Recruiting Blog Home > OVERALLS, ANYONE? What’s happening to our work ethic?!
Jan 13, 2010
by Nanci Lamborn - BrightMove Recruiting Software
“I’m sorry. I really need to stop you there.”
I was right in the middle of an interview, explaining in detail the job description, work environment, and company culture to the candidate. On paper this applicant looked like an ideal match, and after the usual grueling question and answer sessions this one really seemed promising. At her surprising request I halted my discourse with eyebrows raised, as I had never been stopped mid-spiel by a candidate before. Was I speaking too fast? Perhaps she had a question on one of the responsibilities. Wrong! She cleared up my silly misinterpretation rather quickly.
“I really just don’t want to work that hard. I wouldn’t be interested in the role as you described it.”
Wait… WHAT?!?! I certainly did not just hear that… oops, she’s standing up to leave, there she goes… Say SOMETHING!
I finally managed to mumble out some drivel about thankful and honesty and nice day, shook her hand, and retreated to the break room for a much needed coffee and chocolate fix. Still to this day, I cannot believe that a bright, educated, skilled, and rather UNEMPLOYED individual could look a potential new employer in the eye and admit that they just didn’t want to work that hard. I wonder what sort of work this candidate would have considered to be to her liking? Perhaps a job as a part time food critic or an aromatherapist with a South Pacific cruise line would be more aligned with her definition of work.
And just when I thought I had seen everything, a temporary staffing agency sent me a new short term worker who, after less than ten minutes into orientation announced “You know I just realized that this assignment is going to mess up my unemployment, so I’ll be leaving now.”
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?!?!
When looking into recent stories about the noticeable decline in the American work ethic, I ran across some rather interesting articles, many of which seem to point to an initial similar decline in the work ethic of American students. Professor Kara Miller of BabsonCollegereceived some rather harsh criticism, some from her own fellow staffers, for her recent article about the atrocious attitudes that she observes daily from some students (http://tinyurl.com/y9ooe64). And one Human Resources professional, Dan Sinas of Personnel Resources in Dothan, AL, will be releasing a book in early 2010 titled Job Killers (http://tinyurl.com/yjh3rqd) in which he identifies government interference and a declining work ethic as the two largest job killers in our nation today. The Sinas book offers some potentially excellent solutions for the government element, but what about the poor work ethic element? Sweeping infrastructural and political change simply cannot force Ms. Unemployment to want to work harder.
Then we have the “Entitlement” factor, the seemingly growing groups of the currently employed workforce who believe that they are truly entitled to blow off some of their workday and get paid for it. Considering the national flack that Fidelity received over its recent termination of four workers for playing fantasy football on company time, (http://tinyurl.com/y9vjnwv) it seems that many otherwise intelligent Americans truly think taking time and resources from a company really isn’t all that bad. Wait a minute… taking something that doesn’t belong to you… didn’t that used to be called stealing?
The sad part of this work ethics quandary is that there really is no tangible answer (aside from smacking a few heads, for which I would certainly get into legal trouble and have only sore hands to show for it). I do believe that the growing numbers of those who think they are quite entitled to that cruise ship assignment are making the job of recruiters much more difficult. How many of these eleventy-seven resumes in front of me represent someone who will actually perform the work I need when I need it for the wage offered? Ten percent? Twenty-five? Scary numbers even at fifty percent, but recent personal experience confirms that of ten candidates who walk through my door, at least five will not demonstrate even the most basic drive or motivation. Some days, the percentage has been zero.
So I’ll keep looking for the diamond employees in the piles of rough, as I nod in agreement to this underappreciated quote by Thomas Edison. “Opportunityis missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
Anyone up for wearing some overalls today?
Nanci Lamborn
BrightMove Recruiting Staff Writer
By Joanne Lucas on Jan 12, 2010
I agree…I’m a Gemini…I can see both sides…without the unemployment, more people would lose their homes…but for some, it’s comfortable. For others, depression has set in and they’re afraid to start working again. I almost wish there were a way to give people a few months of unemployement if they get jobs within a certain time frame…to encourage them to get back to work….and employers need to make decisions to hire…and to eliminate the credit check…how can you fix your credit if you can’t get a job because of the credit?
I can understand if there is cash involved, but most positons require no actual handling of finances, and there should be enough checks and balances to eliminate that…and the person will be happy to work!
By Sarah Welstead on Jan 12, 2010
This made me laugh my head off - I need to write another installment of my Egregiously Bad Candidates series…
(tweeted, BTW)
By Nonah on Jan 12, 2010
For some it may be laziness or lack of work ethic. Yes, I’ve seen that attitude. On the other hand, way too many current job postings have 3 roles (jobs) shoe-horned into one. Now I DO have an intact work ethic (thank you, Prussian ancestors), and I am perfectly happy to work my buns off in ONE job, but I have no interest in getting paid ONE salary and NO overtime to work 55+ -hour weeks to try to do what is in reality THREE jobs. Oh yeah, and it’s likely to have no health insurance, vacation, or sick days, either.
Oh, but let’s call it a “contract,” OK? Even though I’m using YOUR equipment, have to meet YOUR schedule, and follow YOUR employee rules. Something is seriously wrong with this picture that has nothing to do with being a slacker.
By Thomas on Jan 13, 2010
Nanci it is really unfortunate that the first two comments you receive seem to come from the very two candidates personalities you spoke of.
Our american youth need to learn something
Quit living on credit ~ you have none. Our government has assured you a debt that can not be repaid.
Pull up your freaking pants already start speaking properly in a professional environment and DO something that someone else will pay you for.
I am tired of paying you to sit on your butt all day and watch MTV’s “The Real World”, which shockingly to you and quite ironically isn’t the real world.
Get a job. That’s just the way it is.
By Lisa on Jan 13, 2010
I think Nonah has a point. A combination of the advent of email and cell phones has increased the expectations of many professionals to work 24/7 and do the work of 3 people while being paid for 1. Ever heard of the 3 martini lunch that was so popular in the 60s - 80s? No one every questioned the work ethic of those executives that were able to escape the rat race for a couple hours and drink their lunch. Needless to say, that would not be tolerated in this working economy, and it shouldn’t, but the fact that someone is realistic about the amount of work and effort they are willing to put in is a good thing. At least these candidates were honest and Nanci dodged a bullet by avoiding a bad hire.
By Jim on Jan 20, 2010
Nanci,
Great writing!! You certainly addressed one of my hot buttons. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. “Entitlements” and “Government” are synonomous. Bad parenting is mixed in there somewhere, too. Looking at these three elements, the fix is well beyond any single individual, save perhaps a President, or other nfluential and highly visible person, who really had the cojones to publicly villify the growing sector of our population who think watching MTV is real or educational, or who think that drawing 100% disability because they lost a finger in the war is okay (real case, known personally by me). Soooo, the best you can do is to do your part by hiring the best (which certainly takes much greater effort than ever before), and quickly canning those who are too lazy to perform. Over time—probably two generations—there will be a reversion back to a higher work ethic as a result of the visible failure and misery of those who are unwilling to work. Until then, you have to find the shrinking number of people who still possess the qualities you appreciate. Good luck!
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