I hate this labor shortage

TheOtherRick

TheOtherRick

Member
Location
Savannah Missouri
This is more of a vent than anything, but I'm sure there are others who can relate. I'm a disabled senior living alone, well almost alone if you want to discount the cats, anyway, I require assistance with day-to-day tasks I'm supposed to have someone daily but I'm lucky to get half of my hours filled especially since the pandemic. This job isn't rocket science, I appreciate the people who come here, but the quality of my aides has also declined

I buy my meat in bulk and freeze it until needed, It's a system that has served me well for years, until recently. Today, I had to throw away several freezer-burned pieces of meat, because my aide doesn't wrap meat properly. I've shown her how I want it done before but she's so damn cheap she uses as small amount of foil as possible and it's not enough to protect the meat, so instead of using ten more cents worth of wrap I've thrown out several dollars and days of eating.

Now, my other girl is just a young girl learning the job, I don't mind teaching her, in fact, I have to teach her tomorrow to fold T-shirts, she washed last week and hung them in the closet. Okay, back to the original rant, My home health agency is competing to hire workers who just aren't there. When I was young you couldn't find a job here, now, you can't find workers. OK rant off.
 

TheOtherRick said:
I buy my meat in bulk and freeze it until needed, It's a system that has served me well for years, until recently. Today, I had to throw away several freezer-burned pieces of meat, because my aide doesn't wrap meat properly. I've shown her how I want it done before but she's so damn cheap she uses as small amount of foil as possible and it's not enough to protect the meat, so instead of using ten more cents worth of wrap I've thrown out several dollars and days of eating.
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We too buy meat in bulk when on sale. We used to use zip lock plastic bags but like you even though wrapped then put in those plastic bags freezer burns happened. One night was watching TV when a commercial for vacuum sealing food came on. We bought this model.
https://www.amazon.com/FoodSaver-FM2100-Manual-Sealing-Preservation/dp/B00LUGK5QW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1Y91QZFLGUCRP&keywords=food+saver+storage+machine&qid=1691601267&sprefix=food+saver+storage+machine,aps,181&sr=8-3&th=1

Zero problems with storage now. Super easy to use & knowing that meat can be stored for three years and come out of that sealed pouch as fresh as the day it was bought is a plus. Replacement bag plastic is really reasonable.
 
I had a very trustworthy woman for years that came and stayed in the house every winter when we went to a Florida beach condo for 6 weeks. I knew her for years and had used to work for us at our company. I always wrote out, in a big notebook, all the details and
what she should do if it went below freezing.

She took care of the 2 indoor/ outdoor cats, watered the plants and needed to turn on the pool filter, leave a faucet drip, etc. if the weather went freezing.

Every year it seemed we'd come home to problems in the house, even though the book
was there. It is what it is and even though she was a wonderful person, for some reason she didn't read too good. We paid her well, but it just didn't seem to sink in.

Each person has their own set of assets and liabilities. Even those we know so very well.
Guess you just have to go over and over this issues so they remember.
 
Yup. You can't get good help these days. ( I can't believe I said that-I'm now an officially certified old geezer.)
These jobs are temp jobs. And for some employees that means quitting after the first paycheck. I used to have a cleaning team once a week, Then it was just one person for a few hours. Then the same person never showed up, it was always a new body, who didn't know what I wanted done. When it got to be one person for about 20 minutes, I figured I was doing most of the cleaning so why bother with the service.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Yup. You can't get good help these days. ( I can't believe I said that-I'm now an officially certified old geezer.)
These jobs are temp jobs. And for some employees that means quitting after the first paycheck. I used to have a cleaning team once a week, Then it was just one person for a few hours. Then the same person never showed up, it was always a new body, who didn't know what I wanted done. When it got to be one person for about 20 minutes, I figured I was doing most of the cleaning so why bother with the service.
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..and it's not just in the US. It's the same story here... what are all the people doing for a living that aren't doing the jobs we need them to do ?... surely everyone isn't working in IT ?

The problem in many cases n the UK, is that people can get as much on the dole as they can for working... that's all wrong... that has to change...where's the incentive to work 40 hours a week or more at a Basic wage when you can get the same or more on benefits...
 
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I think there are some perverse incentives in the economy, but it's also true we're in the early stages of demographic collapse. About the only place this isn't true is within the so-called "third world" where people still have been having and raising children.

 
There is a disconnect not only with workers........ but OFTEN employers .....
i see it in a job posting place ( Indeed)
I go through apply to many just looking for a part time or contract type job ....... i am more then qualified but barely get a followup ... they use computers to select by how a resume is worded....... every other week offered service to re-do resume to use current "click" words ......... tried this either got wrong type work contacting me or people simply do NOT read the resume.

people hire then.... I see the same job in less the 3 weeks posted again....... people assume must be horrible job... but more often then not could have been a horrible choice by hiring managers as well.
Do not hire someone who is over qualified even if the job suits them....seems to be the mantra....... they are afraid they will leave ........all the other under or semi qualified people are leaving anyway.

I have been in jobs that paid fairly well for a starting person they act all gung ho to get job .........then in a very short time the real person shows up.....
I saw no -shows / drunk / on phone or calls all day long / unreliable transportation so always late / asking for time off or vacation after a month/ asleep at desk in a cubicle setting.... applying for other jobs from work computer and finally one lady took classes online for another possible employer when she was suppose to be working..
postings are getting very creative saying do not respond to this post send this way in this format to see if applicants can follow simple instructions period. people clicking apply on phone do not often read the fine print down below.
People do not want to work in my area........and several older workers going back at least part time they get a bit of money and employers get someone who will show up.
the on boarding process for some jobs takes up to 3 weeks .... many desirable candidates if they have rent / bills to pay cannot wait that long.
 
