# Part-time worker hard to find **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 29, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018 "2013-04-29T16:25:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/41 "2013-05-02T21:13:28Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Have you asked those receptionists _why_ they are quitting? > And if a formal exit interview doesn’t give you an answer, have you tried asking the other workers ? Office gossip may provide better information–people talk more freely with coworkers than with the boss. > > Something sounds weird to me. > If an employer repeatedly fails to retain employees, maybe the problem isn’t the employee. Wow. I never thought of that. I’ve just continued through this cycle for the last decade without ever questioning why. :rolleyes: Of course I have asked. My boss is insane, but their contact with my boss is very limited, so that rules that out. I make our terms and conditions very clear before they start. I’ll give you specific examples. One woman was a former state worker. I explained that we are nothing like the state. We are fast paced multi-taskers, do what needs to be done, no five minute walk from your desk to the copier. It’s chop chop here. She claims to be ok with it. She has been out of work for two years and is desperate, but appears intelligent and claims to be a hard worker. She was never able to crank either her working or walking speed up past mosey. She cracks under the pressure. We make our attendance policy very clear. There is no sick or personal time. You get your vacation and that’s it. If you are truly sick, you can use a vacation day. Need allergy shots? Go after work. We do not have a liberal time off policy. Time and again, people call in sick to the point where it is abusive. You don’t call in sick your second week on the job unless you are at the point where you need to be taken to the ER. You don’t need to call in sick for two days because “your cousin got arrested”. I don’t give a damn. Get on the bus and get in to work. Women with small children. I feel so bad for them, but I will not hire any more of them. I have had to work too many weekends without pay because “the school called” and they “have to pick up their sick kid”. Their work doesn’t get done, I have to do it and then come in all weekend and finish mine. Not any more. I had at one time changed the policy to you can leave to pick up your child, bring them to a sitter then come back in to work, but that didn’t work out. So I tried the leave work, pick them up at school and bring them back to Auntie Lurker’s office unless they are puking and let them lay on a blanket and nap, color quietly or watch Netflix movies on my laptop. Nope, everyone wants the day off. Sorry, I can’t work weekends or stay until midnight because you don’t have a sitter lined up. I lay it all out in our ad. I don’t think they read it, and if they do, they don’t believe it applies to them. So I make it clear in the telephone pre-interview. Then if they are invited in for an interview, I really spell it all out again. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/42 "2013-05-02T22:02:10Z")
…And this, ladies and gentlemen, is Exhibit A of “hostile work environment.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/43 "2013-05-02T22:10:04Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > the point was it was well within or below the scale of acceptable wages and they were trying to pass it off as God’s gift to the working man, and also trying to pretend that market forces do not apply to the laboring masses. That’s the whole point, probably; they figure, “in this economy and with unemployment the way it is, there must be thousands of qualified people so desperate for a job that they’ll kiss my feet for rock bottom wages!” ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/44 "2013-05-02T22:21:02Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > Wow. I never thought of that. I’ve just continued through this cycle for the last decade without ever questioning why. :rolleyes: > > Of course I have asked. My boss is insane, but their contact with my boss is very limited, so that rules that out. I make our terms and conditions very clear before they start. I’ll give you specific examples. > > One woman was a former state worker. I explained that we are nothing like the state. We are fast paced multi-taskers, do what needs to be done, no five minute walk from your desk to the copier. It’s chop chop here. She claims to be ok with it. She has been out of work for two years and is desperate, but appears intelligent and claims to be a hard worker. She was never able to crank either her working or walking speed up past mosey. She cracks under the pressure. > > We make our attendance policy very clear. There is no sick or personal time. You get your vacation and that’s it. If you are truly sick, you can use a vacation day. Need allergy shots? Go after work. We do not have a liberal time off policy. Time and again, people call in sick to the point where it is abusive. You don’t call in sick your second week on the job unless you are at the point where you need to be taken to the ER. You don’t need to call in sick for two days because “your cousin got arrested”. I don’t give a damn. Get on the bus and get in to work. > > Women with small children. I feel so bad for them, but I will not hire any more of them. I have had to work too many weekends without pay because “the school called” and they “have to pick up their sick kid”. Their work doesn’t get done, I have to do it and then come in all weekend and finish mine. Not any more. I had at one time changed the policy to you can leave to pick up your child, bring them to a sitter then come back in to work, but that didn’t work out. So I tried the leave work, pick them up at school and bring them back to Auntie Lurker’s office unless they are puking and let them lay on a blanket and nap, color quietly or watch Netflix movies on my laptop. Nope, everyone wants the day off. Sorry, I can’t work weekends or stay until midnight because you don’t have a sitter lined up. > > I lay it all out in our ad. I don’t think they read it, and if they do, they don’t believe it applies to them. So I make it clear in the telephone pre-interview. Then if they are invited in for an interview, I really spell it all out again. …if you are wondering why you have high staff turnover and why people don’t want to stay at your job, can I suggest you read your post? