. But they also operated D&W German Auto Repair. Mom would put in an eight-hour day working as a supervisor at the Pierce County Planning and Land Services, then come home and head straight to her desk to do the books etc. for the family businesses. Dad would either be at D&W or preparing to head down to the docks at night to meet the night drivers.

The folks are retired now. The businesses were sold a few years back and mom retired from the county not too long ago. And you know, I’m glad they did. Too many changes were becoming harder and harder to deal with. Perhaps one of the more difficult aspects of running a business was hiring and keeping good employees. When I was younger, we were able to keep people working for years. Relationships were forged that lasted a lifetime. Indeed, many drivers went on to find more lucrative careers, but remained loyal friends who would come to visit. But as the years went by, that began to change.

Toward the end, my parents were hard-pressed to even find somebody willing to do the job. The younger generations began to hit the job market — the “1980s babies.” And man, what a change. Oh sure, we had some exceptions, some younger kids who obviously had great parents who had instilled a solid work ethic in their children. But by and large, it became a tremendous challenge to find honest, hard-working employees.

This new prevailing attitude of “you owe me a paycheck and if you keep me happy, I might work to earn some of it” started to show up. Older, retired staff that had come aboard for a second income would do a great job with a great attitude; the more physically fit younger crew complained that the work was too hard. This or that “wasn’t fair.” It was “harassment” to talk to them about their poor attendance.

And what is it with attendance that has become such a difficult part of keeping employees? It used to be job performance that you had to keep an eye on, but more and more it seems that simply getting to work on time (or at all) is the hot issue. Not only with my parent’s businesses, but as I talk to employers now, that seems to be the No. 1 dilemma being faced by business owners and supervisors. Children and family members who are suspiciously perpetually sick thereby preventing the person from showing up for a scheduled shift. Lots of “car problems” and issues with winter road conditions. Or, what I find the most perplexing situation of all — simply not showing up. The “no call, no show” seems to be happening with alarming frequency these days.

“Why didn’t you come to work?”

“Oh, I was tired. Didn’t feel like it.”

Wow. I must be old, because that absolutely blows me away. And yet it is a common occurrence these days. I’m simply unable to grasp that.

News flash folks: we live in Alaska. Sometimes roads get icy. Seems to me a prudent person would keep an eye on the weather and think ahead. Getting colder outside? Good chance we’re going to get dumped with snow or the roads are going to be icy tomorrow. Hmmm, might be a good idea to set that alarm a half-hour earlier than usual, eh?

We like to talk a lot about “rights” these days. Sometimes I think we do it so much that some people have a skewed notion what those “rights” are and who has them. Sure you have rights: freedom of speech, freedom to assemble and all that. What you don’t have the “right” to is your job. The government is not forcing your employer to hire and retain you. Sounds silly, but yeah, wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard of “my rights” coming into play when somebody loses their job, as though it’s something buried in the Constitution.

News flash No. 2: business owners also have “rights.” No, I’m not referring to constitutional rights. I’m talking about their “right” to expect you to show up on time, to do the job you were hired to do, in the manner they wish it done, dressed according to their dress code/policy and with an attitude conducive to a professional atmosphere. If any of that is a problem, you have the “right” to not work there (either by your choice or the employer’s).

We’ve been in a recession for the last few years. You’d think it would be an employer’s market, that there would be so many people hungry for work that they would have no problem finding good staff, and that people would be willing to work hard to keep their positions. Yet amazing as it may sound, many employers still struggle to find people who are reliable and willing to do the job. Even more stunning are the number of people willing to walk off a job or, again, simply stop going to work because the work was “too hard,” “somebody was mean to me,” “it wasn’t fair,” etc. And when you get the details, well, you’re left scratching your head because you just can’t see where the job-killing, “horrible” issue was.

My oldest son AJ turns 21 this year. He works full-time for Alaska Sales and Service wrenching on cars while he puts himself through college at University of Alaska Anchorage. I’m proud that his supervisors love him. They tell me what a hard worker he is whenever I visit him at work. It’s a pat on the back for me to think that I infused that in him. But I gotta be honest, I told AJ years ago — just like I’ve told all my children — that’s it really not that hard to look like a superstar these days. I’ve told them that if they can get to work on time and are willing to work, they’ll shine. Turns out I was right. I think I’m as happy about that as I am depressed about it.

Ben Compton is a Palmer resident and publishes his column as “Compton’s Corner,” the same title used by his grandmother, Phyllis Compton, a longtime Frontiersman columnist. Contact him at bcompton1971@yahoo.com.