I honestly think this is a bit of a generational thing. There definitely seems to be a shift in the quality and productivity of employees in the last generation. In fact we had a huge discussion about this is our last mangement meeting. Work ethic seems to be the biggie, as a lot of the new hires don't understand that going the extra mile, or working a few extra minutes, or hours, without being asked, is what makes a good managerial candidate. It shows you care for the company, and yourself. We are also having the same problems with people obeying the house rules and policies, and punctuality is defintely one of the big problems that seem to have surfaced the last 5 years or so.
A lot of it I think has to do with the pussification of employers, and managers nowadays. Everyone in trying to create these super cool neato places to work, and laying out the red carpet for employees, and are getting walked on in the process by setting this new precedent, that the employees are doing the employer a favour by being there, when in reality, it should be the other way around.
I worked for a guy in the early-mid 90's when I was in my late teens early 20's who was f'n old school. I was a total smart ass but the guy thought I had potential, and decided instead of firing me, he was going to reform me. I was a minute late, I lost an hour for every minute on my paycheque, well I was never late ever.. after the first paycheque I lost 7 hours. I was showing up ushaven quite often. So one day he pulls out a rusty bic razor, handed me the gojo pumice hand cleaner, and told me to go shave in the bathroom. I laughed and he said "if yout think this is funny, pack your sh*t, go home, and don't come back." I shaved that day with a the rusty razor and gojo, and never showed up ever again unshaven. The store opened at 7:30, and the floors had to be mopped, swept, and all the displays wiped down before the store was unlocked, and a customer came in. If it wasn't done, I had to also clean the crappers as well when he got in at 8:00. Eventually I ended up runing the guys franchise and got picked off as a district manager on the corporate side a few years later.
Looking back now, I look at Vic as the best employer I ever had, because I learned how to become a company guy, and follow the company rules. I have the same respect for my employers now, as I did for him. It was his money, and he made the rules. Also, I learned so much from that guy about running a business it was scary. I owe everything I have now to the guy in one way or another, as much as an ass as he was sometimes, now we are great friends.
I almost wish some of the young guys that work for me now, would have to endure a boss like that for a year or so as some sort of work boot camp, to show them what working hard is really about. Unfortunately, most people nowadays would just tell the guy to F'off, then go home and write mean things on facebook about him.
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