During the Carter years we sure didn’t know RR was going to come along and make things better, had no idea if anyone could fix the mess at the time. I worked in construction then and it sure tanked- being a young adult around other young adults I do remember jobs were hard to come by, and we were all working hard at whatever job/s we could get just to survive. Most of us had roomates just to get by, I am not seeing that yet on the level it was then.
We did import less oil but we were told we were running out and had to conserve energy- though at the then high prices of fuel trust me we were conserving as much as we could. Interest rates were so high even buying a car was out of the question for most people and I knew several who watched their small businesses fold because they could not afford to borrow money to stay in business waiting for RR to come save us all.
I have no idea if the issues we have now can be solved or when or by who- we didn’t know that either then, trust me. Hindsight is great. We did know things were bad, and we were glad to have jobs.
The whole point is the economy IS bad, so now is not the time to whine and complain about working hard or working holidays. It is a time to be very greatful if one is employed and is not on the street wishing for a job- even a job where employees are expected to work holidays is a blessing not something to whine about.
I am wondering why this whole thread is about Walmart employees working long hours on Thanksgiving due to the whole Black Friday sales- many stores are doing the same- and Walmart competes with those stores. Is it ok for anyone but Walmart to make a big deal of Thanksgiving/Black Friday sales and require their employees to work on a holiday?
NO ONE is forced to work or shop at Walmart. That is the bottom line.
Thanks for your response. Like I told N and GB, I am done here. Have said my piece.
Last Labor Day Holiday I was on the Meijer’s web-site for about 16 hours solid filling out job apps for EVERY job open in a 20 mile radius. I received ZERO call-back. That was the LAST time I ever inquired what was going on at Meijer (after two years maintenance of my job-profile). Maybe Walmart might be somthing for me to look into.
In the local city-weekly jobs are advertised ALL the time. Like the job needing TWO years experience to run a specific type of lawn mower. I told the guy: “You put helicopter blades on the damn thing and I could fly it; you put ordinance on it and I can destroy your enemies.”
We need two years experience with that particular model of lawn mower.
I applied for a clerk at some roach motel: “do you have a degree in or at least two years verifiable experience in the hospitality industry?”
Despite my 20 year history as software analyst/developer, and Michigan’s “No Worker Left Behind” footing college at the local community school so as to upgrade 20 years experience - legacy software - with object-oriented coding, systems analysis & design, some data-base, a smattering of web-design & development, networks, and a grounding in business information systeem security I’ve had TWO interviews since completing my classes May 2010.
I began to work as a professional fund-raiser for $7.40 / hr / 20 hr / wk Jun 2011.
I have NO sympathy for whatever nattering nabobs are muttering about.