wemay
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Morale here is great, thanks goodness. Travel Industry
Morale at Work
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As long as I am getting paid more I would not care. Bigger paycheck = better morale from my point of view. Right now for me it is: Decreasing paycheck + more responsibility + abundance of stress, anxiety, etc = bad morale.
I figured the 40 hour week complaint would get a few responses. I’ve been doing it 20 years, and about 18 months of that was 50 hour weeks when I was younger.
If someone wants to work longer, that’s cool. I just see a major problem with any industry that requires someone to work 60 hours a week to maintain a livable wage. Especially in a place like Arizona where the cost of living isn’t all that high. Maybe these people are the sole breadwinner of the household, I’m not sure.
Things will change though. Minimum wage will increase and people will find a better work life balance. It may take five years or fifteen, but it is trending that way. The difference in that regard between most private and public sector jobs is gross, and the gap will close over time.
If someone wants to work longer, that’s cool. I just see a major problem with any industry that requires someone to work 60 hours a week to maintain a livable wage. Especially in a place like Arizona where the cost of living isn’t all that high. Maybe these people are the sole breadwinner of the household, I’m not sure.
Things will change though. Minimum wage will increase and people will find a better work life balance. It may take five years or fifteen, but it is trending that way. The difference in that regard between most private and public sector jobs is gross, and the gap will close over time.
I'll give you this much.
I think the issues here in the US started around 2004, and it was called Performance Based Incentive. This was a sort of plan that seemed to work in the Japanese economy, but somehow, someone failed to translate it correctly to the American worker.
Pretty soon people got tired of telling the lies over and over, and failed to come up with new ones in time for the rating/bonus period.
I don't know if it was ever resolved in time to save the individualism which is a huge asset for the American worker.
I think the issues here in the US started around 2004, and it was called Performance Based Incentive. This was a sort of plan that seemed to work in the Japanese economy, but somehow, someone failed to translate it correctly to the American worker.
Pretty soon people got tired of telling the lies over and over, and failed to come up with new ones in time for the rating/bonus period.
I don't know if it was ever resolved in time to save the individualism which is a huge asset for the American worker.
I was self employed for about 25 years lots of of stress, hours and wore me down physically. Made fantastic money wife was able to stay home raise 3 girls put them through private college live in a nice neighborhood it definitely paid off. I sold my business a few years ago took a civil service job making no money but good benefits and 8 minutes from my house. I laugh at the guys I work with easy job not killing ourselves but they complain non stop . Administration keeps begging me to take civil service tests to move up I have zero interest don't need the headache. At the tail end of my career I like the no pressure.
I'm a dentist with 26 employees and I'd say morale is a 6 or 7 when it's normally an 8 or 9.
Reasons:
1. We've had positions unfilled for over a year now. We had 6 candidates in a row apply, participate in a phone interview, and no-show the in-person interview. We never even get to talk about money and so it's not that but I hear new hires want ridiculous money like $35/hr with no experience for an assistant and $100/hr for a hygienist. That's not going to work even if people show up for the interview.
2. The general public seems more on-edge and grumpy in general and we've had quite a few people who have just been abusive to staff that we've given the boot.
3. The needs of patients seem like they've spiked, probably due to general apathy during CV-19, but many aren't working and can't pay for what they need.
4. We went out of network with some insurances. This always leads to some attrition but in a time when there is +6% inflation some major carriers have decided to cut reimbursement 10-15% or close to a 20% hit. That is not tenable and it's led to a lot more work for the staff having to explain and manage patients.
5. Three very good employees including an office manager got pregnant during CV-19 and they are all out at the same time for maternity leave and that is pushing a lot of their work on others.
6. We normally do a bunch of "team-building" outings and have a number of staff parties every year and we are just getting back to that stuff now. It's important to allow staff to get to know each other outside of work.
I have 7-figures and all my eggs in this basket so, no, I'm not going anywhere!
Reasons:
1. We've had positions unfilled for over a year now. We had 6 candidates in a row apply, participate in a phone interview, and no-show the in-person interview. We never even get to talk about money and so it's not that but I hear new hires want ridiculous money like $35/hr with no experience for an assistant and $100/hr for a hygienist. That's not going to work even if people show up for the interview.
2. The general public seems more on-edge and grumpy in general and we've had quite a few people who have just been abusive to staff that we've given the boot.
3. The needs of patients seem like they've spiked, probably due to general apathy during CV-19, but many aren't working and can't pay for what they need.
4. We went out of network with some insurances. This always leads to some attrition but in a time when there is +6% inflation some major carriers have decided to cut reimbursement 10-15% or close to a 20% hit. That is not tenable and it's led to a lot more work for the staff having to explain and manage patients.
