What is up with people? | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

What is up with people?

Maniac said:
Have you tried hiring immigrants? Most of them have hard time finding their first Canadian job and will kill for one.
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I worked for a company that did that.. Employee destroyed over $4k of equipment maliciously and the employer couldn't get that money back because small claims court is a joke..
 
Many employers have a skewed view of how great they are.
For whatever reason the tables have turned and people, again for whatever reason aren't willing to take a job that doesnt meet their wants.
I'm not saying it's right, but...
It's the employers turn to be the one in need rather than be needed.
I say **** 'em... if they cant intice people to work they should adjust their outlook.
 
Hack said:
Many employers have a skewed view of how great they are.
For whatever reason the tables have turned and people, again for whatever reason aren't willing to take a job that doesnt meet their wants.
I'm not saying it's right, but...
It's the employers turn to be the one in need rather than be needed.
I say **** 'em... if they cant intice people to work they should adjust their outlook.
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Interesting feedback. I would counter that many employees also have a skewed view of how great they are...
Speaking from my own experience over the past year, we have listened to feedback and made many positive changes to become a better place. 99% of the staff have been with us for years and are content and that should hopefully say something. But I do agree that a company and a employee need to meet half way to be successful together.
 
Dirty Frank said:
George may have a point here for the last year or so a lot of folks mental health has declined some to say the least.
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Since 07/08 it has just been a roller-coaster for most of my friends and COVID shot many of them back to 07/08 levels.

The few doing well all have S.T.E.M degrees and work their ass off
 
GreyGhost said:
I like short tests as part of the interview process. Doesn't have to be a formal written test, just something that should be known by someone with the training and credentials presented and an insight into their thought process. You can quickly determine whose resume is ummm, shall we say "optimistic". If they say they have pneumatic or hydraulic experience, throw some parts on the table and ask them to talk a little about them, if they say they did structural design, draw up a quick sketch and ask them to point out some issues, etc.
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I did similar things when involved with hiring graphic artists. Round 1, verbal. Round 2, Gave them a file that was completed, but had errors (mismatched colour models, missing links or fonts etc). That weeded out a bunch. Round 3, gave them some images, text etc for a specific task (business card, 5x7 flyer or something along those lines) and told them they had half an hour to present me with a proof. *VERY* few completed somewhat decent work.
 
GreyGhost said:
I like short tests as part of the interview process. Doesn't have to be a formal written test, just something that should be known by someone with the training and credentials presented and an insight into their thought process. You can quickly determine whose resume is ummm, shall we say "optimistic". If they say they have pneumatic or hydraulic experience, throw some parts on the table and ask them to talk a little about them, if they say they did structural design, draw up a quick sketch and ask them to point out some issues, etc.
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I don't disagree with this statement.
But it has been my experience that "skills" can be learned but the "attitude" is forever. I would take a person with a good attitude and less skill over one with good skills and a negative attitude. This being said I usually see what a person aptitude is for learning and listening, if they do well it is their turn to teach me something.
 
Jampy00 said:
FYI - I am excluding some details to protect myself and the individuals in question. But that does not alter he point of this post.

So I manage a small company.
Two locations, One in Quebec and One in Ontario.
About 20 employees in total with a few close to retiring.
Like many business we are looking for people to work. (General Labor, Warehouse etc.)
With COVID still a factor along with summer, our hope was to get some part-time help and turn them into full-time employees

So far,
We have had 2 people hired (at different times) in our Quebec branch, worked one day and never returned.
Had a guy working in our Cambridge branch. On SERB as he was laid off from his full-time job. Working one day a week (at their request)
Lasted two months, then started to ask to leave early and calling in sick.

We've had issues with a full-time employee as well, resulting in a dismissal.

As as result we are continuing to look for people and feel like we wasted our time. Hard to stay positive at times..
While the job is not overly exciting, we make that very clear to anyone hired, we are open and transparent and very welcoming.
We want to work with people and welcome constructive feedback and work hard to make changes if required.

With nothing new, I am still left puzzled. We offer a very easy environment to thrive in. Very sad that people do not give themselves the chance to find out.
We've spent a lot of time trying to figure out if it was us that had caused this situation, but from all accounts we can't conclude we've done anything wrong.

Yes, I know all the cliché lines.
You get what you pay for..
Young people..
People are lazy..
Etc..

Any other business owners or managers seeing and/or dealing with the same issue currently.
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sounds like you work for one of those "lets hire jims nephew" or "bills buddy" companies.
Either that or your HR is terrible at screening people.
 
