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Companies Try to Retain Older Workers
LA Times ^ | 9-3-07 | Jonoathon Peterson

Posted on 09/03/2007 11:07:38 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic

Every time John Remore steps up to his workstation to form a piece of sheet metal, he brings an intangible asset to the job: 42 years of experience, dating to lessons from his father.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: business; genx; job; jobs; seniors; skill; workplace
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To: afraidfortherepublic

We used to call that the “tube puller” mentality.


161 posted on 09/03/2007 1:38:17 PM PDT by cinives (On some planets what I do is considered normal.)
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To: RC2; qam1
Preferential treatment? Do you actually believe that this doesn’t happen in any industry? It’s part of life. I never said I couldn’t retain younger workers. My retention rate was amazing.

Then why are beefing about how bad younger workers are?

And don't you think it is just loopy that anyone under 40 is a "Younger Worker"?

162 posted on 09/03/2007 1:39:22 PM PDT by Cogadh na Sith (Gen X: I'll be the 'Junior Guy' until I'm 70.)
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To: Cogadh na Sith

Ah! but I can still HIRE older workers that still want to work, and I look for them every chance I get. Older workers and military vets are gold, in my book.


163 posted on 09/03/2007 1:40:12 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic
Not suggesting you hire them as mechanics.

Just pointing out that mechanics are generally what you want and that mechanic pay has generally gotten worse as the dealers monopolize more and more of the repair work (OBDII extensions that no one but them can read, specialized tools etc). Every senior mechanic I know would be glad to find a better job and are sick of seeing the guy that low balls the repair (and hence their hours) earning more then they do.

You'd be surprise just how little a dealership mechanic with all certs makes. (Kid bro is Honda Gold certified + 20 years. Makes less then I did right out of school.)

164 posted on 09/03/2007 1:42:00 PM PDT by Dinsdale
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To: Cogadh na Sith

You better get off the booze for awhile. I never said young workers were bad. One of the other posters was saying he had a hard time finding good ones.


165 posted on 09/03/2007 1:42:42 PM PDT by RC2
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To: Dinsdale

That is a good suggestion. I’ll sure think about it the next time there is an opening.


166 posted on 09/03/2007 1:45:13 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Dinsdale

I never take my vehicles to a dealer unless I have to. I have an independent mechanic shop in our area that I have used for years. He has very little turn over and great mechanics and he pays them very well. I trust him to the extent that I have told him if he finds anything wrong, other than what I brought the truck in for, just fix it.


167 posted on 09/03/2007 1:46:01 PM PDT by RC2
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To: Cogadh na Sith

What an incredibly horrible and selfish attitude. Just wait until someone hopes YOU don’t live much longer.

Oh, I’m not a boomer, either.


168 posted on 09/03/2007 1:48:25 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Of the potential GOP front runners, FT has one of the better records on immigration.- NumbersUSA)
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To: RC2
You better get off the booze for awhile. I never said young workers were bad.

Previously, RC2 said: Older employees are more reliable, more dedicated to the company and are worth their weight in gold if treated half way decent.

And why do you need to insult me?

Really, don't you think it's loopy that the "younger workers" are in their 40s?

169 posted on 09/03/2007 1:49:31 PM PDT by Cogadh na Sith (Gen X: I'll be the 'Junior Guy' until I'm 70.)
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To: Clintonfatigued
““Companies today demand loyalty but are unwilling to give it to the people that made them big.”

That really sums up the problem of business in America. So many people complain about illegal aliens, but then support outsourcing as free enterprise. Outsourcing foreign labor and hiring illegal aliens are opposite sides of the same coin.”

Bingo - you hit the nail on the head... also upper level managers and presidents typically care about how it effects their stocks and wallets. They don’t spend the money to build the capability, or offer the compensation to the worker that brings the value to the company... So crazy CEO compensation, lack of forethought, bad schooling, cronies, etc are going to take the toll on big businesses.