5. Three very good employees including an office manager got pregnant during CV-19 and they are all out at the same time for maternity leave and that is pushing a lot of their work on others.
6. We normally do a bunch of "team-building" outings and have a number of staff parties every year and we are just getting back to that stuff now. It's important to allow staff to get to know each other outside of work.
I have 7-figures and all my eggs in this basket so, no, I'm not going anywhere!
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1. morale is probably at a 6, maybe 4-5 in production areas
2. yes, workload and pay mostly. I have no problem busting a$$ and being a company man but they are hiring laborers and forklift operators at what some of our techs make.
3. no, turning wrenches is all I know. If I were to change I would still be in transportation
4. pay mainly
5. I do industrial maintenance and heavy equipment repair for a large(international) grass seed company. We do a lot more than grass seed at this location though, grass is what put them on the map.
2. yes, workload and pay mostly. I have no problem busting a$$ and being a company man but they are hiring laborers and forklift operators at what some of our techs make.
3. no, turning wrenches is all I know. If I were to change I would still be in transportation
4. pay mainly
5. I do industrial maintenance and heavy equipment repair for a large(international) grass seed company. We do a lot more than grass seed at this location though, grass is what put them on the map.
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I have no argument about people working 40 hours for decent pay versus 50-60. I agree that the days of younger people wanting to move up, get more experience and education and working 50-60 hours a week on salary are over.
And yes, salaries are going to increase.
We will be passing the 30%+ increases, along with increased utilities, fuel, insurance, groceries, housing, etc., on to our clients.
Consumers will be paying for all these increases we pass on.
And yes, salaries are going to increase.
We will be passing the 30%+ increases, along with increased utilities, fuel, insurance, groceries, housing, etc., on to our clients.
Consumers will be paying for all these increases we pass on.
I retired 4 yrs ago . Morale was bad . At that time it had nothing to do with Covid , etc. We had a few bad eggs that had nothing better to do than stir crap and stab people in the back . They brought the whole shop down . Our upper management either contributed to the problem or were oblivious to it . They say it's time to go when it just ain't fun anymore . I don't regret leaving one bit .
Power company , substation maintenance .
Power company , substation maintenance .
I’ve had opportunities in the past to leave for slightly more money but more stress.
I just didn’t feel it was worth it to start all over at a new company with unknown bosses and structure if I was happy where I was at.
In America it’s best to look at your employment as a job..... do your best but don’t lose sleep over something at the workplace you can’t control.
I just didn’t feel it was worth it to start all over at a new company with unknown bosses and structure if I was happy where I was at.
In America it’s best to look at your employment as a job..... do your best but don’t lose sleep over something at the workplace you can’t control.
Japanese were never really "performance based incentive". They all work their butt off and they are seniority based promotion. They don't fire someone unless absolutely have to but they don't pay super well to the top performer either.
My brother owns a dental supply company he tells me the mom and pop dentist is a slowly dying off practice. My dentist tells me it's not the same anymore between the insurance companies and big boys buying out the little guys
That's not just dentists but pretty much medical practice across the board. I previously worked in medical programs administration for the State of Illinois and as soon as federal mandates from Obamacare came down the pipe to the state level there was a mass exodus of private practice providers that ended that existence. Many I knew either retired or joined up with a larger conglomerate. I feel like the long term effects that we've seen to date have been devastating in an incalculable amount of ways to pretty much the entire country.
It's not that "it requires" someone to work 60 hours a week to, "maintain a livable wage". Rather it's the fact many of today's young people are just plain stupid with their money. They want, and try to buy everything they see. And they save virtually nothing in the process.
They buy a $700.00 I-Phone, when they could get by with a $100.00 Motorola. They have to have a $55K SUV or pickup, instead of a $25K Toyota that gets twice the mileage. They whip out credit cards, instead of saving and paying cash. You are starting to see the result of these foolish personal economics. Most don't have a dime saved for any type of emergency.
When I worked overtime, (which was ALL THE TIME), I saved every penny of it, and easily lived on 40 hours. I didn't have a 2,700 sq. ft. house like people buy today. Instead it was barely 1,000 ft. It suited me just fine for over 9 years, until I paid it off. I've never had a mortgage since.
To this very day I have only owned 5 new cars in my entire life. (I just turned 69 last week). 3 of them I still own and drive. I've worked with people who were buying new cars even before they paid off the one they were driving. It's insane. They end up spending more than they earn. Most of it on depreciating assets. And this is becoming the norm in today's society.
