Is anyone else finding that, despite the number of people out of work, it is difficult to find quality employees? The last few women who have worked in my dept(accounts receivable) have spent the day on the phone, texting, and on Facebook. Despite repeated warnings, they continued and had to be let go. Is anyone else finding an appalling lack of work ethic, or is it just here in Northeastern PA?
I am not involved in HR, but I believe they do. That said, the last two employees were referred by existing employees! I guess you never really know someone until you work(or live) with them!
We have mostly great employees but there always seems to be one bad apple that was either a hiring mistake or something changes in their life to cause their work ethic to change. I run the business under the golden rule and its sooo frustrating when it doesn't go both ways! The stories I could tell! By the way, we do check references but that makes it even more frustrating. References are usually afraid to tell the truth...
Last edited by SimplyLori; 01-06-2011 at 01:08 PM.
Reason: forgot to add a point
One of my co-workers keeps telling me I should write a book with the stories of some of our more colorful employees. We get a lot of "over-sharers" who tell you their whole life story by their second day of work. We had one woman miss a day of work, and the next day her excuse was that her husband had a heart attack when he walked in on her with another man. TMI!
Having HR handle it could be the problem. These days former employers won't say anything but verify dates, job titles and eleigibility for rehire for fear of lawsuits.
I find it's more effective for me to call the owner of the former company and talk colleague to colleague. Sometimes what they don't say tells me more than what they do say.
And in a final interview, I ask the candidate "What will your former employer tell me when I call for a reference?" They are usually more candid when they think I'm going to hear the information anyway.
Mike, your way sounds good. Unfortunately, lately I haven't really been consulted about the people they are hiring. After this last one, I am going too insist on more input.
when I posted my last job opening I endede up only getting 4 responses. two of which never showed up for their interviews. It is frustrating when you see the un-employment numbers to think that maybe people don't want to work or maybe just aren't trying hard enough to look for the opportunities that are out there.
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Gary Hosfelt HME/Enteral Manager
Its too easy to live a leisure life anymore.... Once you make your initial adjustments... file for bankrupty so no credit card payments, keep your nice house but don't make payments, free health care, unemployment for 2 years, food stamps, college tuition. In most positions here we work very hard and with all the cuts we've taken over the years how can we compete with that? Thank GOD there a still enough people with a good work ethic that want to earn their pay and go to bed tired but satisfied!
Employers also have to be aware of where they post jobs. We've yet to find a
really solid employee from Craigslist. We now go to where we know true job
seekers are looking, newspapers and work source sites.
I need to vent
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