Lest I fall into the trap of the mainstream media and only report bad news:
Carl is 22, he came in as part of the 2nd wave, last August (the recent hirings are 4th wave). I knew he was going to be a father, he's been excited about it since he found out. Carl has been on time every day except when he asked to go for an ultra-sound with his girl friend 2 months ago. Monday I overheard a conversation between him and some of the guys from the other part of the plant in the canteen.
"Man, what'd you go and get married for. Now she won't get no money from the State"
"I don't care, he's going to have my last name on his birth certificate"
"Man, you stupid. Just shack up then she can get money from the State"
"I don't want money from the State. I want to be married"
"Man, you stupid"
Tell me at least part of the problem in the black community isn't cultural.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
(Relatively) painless
O.K. All hired up and fully staffed after just 3 days of interviews. As mentioned earlier, sleeper B is back for a second chance, and one more young man was hired. He had the complete 2 year automotive course in high school, so maybe he can move up into a mechanic's spot later. Also hired- 1 young lady with computer skills. She's starting out in the testing laboratory, but she may wind up as a clerk for the production area.
The others are all 35 years old (+). One guy has what can only be described as contagious enthusiasm. He worked one job for 14 years, before the plant shut down. He then got his liscence to drive trucks, but didn't like being away from home. 2 other woment were hired as well for quality control and/or the testing laboratory.
Keep your fingers crossed.
The others are all 35 years old (+). One guy has what can only be described as contagious enthusiasm. He worked one job for 14 years, before the plant shut down. He then got his liscence to drive trucks, but didn't like being away from home. 2 other woment were hired as well for quality control and/or the testing laboratory.
Keep your fingers crossed.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Oh yeah this will do....
Interviewing again- I generraly trust my secretary to "pre-screen" applicants, but she occasionally lets one get through. Remember the young man with the hoodie covering everything but his eyes and nose?
So, she interupts my lunch saying she has one I "really need to talk to." O.K. I tell her to bring her on down. It turns out to be an extremely pulchritudinous young woman wearing a halter top and low riser jeans. She has enough metal through holes in her ears, lips, cheeks, and eyebrows to make a new machine for the plant. Tattoed on her right forearm in large letters is "Bossy", on her abdomen just above her jeans is "Delicious", in the back partially obscured by the elastic of her exposed thong is "Lickit". I give her the tour of the plant just like I do all the other applicants who make it past Lauri, and it becomes apparent she is acquainted with several of the guys on the floor. As we walk past each work area the guys stop to watch. "O.K. I'll have to fuss at the guys" I think. It's their problem, not hers.
Until we are walking out of the department and she stops at the door, leans forward to put her hands on her knees, and grinds her hips for about 1.5 seconds.
It took me 30 minutes to get the guys back on task. I'm afraid she might be a disruption.
I asked Lauri what the hell she was thinking. She implied she owed me one for something but was vague about it.
I didn't hire the young lady because she didn't have the computer skills I was looking for.
So, she interupts my lunch saying she has one I "really need to talk to." O.K. I tell her to bring her on down. It turns out to be an extremely pulchritudinous young woman wearing a halter top and low riser jeans. She has enough metal through holes in her ears, lips, cheeks, and eyebrows to make a new machine for the plant. Tattoed on her right forearm in large letters is "Bossy", on her abdomen just above her jeans is "Delicious", in the back partially obscured by the elastic of her exposed thong is "Lickit". I give her the tour of the plant just like I do all the other applicants who make it past Lauri, and it becomes apparent she is acquainted with several of the guys on the floor. As we walk past each work area the guys stop to watch. "O.K. I'll have to fuss at the guys" I think. It's their problem, not hers.
Until we are walking out of the department and she stops at the door, leans forward to put her hands on her knees, and grinds her hips for about 1.5 seconds.
It took me 30 minutes to get the guys back on task. I'm afraid she might be a disruption.
I asked Lauri what the hell she was thinking. She implied she owed me one for something but was vague about it.
I didn't hire the young lady because she didn't have the computer skills I was looking for.
Second Chances
I'm giving Sleeper B a 2nd chance. His father works for me and swears the boy learned his lesson. Out of courtesy and respect to his father as much as anything I'm bringing him back. I am even a little optimistic that he will work out this time.
A little....
A little....
Sunday, April 15, 2007
How does a guy...
get ot be just a little bit "dangerous?"
all my adult life people, especially women, have judged me to be "safe." Whenever we are out (the beach, NY city, etc) people ask me to take their picture with their camers because I look "safe" or "trustworthy." I guess I'm all... somebody (Ward Cleaver, maybe?) and not the least bit Hugh Jackman.
Today on the flight from Amsterdam to Birmingham (pronounced Birmnghm) I was seated next to a lady with a midlands English accent who was my age, maybe a year or 2 younger. We talked prior to take-off, but me being 6'3" and 265 lbs, and her having a Reubinesque figure we were a little tight against the arm rest between us. After we were airborn she folded the armrest up then shifted her weight to right hip, which pressed her left hip fully against me. She must have felt me tense up becauase she turned and said "It's alright love- I'm safe and so are you."
