These days, there is a particular line drawn between employers and employees. There was a time when every second person you met was out there looking for a job.
There were many reasons why people were unemployed, ranging from lack of opportunity, being under-qualified, wages being too-small, not being considered because of demographics (like where you live or come from), or based on your looks, your academic achievement, your ethnic background, etc.
But much of what seemed to have been a hindrance now seems to be in the past. These days, much more work is readily available, especially in the hospitality industry, in the field of construction or as a tradesman. There is also a larger variety of businesses, meaning more work available in the public and private sectors, plus self-employment also seems to be a modern-day option.
Yet, regardless of the better opportunities, better pay and more variety and choice of employment, there is still a major problem when it comes to efficiency, consistency, commitment, discipline, regularity and remaining focused.
Some employees complain about everything — from how to get to work on time — always blaming “the weather”, or “nobody to watch the children”, or “lack of upward development on the job,” “stagnancy”, their bosses and managers “not being fair” and the list goes on.
When it comes to employers, they have to deal with frequent lateness, having to remind their employees daily about their roles, the amount of time they keep spending on their phones or Social Media, as well as the other taken “breaks” for various other reasons while on the job, yet with bad attitudes towards customers and clients, as well as maintaining standards and qualify.
Plenty people want to earn good wages but will not reciprocate by offering quality service. Some will not enhance their standards or skills through further education or improve standards by learning to be the best at what they do. And one of the major problems is being employed today, and gone tomorrow, because of impatience.
Some are never satisfied because they are wasteful with their wages, others live way-above their means and some think only about the pay and not the work they were hired to do to earn it.
Some employers like to cut corners, think firstly of their profits, rather than standards. Some are non-appreciative of their employees’ efforts, and some would use and abuse some workers, like having them work overtime without due rewards and no bonus when things are good.
I have said all that to say that, in general, both parties are at fault and adjustments are seldom in the equation.
There are areas of employment that can grow where one can become better skilled, move from one stage to another, accept collective responsibility, be more collaborative and proactive, and treat all business like your own.
Both sides (employers and workers) try to rip-off each other – employers by not paying good wages and not tolerating trade unions and workers cheating on the job and stealing if the opportunity arises, and that is one of the reasons that there is so much discontentment in most work environments.
Every employer complains about poor work ethics, low productivity, lack of initiatives, lack of trust in the workforce, and in some cases, they actually need to monitor employees more closely, daily. On the other side of the coin, employees consider that even when business is booming and successful and profitable, they don’t benefit.
Nobody wants to give and take, avoid splitting hairs, be grateful for having a job, or being satisfied with the present and hoping that better will come tomorrow. We need to reset our attitudes, be more-honest to ourselves, as well as to be aware of our weaknesses — and sometimes our negative attitudes.
Work seldom kills, a good day’s work deserves a good day’s pay and respect has to come into the equation from both sides.
The young need to learn and be taught and mentored, seasoned employees need to be helpful and supportive, and learners need to be more respectful to their elders and more-seasoned line-staff members and managers, and this is the only way we can progress in this seemingly God-forsaken country of ours.
Leaders must lead by example and with wisdom and adopt sincere attitudes and employees must deal with the reality of their survival, remembering that in life, “No pain, No gain” and nobody owes you anything, not even an assured job, because you have to attain greatness and satisfaction from what you put in, from your everyday endeavors in life.
There are no shortcuts and there is no easy way out because if you do not sow the effort, you will not reap the rewards of your labor; and further, not growing on the job and remaining stagnant and disinterested in growth is surely going to be your downfall — and only regrets will be the outcome.
One day you may own your own business, but only then will you realize that the attitudes your staff now display is exactly how you reacted when you too was an employee.
And remember always to make hay while the sun shines.