170 posted on 09/03/2007 1:51:49 PM PDT by mike_9958
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To: Politicalmom
What an incredibly horrible and selfish attitude. Just wait until someone hopes YOU don’t live much longer.

I simply stated a fact: There are no promotions or advancements in my field in defense engineering until the boomers start dying or retiring. According to this article, they aren't retiring.

I'll be the Junior Guy until I'm 70.

171 posted on 09/03/2007 1:51:49 PM PDT by Cogadh na Sith (Gen X: I'll be the 'Junior Guy' until I'm 70.)
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To: Cogadh na Sith

So I did, so I did. But I didn’t say younger workers weren’t any good. Us older folks were raised with much different work ethics than the younger ones. I had a 19 year old secretary one time. After six months she felt she could run the company much better than we did. We had a talk and gave me two weeks notice. I just told her she could go right now. People don’t have the patience to learn any more. They want the top seat without putting in the time.


172 posted on 09/03/2007 1:53:10 PM PDT by RC2
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To: Cogadh na Sith

“I’ll be the Junior Guy until I’m 70.”

Amen..... but I ain’t staying that long. Kinda sucks being on the end of the boomer generation


173 posted on 09/03/2007 1:54:25 PM PDT by mike_9958
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To: Cogadh na Sith

So what you are saying is that it’s more beneficial to you in your career for the older people to die? If you don’t like the situation, leave and go get another job. Don’t blame the people around you for your lack of ability to advance.


174 posted on 09/03/2007 1:55:23 PM PDT by RC2
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To: RC2
Us older folks were raised with much different work ethics than the younger ones.

You're companies would eventually consider you a 'permanent employee as well. I was laid off 4 times when defense contracts were cancelled in the 90s--I have no loyalty to any company and they have none to me.

People don’t have the patience to learn any more. They want the top seat without putting in the time.

But there was also the expectation that by putting in the time, you have a shot at the top seat. That is no longer true.

175 posted on 09/03/2007 1:57:31 PM PDT by Cogadh na Sith (Gen X: I'll be the 'Junior Guy' until I'm 70.)
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To: Cogadh na Sith

I will agree with you if all you are doing is “putting in your time”. It’s a competitive world out there. Just about always has been. Be the best at what you do, be willing to take on anyone and prove how good you are. Put in more that just your time. Become an asset to the company rather than just doing what you are told. Again, if you don’t like the situation, get out.


176 posted on 09/03/2007 2:00:51 PM PDT by RC2
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To: GingisK

My thirteen year old son is talking about getting into game designing.

Are you knowledgeable about this? Any tips for the kid? :)


177 posted on 09/03/2007 2:01:13 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Of the potential GOP front runners, FT has one of the better records on immigration.- NumbersUSA)
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To: RC2
It’s a competitive world out there. Just about always has been. Be the best at what you do, be willing to take on anyone and prove how good you are.

Yes, of course, but you can't fight the numbers--companies would rather retain older workers than promote the "younger guys" into their positions.

So you can be the best and still end up waiting around for someone to die to get a promotion.

It's a different world than the one you came up in--people used to retire and people got promoted then....

178 posted on 09/03/2007 2:05:41 PM PDT by Cogadh na Sith (Gen X: I'll be the 'Junior Guy' until I'm 70.)
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To: Yorlik803

I retired early in the face of solid age discrimination. But how can they outsource warehouse work?


179 posted on 09/03/2007 2:05:46 PM PDT by gcruse (...now I have to feed the dog as if nothing has happened.)
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To: Cogadh na Sith

Sounds to me like you have your mind made up that you aren’t ever going to get promoted? If that’s true, you are probably correct and you, most likely, have others believing the same thing. I forced a promotion for myself one time. I told my boss that I could out work anybody he was interviewing for a position that I wanted. Also told him if I didn’t get the promotion, he would have another seat to fill. I had convidence in my abilities and worked my butt off to get where I was. I was also dam good at what I did and loved competition.........many people don’t.


180 posted on 09/03/2007 2:11:12 PM PDT by RC2
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