I replied "Oh no, I might be dangerous and one of those men your mother warned you about."
"No, your quite harmless. Your eyes give you away" and with that she turned back around again pressed against me with her left side.
So, how do I lose the Ward Cleaver and get a little Wolverine going?
all my adult life people, especially women, have judged me to be "safe." Whenever we are out (the beach, NY city, etc) people ask me to take their picture with their camers because I look "safe" or "trustworthy." I guess I'm all... somebody (Ward Cleaver, maybe?) and not the least bit Hugh Jackman.
Today on the flight from Amsterdam to Birmingham (pronounced Birmnghm) I was seated next to a lady with a midlands English accent who was my age, maybe a year or 2 younger. We talked prior to take-off, but me being 6'3" and 265 lbs, and her having a Reubinesque figure we were a little tight against the arm rest between us. After we were airborn she folded the armrest up then shifted her weight to right hip, which pressed her left hip fully against me. She must have felt me tense up becauase she turned and said "It's alright love- I'm safe and so are you."
I replied "Oh no, I might be dangerous and one of those men your mother warned you about."
"No, your quite harmless. Your eyes give you away" and with that she turned back around again pressed against me with her left side.
So, how do I lose the Ward Cleaver and get a little Wolverine going?
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Greetings from amster-Amster
dam-dam-dam
It's wierd- I'm tapped in through the wireless network at Schipol Airport, and all the blogspot instructions are in Dutch.
It's wierd- I'm tapped in through the wireless network at Schipol Airport, and all the blogspot instructions are in Dutch.
Friday, April 13, 2007
What's a Man(ager) to do?
O.K. I get permission from ownership this morning to add a foreman($10.50/hr), an operator($9.80), a serviceman ($9.20), and 2 wash machine operators ($8.00).
5 new people to hire, in addition to 2 replacements.
I will promote for the foreman position, so will really be hiring 2 operators. I am now faced with considering lowering my standards and hiring extra bodies to fill in for slackers. I really don't want to go there. If I do, the wage rate will be reduced to pay 3 people what 2 would normally make.
I ain't gonna do it. I will keep hiring and firing until I am staffed with good, reliable people. I have to remind myself that I have 190 people and 175 of those are stable. I have 2 sub-30 year olds with potential to be foremen.
(When I told HR I didn't want to talk to anyone under 30, he said "Aw, come on. There's some good kids out there" to which I replied "I know. And what I haven't already hired already have jobs, only the sorry ones are left)
Wish me luck. Anyone need a job? 50 hours/week, time and a half over 40. The cost of living is really low here.
5 new people to hire, in addition to 2 replacements.
I will promote for the foreman position, so will really be hiring 2 operators. I am now faced with considering lowering my standards and hiring extra bodies to fill in for slackers. I really don't want to go there. If I do, the wage rate will be reduced to pay 3 people what 2 would normally make.
I ain't gonna do it. I will keep hiring and firing until I am staffed with good, reliable people. I have to remind myself that I have 190 people and 175 of those are stable. I have 2 sub-30 year olds with potential to be foremen.
(When I told HR I didn't want to talk to anyone under 30, he said "Aw, come on. There's some good kids out there" to which I replied "I know. And what I haven't already hired already have jobs, only the sorry ones are left)
Wish me luck. Anyone need a job? 50 hours/week, time and a half over 40. The cost of living is really low here.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Well, this one was really disappointing
Nick started work March 28. He interviewed nicely, well spoken, polite, dressed decently in a striped polo shirt and a pair of jeans that actually fit him. After the interview and on the spot job offer we chit chatted on the way back to HR to process paperwork. Turns out he's 19 year old half brother to one of #3 son's best friends. They have the same father. I know the family, a farm family. I was curious why he was coming to work here, but glad he was.
"My Granddad thinks I need experience outside the farm and family"
Well, I can appreciate that.
I placed him in the new warehouse/distribution center. His job was to stack finished product on pallets and make sure all the inventory control labels were facing the same direction. Being a strapping young man I thought it was a good fit.
1st day, he shows up and clocks in at 6:59. He drives a 3 year old dual cab Dodge 4 wheel drive truck with a diesel engine, gigantic tires, and a lift kit so high he has to climb what looks like a ladder to get in. Easily $35,000 worth of truck.
2nd day, 6:57. That would be the earliest he gets in.
3rd day, 15 minutes late. When explained to him that he was expected to be at work at 7:00, he said "Well the others get things started up and I don't really have anything to do till 7:15."
I explained that 1) that was my decision, not his 2) As he was trained there would be startup duties assigned to him requiring his presence and 3) that was my decision, not his.
His 2nd week, he was late 2 of 5 days. When I asked what was going on, he just said "I just have a hard time getting up. I get here as soon as I can."
Monday this week he again comes in 12 minutes late. I pull him aside and explain that scheduled hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., subject to be expanded in the evenings as business picks up.
"Look, I can still get my job done even if I'm not here at 7:00"
So I explained "All us Boss types have our hot buttons. Mine is attendance and being on time. You have never worked for anyone but your Grandfather so you don't have a grasp of things on a factory job, but let me make it clear- you don't set policy here."
