Disposable employees
#17
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: Disposable employees
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,782
Re: Disposable employees
When we hire, whether a candidate can fit in is as important as experience and qualifications. The last thing we want is a highly skilled pain in the arse. Harmony in the workplace contributes far more to productivity. Our key employees are involved in the 2nd stage of the interview process. What they say plays a significant part in the decision making process.
Just like Toyota, teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, and not enough attention to the job in hand.
Last edited by johnh009; Mar 19th 2010 at 2:51 pm.
#19
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: Disposable employees
Really, I thought it was because the managers in these companies are so gutless that they cannot make a decision and do the job that they are hired to do. Also, they can share the blame when they end up hiring the wrong person.
Just like Toyota, teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, and not enough attention to the job in hand.
Just like Toyota, teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, and not enough attention to the job in hand.
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 186
Re: Disposable employees
I will arrive in Vancouver in two weeks, no less than that. This is a very interesting discussion.
I might get a transfer from my current employer (big multinational corporation), or I might find myself pursuing the jobsearch, will see.
I did a couple of interviews both with employers and with recruiting agencies between February and April 2009 -- the only interview I had this year (outside my current company) was with a company. The hiring manager placed sooo much emphasis on the fact that he would fire me, if I didn't perform (mentioned it at least five times during the first interview), that I thought there must be something wrong with his own performance, and he was preparing to blame that on someone else. Anyway -- I do get the hire and fire mentality, but naively thought as long as you got along both with your manager and your coworkers and performed in your job you were kind of safe?
I might get a transfer from my current employer (big multinational corporation), or I might find myself pursuing the jobsearch, will see.
I did a couple of interviews both with employers and with recruiting agencies between February and April 2009 -- the only interview I had this year (outside my current company) was with a company. The hiring manager placed sooo much emphasis on the fact that he would fire me, if I didn't perform (mentioned it at least five times during the first interview), that I thought there must be something wrong with his own performance, and he was preparing to blame that on someone else. Anyway -- I do get the hire and fire mentality, but naively thought as long as you got along both with your manager and your coworkers and performed in your job you were kind of safe?
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 92
Re: Disposable employees
I knew the laws behind firing in Canada were "weaker" than those in the UK but I didnt realise it could be so easy and quick to dump someone out the door.
Is this something found from businesses and companies of all sizes or does it tend to be the larger sized organisations that move along people they arent quite happy with?
What I will say though is that like George Clooney's character in Up In the Air, you should look at redundancy as an opportunity. Its a bit of a cheesey outlook I know but it comes from experience. My other half had huge debts when we met and was made redundant recently. Fortunately her package was huge, cleared her debts and allowed her to spend lots of time with the wee man. I know thats a rare result from redundancy but I bet a huge number of people who end up sacked will probably not have been enjoying their job and in a way it'll be doing them a favour long term.
Is this something found from businesses and companies of all sizes or does it tend to be the larger sized organisations that move along people they arent quite happy with?
What I will say though is that like George Clooney's character in Up In the Air, you should look at redundancy as an opportunity. Its a bit of a cheesey outlook I know but it comes from experience. My other half had huge debts when we met and was made redundant recently. Fortunately her package was huge, cleared her debts and allowed her to spend lots of time with the wee man. I know thats a rare result from redundancy but I bet a huge number of people who end up sacked will probably not have been enjoying their job and in a way it'll be doing them a favour long term.
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 92
Re: Disposable employees
Hmmmm I should really have read that over before posting it...
#24
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,782
Re: Disposable employees
As Aviator points out, there are those employees who are a "pain in the arse" and those that fit in with the crowd. But to me, there is a third category, that is those who are competent at their jobs but do not want to be constantly selling themselves or it is not in their nature to sell themselves. Because the interviewing process is so subjective in Canada, these are the people who are often overlooked.
Last edited by johnh009; Mar 20th 2010 at 4:06 pm.
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 671
Re: Disposable employees
I have worked in Canada for just 3 months and every week someone is "fired".
No one bats an eyelid. It seems to be the norm.
One manager was fired because they had "philosophical differences" with the owner!! It doesnt seem to matter where on the hierarchy you are. Anyone is very dispensible.
My position was made into a permanent one last week which is good but I have never felt so insecure in any job before.
It is very different to the UK.
No one bats an eyelid. It seems to be the norm.
One manager was fired because they had "philosophical differences" with the owner!! It doesnt seem to matter where on the hierarchy you are. Anyone is very dispensible.
My position was made into a permanent one last week which is good but I have never felt so insecure in any job before.
It is very different to the UK.
#26
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
Re: Disposable employees
I have worked in Canada for just 3 months and every week someone is "fired".
No one bats an eyelid. It seems to be the norm.
One manager was fired because they had "philosophical differences" with the owner!! It doesnt seem to matter where on the hierarchy you are. Anyone is very dispensible.
My position was made into a permanent one last week which is good but I have never felt so insecure in any job before.
It is very different to the UK.
No one bats an eyelid. It seems to be the norm.
One manager was fired because they had "philosophical differences" with the owner!! It doesnt seem to matter where on the hierarchy you are. Anyone is very dispensible.
My position was made into a permanent one last week which is good but I have never felt so insecure in any job before.
It is very different to the UK.
I remember an ex-boss, back in the early 90s, bemoaning how hard it had become to fire people.
#27
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 701
Re: Disposable employees
Really, I thought it was because the managers in these companies are so gutless that they cannot make a decision and do the job that they are hired to do. Also, they can share the blame when they end up hiring the wrong person.
Just like Toyota, teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, and not enough attention to the job in hand.
Just like Toyota, teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, and not enough attention to the job in hand.
Spot on. Read Chris Hedges:Empire of Illusion. Then pass it on to the aviator.
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,782
Re: Disposable employees