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/45 "2013-05-02T22:28:03Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …if you are wondering why you have high staff turnover and why people don’t want to stay at your job, can I suggest you read your post? No kidding. Holy crap. . . ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/46 "2013-05-02T22:32:39Z")
Two weeks vacation where you have to use your vacation time for any sickness really isn’t generous at all. Honestly, I’d get out of that office as soon as possible, even if it were for a lower paying job. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/47 "2013-05-02T22:35:19Z")
Yeah, it sounds like if the workload is so urgent and fast-paced that those policies are necessary, perhaps multiple part-timers need to be hired to make sure it gets done. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/48 "2013-05-03T01:19:49Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > The problem with ‘open schedule’ is you can’t have any sort of life outside work because you pretty much can’t plan anything ahead of time because management is rarely willing to work with people. On one of my other message boards dealing with customer service it is amazing the number of people who have managers who refuse to work with employees when it comes to a special need vacation or absence like a funeral. That might be because the manager (or whoever does the scheduling) will probably be called out on it if TPTB discover it. I’ve seen it happen many times. If that manager/scheduling person makes too many exceptions, his or her job may be on the line, in which case they have no choice but to refuse any changes. However, I’ve always seen exceptions for funerals, hospitalizations, and other acts of [name your higher power if you have one]. In some cases the employee must use PTO if they meet the criteria for it. Otherwise they lose a day’s or multiple days’ pay. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/49 "2013-05-03T01:21:39Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Yeah, it sounds like if the workload is so urgent and fast-paced that those policies are necessary, perhaps multiple part-timers need to be hired to make sure it gets done. Yep :nodding: The sad fact is that a lot of people either aren’t able or don’t want to adhere to that kind of pace. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/50 "2013-05-03T01:54:53Z")
Actually, the overall sense of **Lurker’s** post is that there really is too much work for even the full complement of staff to get it done. Really, someone takes off half a day and suddenly someone else’s entire weekend is gone? Sounds like they’re chronically understaffed. Maybe **Lurker** has been doing it so long she doesn’t realize how punishing the pace actually is. I also suspect, due to the propensity of stuff to roll downhill, the lowly receptionist is used as a scapegoat for when this “system” of overworking people results in a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Wraine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/87869e/32.png) [@Wraine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wraine)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/51 "2013-05-03T01:55:06Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > Wow. I never thought of that. I’ve just continued through this cycle for the last decade without ever questioning why. :rolleyes: > > Of course I have asked. My boss is insane, but their contact with my boss is very limited, so that rules that out. I make our terms and conditions very clear before they start. I’ll give you specific examples. > > One woman was a former state worker. I explained that we are nothing like the state. We are fast paced multi-taskers, do what needs to be done, no five minute walk from your desk to the copier. It’s chop chop here. She claims to be ok with it. She has been out of work for two years and is desperate, but appears intelligent and claims to be a hard worker. She was never able to crank either her working or walking speed up past mosey. She cracks under the pressure. > > We make our attendance policy very clear. There is no sick or personal time. You get your vacation and that’s it. If you are truly sick, you can use a vacation day. Need allergy shots? Go after work. We do not have a liberal time off policy. Time and again, people call in sick to the point where it is abusive. You don’t call in sick your second week on the job unless you are at the point where you need to be taken to the ER. You don’t need to call in sick for two days because “your cousin got arrested”. I don’t give a damn. Get on the bus and get in to work. > > Women with small children. I feel so bad for them, but I will not hire any more of them. I have had to work too many weekends without pay because “the school called” and they “have to pick up their sick kid”. Their work doesn’t get done, I have to do it and then come in all weekend and finish