Yesterday the marketing manager for the parent company was down from up north. He was explaining to the warehouse crew the importance of what they do and how they are the last to touch the product before the customer gets it. He is explaining to Nick the importance of stacking the product on a pallet neatly and presenting a professional package when it arrives at the customers dock. Nick is looking at the ceiling like some 2nd grader during math class. I say to Nick "Pay attention please". This causes the visitor to look up just as Nick rolls his eyes. Needless to say, that resulted in a minor tongue lashing for me.
Also yesterday Quality Control released the first production lot of a new product. This resulted in me scheduling the warehouse group to work till 5:00 the remainder of this week and also on Saturday.
"Naw, I'm racing 4-wheelers this Saturday. I won't be here."
"It is a scheduled work day. Attendance is not optional"
After the warehouse manager and I left to attend meetings he apparently (as reported by his co-workers) kicked in the front of a vending machine and walked out saying
"Fuck this shit. I just want enough hours to buy gas and go out on the weekends."
His mother is a friend of my secretary. She has told me today that she is one of these mothers who heaps praise on for all things, minor or major. Turns out Nick didn't like getting his feelings hurt over not doing a good job when the visiting dignitary fussed yesterday. And his mother didn't understand why I couldn't let him go to the races this weekend.
I'm sure Taco Bell or KFC will be glad to accomodate him. Of course, at $5.15/hour instead of $9.20 he'll have to work a few more hours. Bless his heart, it's just hard to live on minimum wage.
"My Granddad thinks I need experience outside the farm and family"
Well, I can appreciate that.
I placed him in the new warehouse/distribution center. His job was to stack finished product on pallets and make sure all the inventory control labels were facing the same direction. Being a strapping young man I thought it was a good fit.
1st day, he shows up and clocks in at 6:59. He drives a 3 year old dual cab Dodge 4 wheel drive truck with a diesel engine, gigantic tires, and a lift kit so high he has to climb what looks like a ladder to get in. Easily $35,000 worth of truck.
2nd day, 6:57. That would be the earliest he gets in.
3rd day, 15 minutes late. When explained to him that he was expected to be at work at 7:00, he said "Well the others get things started up and I don't really have anything to do till 7:15."
I explained that 1) that was my decision, not his 2) As he was trained there would be startup duties assigned to him requiring his presence and 3) that was my decision, not his.
His 2nd week, he was late 2 of 5 days. When I asked what was going on, he just said "I just have a hard time getting up. I get here as soon as I can."
Monday this week he again comes in 12 minutes late. I pull him aside and explain that scheduled hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., subject to be expanded in the evenings as business picks up.
"Look, I can still get my job done even if I'm not here at 7:00"
So I explained "All us Boss types have our hot buttons. Mine is attendance and being on time. You have never worked for anyone but your Grandfather so you don't have a grasp of things on a factory job, but let me make it clear- you don't set policy here."
Yesterday the marketing manager for the parent company was down from up north. He was explaining to the warehouse crew the importance of what they do and how they are the last to touch the product before the customer gets it. He is explaining to Nick the importance of stacking the product on a pallet neatly and presenting a professional package when it arrives at the customers dock. Nick is looking at the ceiling like some 2nd grader during math class. I say to Nick "Pay attention please". This causes the visitor to look up just as Nick rolls his eyes. Needless to say, that resulted in a minor tongue lashing for me.
Also yesterday Quality Control released the first production lot of a new product. This resulted in me scheduling the warehouse group to work till 5:00 the remainder of this week and also on Saturday.
"Naw, I'm racing 4-wheelers this Saturday. I won't be here."
"It is a scheduled work day. Attendance is not optional"
After the warehouse manager and I left to attend meetings he apparently (as reported by his co-workers) kicked in the front of a vending machine and walked out saying
"Fuck this shit. I just want enough hours to buy gas and go out on the weekends."
His mother is a friend of my secretary. She has told me today that she is one of these mothers who heaps praise on for all things, minor or major. Turns out Nick didn't like getting his feelings hurt over not doing a good job when the visiting dignitary fussed yesterday. And his mother didn't understand why I couldn't let him go to the races this weekend.
I'm sure Taco Bell or KFC will be glad to accomodate him. Of course, at $5.15/hour instead of $9.20 he'll have to work a few more hours. Bless his heart, it's just hard to live on minimum wage.
Friday, April 6, 2007
No surprise, he didn't make it
C, 23 year old father of 5 by 2 different mothers, was allowed one tardy or abscence between March 24 and June 8, as detailed below. Last Friday (day after payday) he was 35 minutes late, and confessed to being hung over. This morning he didn't come in, then finally 1 hour 25 minutes after shift change left me a message on the voice mail that he had to go to the Dr but could I please give him one more chance. I have collected his time card, when he shows up I will escort him right back out. He'll beg and plead on behalf of his 5 children, and I will have to be a heartless capitalist bastard, but again I assert: I will help someone up to the same amount they are trying to help themselves. If he really wants to take care of his children he should quit caroussing and partying.
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