People today don't realize that it's not what you make. But rather what you do with it AFTER you make it. Think of it as farming. A farmer buys seeds and plants them. After allowing those seeds to grow into crops, he then harvests that crop as a profitable gain. Today's young "farmers" eat those same seeds as soon as they get them. They have nothing to plant and grow. Most will be working until they drop... Assuming their bodies cooperate. I wish them luck.
DSOs are everywhere offering a large lump sum for you to get rid of the "headaches" of management. They'll give you a 7-figure sum up front and promise you that you can use all the same materials and do things your way. They take a % of your production forever which unless you are older (and in that case, the upfront sum is much smaller) completely wipes out the upfront $ and eventually they dictate everything about your practice from what materials you can use, to how you schedule, to the procedures you need to do.
Delta Dental, started by dentists in 1950's and historically very easy to work with is now run by savage MBA honeybadgers who ****. After 10 years of no to very minimal fee increases, they hatched a plan to decrease reimbursement 30% over the next 3-years which would put their fees at about Medicaid levels. They believe they can do this because they are typically the largest dental insurer in most states. With 55% overhead which is typical for a dental practice, you'd break even seeing DD patients. If your OH is higher you lose money. Of course, DD customers aren't seeing any savings and their premiums are going up too. Did I mention DD had record profits the last few years and their executives are now the highest paid in dental insurance?
Many people’s standard of living is elevated and looks good on surface because they have tons of debt. When the tide goes out during the next bubble you always find out who is skinny dipping.
I wouldn’t blame just “young people.” Plenty of people in their 50s+ who are just as reckless. It’s really a cultural thing that spans all ages today.
so, how does you highlighted statement applies to myself, who worked 80hrs a week on average for the past 10yrs? I worked freezing siberia, smoking hot desert of KSA, soaking wet jungles in West Africa, and you're saying I'm complaining that I've been offered 0.5% raise while inflation is skyrocketing over 6%? typical "upper management" behavior. do yourself a favor, and stay away from such bold statements.
Another thing that will help kill you financially is constant moving, along with buying and selling homes as you go. It's fine after you have your home paid off, and can do so by paying cash for any upgraded living. But the problems surface if you keep starting off with a fresh new 30 year mortgage every time you sell and buy.
I've worked with people in their early 60's who were paying on a new 30 year mortgage. They're going to end up never paying their home off. How can you retire with a mortgage? And most of these same people have car payments to boot. Tack on heavy credit card debt, and they're a financial train wreck waiting to happen.
These are all things that can be easily avoided, if you can manage to put "need" ahead of "want". But once you hop into bed at night, and pull up the covers, and realize the roof over your head belongs to you, and not the bank, it gives you a much better feeling than having an extra 1,000 sq. ft. you don't really need, and you'll be paying on until doomsday.
I've worked with people in their early 60's who were paying on a new 30 year mortgage. They're going to end up never paying their home off. How can you retire with a mortgage? And most of these same people have car payments to boot. Tack on heavy credit card debt, and they're a financial train wreck waiting to happen.
These are all things that can be easily avoided, if you can manage to put "need" ahead of "want". But once you hop into bed at night, and pull up the covers, and realize the roof over your head belongs to you, and not the bank, it gives you a much better feeling than having an extra 1,000 sq. ft. you don't really need, and you'll be paying on until doomsday.
Fair enough, but where ever this stupid incentive plan came from, it's horrible to work under.
Where I worked last, moral depended on pecking order amongst peers in certain groups.
I was often asked to work Saturdays and Sundays to help production meet semi-arbitrary deadlines; that gets
to be a drag REAL fast if it is more the rule than the exception.
Then there was manager back stabbing and retribution going on due to some bizarre conflict in the front office,
and my department somehow was too often on the receiving end.
Put tragic family issue on top of all this and ... I QUIT.
I told the boss this when he was up visiting our North Campus from from Columbia, MD.
He said, "You have been mentioning and threatening this for years." So, that afternoon, I typed up a formal letter of resignation - including a two weeks' notice - put it in a manila envelop with his name and title on it, and "served" it.
I was often asked to work Saturdays and Sundays to help production meet semi-arbitrary deadlines; that gets
to be a drag REAL fast if it is more the rule than the exception.
Then there was manager back stabbing and retribution going on due to some bizarre conflict in the front office,
and my department somehow was too often on the receiving end.
Put tragic family issue on top of all this and ... I QUIT.
I told the boss this when he was up visiting our North Campus from from Columbia, MD.
He said, "You have been mentioning and threatening this for years." So, that afternoon, I typed up a formal letter of resignation - including a two weeks' notice - put it in a manila envelop with his name and title on it, and "served" it.
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