Quote:
Originally Posted by finnbow
It does suck here that all work is not afforded the same dignity and benefits. I was impressed by the German system whereby all work from department store clerk to plumber to lawyer are have their own career ladders, training, apprenticeships, etc. Then again, more is expected from every trade in terms of professionalism and competence.
It was amazing that at a department store, the floor personnel had undergone training/apprenticeships and fully understood their merchandise, from stitch count, to fabric to button material on every item of apparel. Everybody has health insurance and everybody, from the janitor to the CEO, has the same amount of vacation time.
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A couple decades ago, I began hearing people saying, in regards to skilled labor positions; "That's BS, any idiot can do that." Anybody can weld, machine, repair broken machinery.......etc, etc?
I've also heard; "You don't really don't have to know everything about ______ to be in charge." Really? How can anyone make effective decisions with something they know nothing about?
It also bothers me that most businesses I've worked for will not allow anyone without a college degree advance any higher than a supervisory position, (if that) sometimes putting inexperienced but degreed folks in charge of departments over people who have been essentially running it with little or no supervision for years. Why not simply advance someone who already knows the ropes and does an outstanding job of it?
To my mind, these are a few examples of self defeating policies based on prejudices: The prejudicial belief that a certain set of skills are somehow overvalued or that one is incapable of leadership for a lack of higher education. I believe we waste a lot of potential in this regard. I also believe this could explain the loss of quality and value in American workmanship. Can we possibly build world class products in a society where we disdain specialized skills and refuse advancement to high performance employees?
I think not.
Dave