mine. Not any more. I had at one time changed the policy to you can leave to pick up your child, bring them to a sitter then come back in to work, but that didn’t work out. So I tried the leave work, pick them up at school and bring them back to Auntie Lurker’s office unless they are puking and let them lay on a blanket and nap, color quietly or watch Netflix movies on my laptop. Nope, everyone wants the day off. Sorry, I can’t work weekends or stay until midnight because you don’t have a sitter lined up. > > I lay it all out in our ad. I don’t think they read it, and if they do, they don’t believe it applies to them. So I make it clear in the telephone pre-interview. Then if they are invited in for an interview, I really spell it all out again. Lurker, the reason why you are having trouble with retention is because the job and benefits you have described are not anything anyone would want to do for longer than they have to. This job is something people take and do while applying for other jobs. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/52 "2013-05-03T02:26:43Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > Women with small children. I feel so bad for them, but I will not hire any more of them. I have had to work too many weekends without pay because “the school called” and they “have to pick up their sick kid”. Their work doesn’t get done, I have to do it and then come in all weekend and finish mine. Not any more. I had at one time changed the policy to you can leave to pick up your child, bring them to a sitter then come back in to work, but that didn’t work out. So I tried the leave work, pick them up at school and bring them back to Auntie Lurker’s office unless they are puking and let them lay on a blanket and nap, color quietly or watch Netflix movies on my laptop. Nope, everyone wants the day off. Sorry, I can’t work weekends or stay until midnight because you don’t have a sitter lined up. > > I lay it all out in our ad. I don’t think they read it, and if they do, they don’t believe it applies to them. So I make it clear in the telephone pre-interview. Then if they are invited in for an interview, I really spell it all out again. I understand being frustrated at plodding workers, but overall your workplace sounds like a hellhole for any rational person with a life. Unless you are paying people way over market to put up with a work environment so rigid I can see why you have “issues” with workers. To be frank it sounds like a terrible place to work. Claiming that you tell people you are inflexible, psychotic assholes up front in person and in advertising is not a sufficient fig leaf for setting up a meat grinder work environment where people will be destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/53 "2013-05-03T03:07:30Z")
> [@Wraine](#): > > Lurker, the reason why you are having trouble with retention is because the job and benefits you have described are not anything anyone would want to do for longer than they have to. This job is something people take and do while applying for other jobs. Which may not even be possible if **Lurker** ’s company practices open scheduling. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/54 "2013-05-03T04:22:04Z")
> [@Wraine](#): > > Lurker, the reason why you are having trouble with retention is because the job and benefits you have described are not anything anyone would want to do for longer than they have to. This job is something people take and do while applying for other jobs. Yeah. Insane boss, heavy workload, mediocre pay and an attitude problem are not most people’s idea of a place where they want to be any longer than necessary. ---
**Author:** ![bashere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/55 "2013-05-03T04:25:46Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > Wow. I never thought of that. I’ve just continued through this cycle for the last decade without ever questioning why. :rolleyes: > Women with small children. I feel so bad for them, but I will not hire any more of them. In New Jersey? This would appear to be against the law. If you are that cavalier about breaking the law, I would suspect it is the considerable lack of professionalism that is driving people out. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/56 "2013-05-03T04:28:03Z")
> [@bashere](#): > > In New Jersey? This would appear to be against the law. If you are that cavalier about breaking the law, I would suspect it is the considerable lack of professionalism that is driving people out. I’m sure the uncalled for sarcasm and hostility doesn’t help matters. ---
**Author:** ![bashere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/57 "2013-05-03T04:32:22Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I’m sure the uncalled for sarcasm and hostility doesn’t help matters. I’m not sure whose sarcasm and hostility you are referring to. Mine? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/58 "2013-05-03T04:43:42Z")
> [@bashere](#): > > I’m not sure whose sarcasm and hostility you are referring to. Mine? Lurker’s. Sorry I wasn’t clear. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/59 "2013-05-03T15:36:32Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Yeah, it sounds like if the workload is so urgent and fast-paced that those policies are necessary, perhaps multiple part-timers need to be hired to make sure it gets done. It’s one 40 hour receptionist and one 30 hour general runner. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018/60 "2013-05-03T15:40:12Z")
That’s a lot to read. Can someone summarize it? Has **Crafter\_Man** returned to answer **Broomstick** ’s points yet? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-time-worker-hard-to-find/657018.md?page=4)