I can’t wrap my head around why people are afraid of hard work. I have been in my career for 15 years and have always been hungry for more work.
I just got off the phone with my boss asking for 1 more guy to come work in Maine with me. He has nobody available. We can’t find laborers at all. Hell we have 30 openings for immediate hire, we have wiped temp agency’s dry.
I drive by 10-15 people a day begging for money. I hand them applications to my company and they get torn up.
All I need is 1 laborer. 1 guy to stuff foam in a hole for $18 an hour. Nobody wants it.
When I was growing up I was taught work ethic, hard work gets results etc. nowadays nobody wants to do a fucking thing.
Yes it’s hard work, yes we work long hours and long days, yes I expect you to show up on time with jeans and boots, yes I will push you to be better than I am. I will teach you, I will mentor you, I will train you to be the best concrete repair guy I can. But for the love of god have the will to work.

quote:

Originally posted by ffemt44:
Yes it’s hard work.

There’s your answer.

I want my free shit....

I've been doing my job for 21 years. Most that I have contact with seem to work a few months to maybe a year then want to just getting the free money.

I have been told that the average age of a guy in the trades is 40yrs old.
I just turned 65 and plan to work as long as I am able. I am slowing down some and being more selective about which jobs I take.
1.Young people are NOT taught to work any more.
2. The education system has convinced every one they need a college education or they can't make good money.(Go in debt to get said education)
I see in the very near future, the guys in the trades that are good ( not hacks) will be able to command any price they want, and you will have to wait for them if you want them.

Hard to get people who grew up getting a trophy for being alive to actually do anything difficult.
Especially when the government pays them $15 an hour to stay home and watch reruns.

Until the last 50-60 years, one had to work, at a job, or on your own, farm, etc. if you were able to, or do without unless you had family willing to support you.

These people believe that the folks working hard are the 'suckers'.

All of the above.

There are likely hundreds of reasons, but the one I see most often is pride. Too proud to work.

We never had free stuff, you worked or you didn't have. I worked on a section gang for the UP & later Burlington Northern had 5 years gandydancing, loved it.Worked digging foundations, mixing mud and laying blocks. I was given that stoop labor job because I was younger than the others, worked my way up to a bricklayer & stone mason. It was hard work & I loved it. I believed those jobs kept me in shape because they were physically hard. I loved hard work, I'd do those jobs all over again.

In today's world, guys can't pass drug tests, some deliberately fail, claim disability. Deadbeats all! I never knew such people growing up, wouldn't have anything to do with them. Bums.

They are too heavy for light work and too light for heavy work.

And, they want everything handed to them. Because they are ENTITLED.

Socialism isnt as popular as it is for no reason. Especially among the younger people. The rest of us are to busy working. Regards 18DAI

They are lazy and they get a pass. I get up at 2:45AM and work hard, get all the overtime I can, and my taxes to to some doper bum. I hate it.

quote:

Originally posted by rexles:
1.Young people are NOT taught to work any more.
2. The education system has convinced every one they need a college education or they can't make good money.(Go in debt to get said education).

You nailed it. Get a degree. Any degree. A bullshit degree and when you can’t find a good job you become the man or woman working in Starbucks or Home Depot for minimum. Trade schools are not even a remote consideration in the public education system. In New England we have a shortage of plumbers, laborers, welders, etc. and many kids who are interested can’t pass a background check or a drug test.

I’ve been saying for the last 30 years: it’s too easy to NOT work.

Lazy kids generally turn into lazy adults. As soon as I was big enough to carry a stick of wood or recognize what tools my dad was asking for, I was expected to work. If I wanted something I had to find a way to make money. Very rarely was I given money without earning it. Majority of 20-40 year olds now? Never had to earn a thing.

quote:

Originally posted by PD:

quote:

Originally posted by rexles:
1.Young people are NOT taught to work any more.
2. The education system has convinced every one they need a college education or they can't make good money.(Go in debt to get said education).

You nailed it. Get a degree. Any degree. A bullshit degree and when you can’t find a good job you become the man or woman working in Starbucks or Home Depot for minimum. Trade schools are not even a remote consideration in the public education system. In New England we have a shortage of plumbers, laborers, welders, etc. and many kids who are interested can’t pass a background check or a drug test.

At least a third of my fellow alumni, right there, and the message beaten into my entire high school graduating class.

Didn't help that the Clinton Administration pushed for a technology based economy. Anyone else remember that?
Public schools started discontinuing shop classes. The high school I attended 68-71 had a great "shop wing", they taught automotive, wood, machine shop, welding, electronics, drafting. All that went away mid 2000's, the school district felt there was no need for it any longer, not enough students were signing up for the classes.

My auto shop teacher retired the last school day of that year, 32 years was enough. He said the last ten years he was more babysitter than teacher, very few wanted to learn, most just wanted what was perceived as an easy grade.

Why do people beg on the side of the road instead of work?

One reason, they can set their own hours. Another, all profit work, no withholding of taxes. Don't have to "work" the next day if they do exceptionally well the previous day. Bad weather, no problem, stay indoors. Because they are not on the books, they can qualify for EBT, housing subsidies. They can get free medical services. They may be able to get free education designed to someday put them back in the job market.

And probably other benefits that I am not aware of.

quote:

Public schools started discontinuing shop classes. The high school I attended 68-71 had a great "shop wing", they taught automotive, wood, machine shop, welding, electronics, drafting. All that went away mid 2000's, the school district felt there was no need for it any longer, not enough students were signing up for the classes.

I loved wood shop, metal shop and drafting, all of which served me well in some ways years later. Sad state these days.

Wish I could find this cartoon I saw recently. It had 2 men sitting at one table apiece. One had a sign reading "earn your black belt here". 2-3 people in line. The other had a sign reading "free black belts here". The line wrapped around and out of sight.