Quote:
Originally Posted by Muta
My staff absolutely get paid overtime, that isn't the issue. They get properly compensated for all the work they do. I think you're missing the point a bit; this isn't a 'labour' issue at all; no one is 'exploiting' anyone, and I have never been 'exploited' in my career like you claim - it's clear you know nothing about my industry, but that's fine, I don't expect you to. My observation is that my Gen Z staff operate in a different capacity than my other staff. Like I said, I hope it's all just a one-off coincidence.
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Well if you are expecting them to work for free that's exploitation. If you worked for free you were exploited. Even just remove the judgment inherent in the term and it's still just what the word means. But if you are paying them overtime (even on salary; that doesn't and shouldn't get a pass from additional and immediate compensation), then I guess they value their home life more past 5pm and that should be respected. Your challenge is finding a way to get the work done in the time you have.
Let's say you are a really high performer and have achieved extraordinary things in your field (which I believe, BTW; I'm not doubting you've done well and have risen through the ranks), that's great, but it's not realistic to think that is a path that will work for everyone.
One of my staff is a very high performer and has followed a similar path to you. She is excellent at her job and in my 20 years here nobody has ever come close to matching her output and ability. Let's call her Sue. She is often frustrated with the others not meeting her expectations and not performing to her level. I have had to remind her several times over the years that we don't want more Sues, we can't afford more Sues and we don't have the capacity to take on more Sues. We also need worker bees, but worker bees could donate an extra hour or two a day to the company and there would still never be room for them to grow. What, you want a company with a dozen vice presidents and only, like, three underlings? It wouldn't make sense.
Part of being a high performer is recognizing the limitations of your staff. You can't suggest to them if they
work a little harder they'll be sitting in your chair before they know it. Not everybody can work toward the top, no company would want that, and most people don't even want to achieve that. Plenty of people are perfectly content to come in, do their job and go home to enjoy their life. Plus, who really benefits from that extra labour if they do work extra hours as
you deem necessary? I'm assuming your bonus gets bigger, but their bonus...probably not so much or at least not enough to incentivize them to want to stay late since they don't seem to be doing it.
I think this generation is wise to the carrot-on-a-stick BS. If you think they'll be rewarded at some later date, reward them now. These people need to buy houses and relieve some of the financial anxiety so many have. A promise of future wealth for hard work today is a slap in the face. If they're generating wealth for you, share it with them. Promises of a pay day down the road is rude. You'll be retired with your money they helped you acquire and then who is going to keep that promise of success for them?
And that doesn't even get into how people have different priorities as they age. You can be the guy there 12 hours per day every day and then your wife pops out a kid. Guess what? You're still going to work just as hard, but only 8 hours will be at the office and then you'll go home and work on your family. Then you'll get a bit older and all of a sudden your parents get sick, so you're going to their appointments with them. People need an advocate with them when they're ill. My mom has stage 4 cancer. I can't let her be alone all the time going to appointments by herself and I guarantee you there isn't a specialist in Calgary who is going to work around my schedule and meet with us on evenings and weekends.
People need way more flexibility than the workplace offered 20 and 30 years ago.