Jeni said:
There is a disconnect not only with workers........ but OFTEN employers .....
i see it in a job posting place ( Indeed)
I go through apply to many just looking for a part time or contract type job ....... i am more then qualified but barely get a followup ... they use computers to select by how a resume is worded....... every other week offered service to re-do resume to use current "click" words ......... tried this either got wrong type work contacting me or people simply do NOT read the resume.

people hire then.... I see the same job in less the 3 weeks posted again....... people assume must be horrible job... but more often then not could have been a horrible choice by hiring managers as well.
Do not hire someone who is over qualified even if the job suits them....seems to be the mantra....... they are afraid they will leave ........all the other under or semi qualified people are leaving anyway.

I have been in jobs that paid fairly well for a starting person they act all gung ho to get job .........then in a very short time the real person shows up.....
I saw no -shows / drunk / on phone or calls all day long / unreliable transportation so always late / asking for time off or vacation after a month/ asleep at desk in a cubicle setting.... applying for other jobs from work computer and finally one lady took classes online for another possible employer when she was suppose to be working..
postings are getting very creative saying do not respond to this post send this way in this format to see if applicants can follow simple instructions period. people clicking apply on phone do not often read the fine print down below.
People do not want to work in my area........and several older workers going back at least part time they get a bit of money and employers get someone who will show up.
the on boarding process for some jobs takes up to 3 weeks .... many desirable candidates if they have rent / bills to pay cannot wait that long.
Click to expand...
Do they not get paid during onboarding?
 
MarciKS said:
Do they not get paid during onboarding?
Click to expand...
not if you are waiting for IT to set people up or other items needed depending on job ... no they do not get paid told your hired you will start date is in X amount of time anywhere from one to 3 weeks ...
in my last place where i reached out to new hires a person listed often did not materialize by the "start date" as they found something else
 
We have the exact opposite problem here. We get them in, get them through orientation and the first day they're supposed to be at work they don't show. Or they quit a week or two later. After the company has wasted the money to pay for someone to train them.
 
I gave up on having an aide. None of them did a very good job and I would have to do redo whatever they did. A lot of no shows.

Definitely need a vacuum packer to store meat in the freezer. It makes a difference.
 
TheOtherRick said:
This is more of a vent than anything, but I'm sure there are others who can relate. I'm a disabled senior living alone, well almost alone if you want to discount the cats, anyway, I require assistance with day-to-day tasks I'm supposed to have someone daily but I'm lucky to get half of my hours filled especially since the pandemic. This job isn't rocket science, I appreciate the people who come here, but the quality of my aides has also declined

I buy my meat in bulk and freeze it until needed, It's a system that has served me well for years, until recently. Today, I had to throw away several freezer-burned pieces of meat, because my aide doesn't wrap meat properly. I've shown her how I want it done before but she's so damn cheap she uses as small amount of foil as possible and it's not enough to protect the meat, so instead of using ten more cents worth of wrap I've thrown out several dollars and days of eating.

Now, my other girl is just a young girl learning the job, I don't mind teaching her, in fact, I have to teach her tomorrow to fold T-shirts, she washed last week and hung them in the closet. Okay, back to the original rant, My home health agency is competing to hire workers who just aren't there. When I was young you couldn't find a job here, now, you can't find workers. OK rant off.
Click to expand...
Why should she care how much foil is used it is your foil correct? If she was paying for it she would have a say in how much was used.
 
Sounds like your stuck between a rock and a hard place. If your help doesn't follow your instructions they need to find something else to do. But, if your service isn't hiring competent workers then you won't have anyone. I can understand your frustration....sorry. Maybe find a different "home care" outfit?
 
TheOtherRick said:
This is more of a vent than anything, but I'm sure there are others who can relate. I'm a disabled senior living alone, well almost alone if you want to discount the cats, anyway, I require assistance with day-to-day tasks I'm supposed to have someone daily but I'm lucky to get half of my hours filled especially since the pandemic. This job isn't rocket science, I appreciate the people who come here, but the quality of my aides has also declined

I buy my meat in bulk and freeze it until needed, It's a system that has served me well for years, until recently. Today, I had to throw away several freezer-burned pieces of meat, because my aide doesn't wrap meat properly. I've shown her how I want it done before but she's so damn cheap she uses as small amount of foil as possible and it's not enough to protect the meat, so instead of using ten more cents worth of wrap I've thrown out several dollars and days of eating.

Now, my other girl is just a young girl learning the job, I don't mind teaching her, in fact, I have to teach her tomorrow to fold T-shirts, she washed last week and hung them in the closet. Okay, back to the original rant, My home health agency is competing to hire workers who just aren't there. When I was young you couldn't find a job here, now, you can't find workers. OK rant off.
Click to expand...
Hi Rick, Just curious, what are the pros and cons of using a home support agency?
 
Welcome to the world of the huge high to low wage wealth gap caused by 3 decades of free for all Wall Street corporations and their politician puppets. The real issue is ordinary low skilled USA people can no longer live on low wages so very few applying for such jobs. Wall Street's short-sighted solution has been open borders with one party increasingly open about it and the other allowing it via backdoor political strings since they know the majority of native born citizens hate it. Of course, that just exacerbates the insane homeless situation because they are also jacking up rental housing costs. Even invite the rest of the world's rich to invest here in REITs for their disgusting inconsiderate feeding frenzy.
 

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