Maniac said:
Some days my job is the only thing that keeps me sane.
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I agree, I enjoy having something positive to focus on, doing a job well makes me feel great even when everything else is "meh"..
 
bigpoppa said:
sounds like you work for one of those "lets hire jims nephew" or "bills buddy" companies.
Either that or your HR is terrible at screening people.
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Wow. You couldn't be more incorrect on either point.
But if you have any insights into effective fool proof hiring, I'd love to hear them.
 
Well, at this point it’s ether you are located in some really really sketchy area with zero normal people or there’s something broken inside your organization.

I think at this point I will go for a “mystery hire” - send someone I trust through the employment process and first day on a job and listen to a feedback. Obviously your HR/managers should not be aware about it.
 
Jampy00 said:
Wow. You couldn't be more incorrect on either point.
But if you have any insights into effective fool proof hiring, I'd love to hear them.
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not sure how you would implement this, but in the past i've seen companies outsource hiring in that line of work to a temp agency, so they relegate hiring and firing to them, after a certain time period, if its a half decent worker with a good attitude the company will hire the employee direct, this usually comes with better pay, and benefits. (also once the employee is actually working with the company, the agency is cut out and no longer gets a "cut" of the employees pay)

There are probably a bunch of other benefits as well for a businesses to do it this way(easier to fire people, less legal exposure, etc etc)

@Jampy00
I also think it could be location related like maniac mentioned, I've relocated to niagara to help with the family business for a bit, and its insanely hard to get good help here.
We needed some concrete work, so we'll call 10 companies, 3 will pick up the phone, 1 guy will show up to give us an estimate, we'll give him a deposit, and he'll go awol for 3 weeks. Meanwhile our business is stuck for 3 weeks.

Its not just concrete, this has been our experience basically with EVERYTHING out here, in toronto or brampton we're used to people wanting to work.

Make a call, and 3 companies show up, you pick the best quote, pay them half, the work is done in 2 days max, you pay them, and everyone is happy.

Here we've learned to temper our expectations, because nobody wants to work and everything takes forever. (various contractors, permits, etc etc etc)
 
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Jampy00 said:
a company and a employee need to meet half way to be successful together.
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'Depends on which party is in the better bargaining position.
Companies are all for cooperation when it suits them... At all other times, employees and their costs are just another line in the ledger.
Those who believe their employer give one single **** about them beyond what you produce is either stupid, delusional or both.
 
Maniac said:
Well, at this point it’s ether you are located in some really really sketchy area with zero normal people or there’s something broken inside your organization.

I think at this point I will go for a “mystery hire” - send someone I trust through the employment process and first day on a job and listen to a feedback. Obviously your HR/managers should not be aware about it.
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Both our locations are in industrial area's but far from sketchy, so I'd rule that one out, but I do agree we have a limited range we can get people from. As for something broken inside our organization, at one time there was but we have really worked hard to make changes. My thinking is it the limited amount of people within the designated area's that are hurting us.
 
Hack said:
'Depends on which party is in the better bargaining position.
Companies are all for cooperation when it suits them... At all other times, employees and their costs are just another line in the ledger.
Those who believe their employer give one single **** about them beyond what you produce is either stupid, delusional or both.
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While that is true sometimes (especially as organization size grows), I have worked for a number of people where that was not true at all. A construction company I worked for would keep all of the good employees on no matter how bad the economy was or how few jobs there were to do. Owners would top up company accounts every week to meet payroll.
 
bigpoppa said:
not sure how you would implement this, but in the past i've seen companies outsource hiring in that line of work to a temp agency, so they relegate hiring and firing to them, after a certain time period, if its a half decent worker with a good attitude the company will hire the employee direct, this usually comes with better pay, and benefits. (also once the employee is actually working with the company, the agency is cut out and no longer gets a "cut" of the employees pay)

There are probably a bunch of other benefits as well for a businesses to do it this way(easier to fire people, less legal exposure, etc etc)
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Appreciate the feedback. We've done the temp agency in the past (from my understanding) with mixed results. It also is a much larger expense for a smaller company, so not sure if I'd like to revisit as I want to keep the money flowing to our current staff.
 
Hack said:
'Depends on which party is in the better bargaining position.
Companies are all for cooperation when it suits them... At all other times, employees and their costs are just another line in the ledger.
Those who believe their employer give one single **** about them beyond what you produce is either stupid, delusional or both.
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I can't disagree totally with this statement, With only 20 employees no one get's lost or forgotten about. While we do have to remain profitable it is not at the cost of people. I don't get involved in peoples personal lives but if that had an issue they know they can discuss it and we'll do our best to accommodate. I have no idea what you do for a living, but I'm sorry to hear how you feel.
 
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