>>>Chaz: your initial post, way back there somewhere, certainly implied that you were a disaffected, underpaid, underemployed, whining malcontent. If you aren't - then good for you. <<<
>>>No, absolutely wrong. You have a knee-jerk political outlook and you read what you wanted to read. I won't ask you to go to the trouble of rereading the post - that would be too much trouble. And would prove you wrong, of course. You might even consider that well-deserved, clear apology.
I stand by my statement. I read what you said, and thought what I thought. As I said before, if you are a happy guy, then hurrah for you.
>>> BTW, someone implied that at my previous company, we spent little on employee training. Very wrong. <<<
>> So what was your per employee average cost of training? I know you know it - it was a line item on your books.
You know I know. Very good. I can always use a good mind-reader. It was not a separate line item - it certainly wasn't isolated, and it did not include things like salaries. for example, if someone took a week off to learn a new tool, but did it from a book he borrowed as opposed to a class - was that zero, or $2,000? BTw, what difference does it make? My job was to get products out the door, and generate revenue and eventually, a profit. As a practical matter, the best way to do this was to challenge the employees, give them a productive environment and freedom. We also had to compensate them competitively. I really wasn't charged with babysitting them - nor did they want it or need it. Oh yes - although I wasn't trying to make the world a better place, I wasn't making it any worse, either.
why is it a company's responsibility to hold the hands of its employees? It may be good business, but is it a responsibility, as you seem to imply?
>>>I honestly don't spend 2 minutes/month worrying about the $5.75/hour folks. You gotta compartmentalize somewhere. I've made my choice.<<<
So what did you pay the janitor there? Did he/she have a pension and stock options? Kids? Time to go to school? Do you know?
Actually, I knew the janitor reasonably well. He had his own service business, and the office complex in which we were tenants was one of his clients. He seemed pretty happy, and seemed to make a good living. He also seemed well educated, and made a choice to be janitor (actually, to have his own one man business). He had no kids, and wasn't married. I personally gave him a bonus at Christmas, which was identical to that I gave our VPs and directors. He said I was the only tenant in the whole complex to do that. I think he did a better job then some of them - certainly more critical to our success.
>>>Do you eat lunch every day, knowing that the person waiting on you legally doesn't even have to be paid minimum wage, and not let that affect your tip?
Personally, I find it best to not leave any tip. That teaches them the value of getting a good education.
>>>Just how far does this alienation from the people around you go? Do you care if an Hispanic PC board cleaner in San Jose breathes solvent all day that will jelly his or her brain in 10 years, for 7 bucks an hour?
No, actually, I really don't. Do you care? What's the Hispanic part got to do with it? What about other ethnic groups? What do you do about it? do you go down there, with your 3X market hourly rate and buy them air masks or ventilators? Why not?
DO you care about the homeless people in your town? Do you talk to them? Do you invite them into your home for a good meal and a night's sleep? Do you drive an automobile? Doesn't that affect our precious natural resources? Do you watch TV? Doesn't that encourage mindless broadcast drivel? What size monitor do you own? Shouldn't you own a monochrome 13 incher, so as to also have the least impact on society?
Get a grip Chuck. I decided a long time ago that I couldn't change everything in the world, and would focus only on that which I can impact. My personal preference - you have yours.
I have contributed to the building of companies which have enabled hundreds of people to feed their families, send their kids to college, go on nice vacations, and have the right benefits so that they can see a doctor when they are sick. Some of these people are top execs, and some are people who work in the shipping department. All got stock options, and all got decent benefits.
Have you ever made decisions about trading off things like disability insurance vs. bigger bonuses? How about insurance vs. more marketing - which could lead to more sales, leading to more bonuses for EVERYONE. How about deciding to fire someone, for the greater good?
chuck, talk about being knee-jerk... |
