What's Wrong With America?

I walked into a Staples the other day to buy some batteries and paper and recycle an ink cartridge. The man who checked me out was about 20 years my senior and obviously was new to America. He noticed that my batteries did not take advantage of a special they were holding, went to get me the "special" batteries, and joyfully checked me out.

This was a refreshing change. He loved having a job and wanted to do the best job possible. That is missing in many of these jobs in America.

 

Yes, we are failing at fully commercializing the holidays. Why not open the stores at 4 pm on Thanksgiving? That way the buying and selling of merchandise can disrupt family dinners all over the U.S.!

I can already see the day when people will be calling their parents or grandparents and telling them they won't be coming to Thanksgiving dinner because they've got to stand in line at Best Buy to snatch the latest electronic gizmo at a deeply discounted price.

 

I spent 50 years in business most of it in management including hireing, supervising and leading people. When I retired in 1998 I was hiring people that in 1988 I would not have even considered hiring. The same would apply for any of the preceding 10 year spans. I have had this senerio played out many times. Person approaches about a job stating "I need a job badly,I'll do anything and work anytime any hours".After being hired and trained, shortly thereafter they would present me with a list of the times they can't work because they have to "take their grandmother to the Capitol to see the Cherrr Blossums" or "my boyfriend/girlfriend is playing in a softball tournament next week end and I have to go with him". The sad part these people were raised by parents who often remarked "I hope my children never have to work like I did".Well they got their wish. and even sadder They meant they would work anytime but only when it was convenient for them.

 

People today are spoiled. But if things continue as they are, cold reality will smack them in the face sooner rather than later.

 

Prediction fulfilled!

November 24, 11 p.m.: Who needs turkey?

Forget a turkey dinner. On Thanksgiving, Dan Cohoes skipped his traditional feast to wait in front of the Target store in Bloomington for its earliest ever opening -- midnight on Black Friday.

He's hoping to grab a $35 door-buster special for 550-thread count sheets for his mother, a savings of more than $40 and a $298 HDTV for a friend, a savings of $250.

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/134474703.html

 

I symptathize with the employee and all those asking for a bit more grace than having to report to work on Thanksgiving. They simply were asking their employer to reconsider having their entire workforce show up at an inconvenient hour for this foolish "Black Friday" event.

We've completely bought into the senseless marketing and commercialism that robs our nation if it's generous spirit. It is more statement about the nature of our nation when, on a holiday like Labor Day (created to aid wage workers), the very people who should be able to be off are now compelled to work. We've dehumanized sectors of our workforce, claiming economics and profits are the justification for our whatever job requirements we can force onto them.

There is no reason, no reason for a store to open at 10:30 on Thanksgiving night or at midnight on Friday. We must always keep in mind that the executives who make those decisions aren't the ones who are working the graveyard shifts and losing just another shred I'd sacredness for a holiday, one of only two now, where everyone closes shop.

That said I bet the employee who started this petition drive was at work when required.

 

Good post.

Hard to say...

Target responded to Hardwick's petition Thursday by saying the 29-year-old part-time worker was never scheduled to work Thanksgiving because he requested the time off. Hardwick disagreed, saying he was told he needed to work that day. He said he mentioned to a manager that he didn't want to work that shift because he was scheduled to work at OfficeMax at 5 a.m., though he never filed a formal request.

 

Then you all think holidays should only for clerical and manufacturing employees, not for service employees? Should banks and liquor stores also stay open all night to celebrate "Thanksgiving?" THAT day should be renamed "Thankstaking."

 

Typical of these types- the whole truth is never brought out until later.

 

Why is it deceitful? Here is the text of the petition, in its entirety:

Push back the opening of retail stores on Black Friday to 5am

A midnight opening robs the hourly and in-store salary workers of time off with their families on Thanksgiving Day. By opening the doors at midnight Target is requiring team members to be in the store by 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. A full holiday with family is not just for the elite of this nation, all Americans should be able to break bread with loved ones and get a good nights rest on Thanksgiving!

The author of the petition has two jobs, he works at Target and he works at OfficeMax. He doesn't think people should have to go to work at midnight on the night of Thanksgiving. He includes himself in this group. Again, what is untruthful?

 

The way the information was presented in the media was misguiding. That is not necessarily his fault.

I would, however take exception to his statement, "A full holiday with family is not just for the elite of this nation...." That statement smacks of self-pity and ignores the fact that there are millions who sacrifice their Thanksgiving holiday with family because they are in the military or public service. I have had to work on Thanksgiving before- it's no fun, but sometimes it is necessary.

 

Americans are what's wrong with American but Mexicans, Chinese, and Koreans are working the problem. <G>

 

>I have had to work on Thanksgiving before- it's no fun, but sometimes it is necessary.

Didn't you know that before you took the job? Big difference between taking a job that requires working holidays and working a job for 20 years and then having your work rules changed without your input. But that's what the petitioner gets for working a scab job and I have no sympathy.

 

Everything is just union with you, eh?

My wife belongs to a union and we both wish she didn't. Unfortunately the union was voted in AFTER she took the job. She would love to be a scab again- we'd save the union dues and lose nothing, except the cheapo birthday card and the glossy self-promoting magazine they send us every quarter.

 

Does she go to union meetings and speak up? Exactly what is her complaint?