How did you acquire work ethics?

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We've all experienced bad employees or co-workers. Recent experiences have me thinking about this.

In my case, I think I basically always had good work ethics - more than parental influence. Fine tuning from managers and experiences.

How about you?

And about how old were you when you knew enough to call if you were going to be late or sick,
or give as much notice as possible if you wanted to quit?


Dan
  • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
    I have always called in sick and given reasonable notice when quitting. Any jobs going in your hotel?
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    • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
      Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

      I have always called in sick and given reasonable notice when quitting. Any jobs going in your hotel?
      Sure, I could use somebody witty and computer literate. Wait... you always call in sick?



      ------------


      I hired an acquaintances' 13 year old for housekeeping. She did well at first and quickly faded.
      She was very good at letting me know if she would be late, but would take off without finishing work
      because "Mom was here and had to take her to...".
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      • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
        Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

        Sure, I could use somebody witty and computer literate. Wait... you always call in sick?



        ------------


        I hired an acquaintances' 13 year old for housekeeping. She did well at first and quickly faded.
        She was very good at letting me know if she would be late, but would take off without finishing work
        because "Mom was here and had to take her to...".
        Child labour eh! Eight year olds are far more reliable.

        I have near 100 percent attendance where I work. The person I share the responsibilities with seems to think it's perfectly fair to take at least one sick day off (averaging out) once every two weeks. How the management lets her get away with it is beyond me. She's good at her job but It gets a bit old having to do 2 peoples tasks on a regular basis.

        She has kids of school age so that's often the excuse if not a sicky. Never employ a full time member of staff that has kids of school age.
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        • Profile picture of the author ksummers
          My work ethic stems from having high standards and being pushed to do my best by my parents.

          at uni I had an eBay business and also worked nightshifts. I still walked out with a first /endbrag

          It comes at a price though, I'm prone to depression and anxiety.

          I couldn't bear the thought of letting a customer down.
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        • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
          Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

          Child labour eh! Eight year olds are far more reliable.

          I have near 100 percent attendance where I work. The person I share the responsibilities with seems to think it's perfectly fair to take at least one sick day off (averaging out) once every two weeks. How the management lets her get away with it is beyond me. She's good at her job but It gets a bit old having to do 2 peoples tasks on a regular basis.

          She has kids of school age so that's often the excuse if not a sicky. Never employ a full time member of staff that has kids of school age.
          Eight year olds probably are. LOL

          My first job was at 13 washing dishes. I was smallish for my age then and the owners joked about having me carry a 90lb. bag of pork sausage. Best Pizza ever - they set the ovens at 375 degrees and it took about 25 minutes to cook a Pizza.

          The 13 year old I hired is something I won't do again. It was a favor to the Dad and the girl. The parents are divorcing and I can see the struggles she has. Mom does not know all the reasons I did not bring her back after her summer vacation, but seems a little unfriendly now.

          I would like it to be a learning experience for the girl, but it seems that would do more harm than good.

          Personally, I think the girl needs more guidance and supervision than she is getting from either parent.
          Mom is the custodial parent and works two jobs. What's a 13 year old girl doing with male friends who are old enough to drive, and why do they let her go alone with those friends....? Did she tell Mom she would be at work and then call in sick? etc., etc.

          -----

          My housekeepers can start between 9 and 10 am, because I had so many who are parents, or grandparents who have to help take care of the Grandkids. Fortunately they don't really impact each others work with a varying start time. It's when I get one who cuts corners or no shows that the others have to double duty.
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

    We've all experienced bad employees or co-workers. Recent experiences have me thinking about this.

    In my case, I think I basically always had good work ethics - more than parental influence. Fine tuning from managers and experiences.

    How about you?

    And about how old were you when you knew enough to call if you were going to be late or sick,
    or give as much notice as possible if you wanted to quit?



    Dan
    Dan; Work ethic is what we learn, before we start our first job as an adult. I've never seen a person develop a good work ethic.

    I don't have it. I have to trick myself into being productive; Making delivery promises...hiring assistants that force me to work....creating deadlines....Bragging, so I have to deliver.


    When I was 20 years old, I was shocked to learn that a 3PM job interview was really at 3PM...that they expected you to really be there....on time. I remember that.

    By the time I was 24 or 25, I was always on time. Mostly because I grew to hate people that were late. Now, I take it as an insult, when someone is late.
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  • Profile picture of the author Synnuh
    I can't look at people and expect me to take them seriously if I've already wasted their time.

    My mom put me into JROTC when I was in Jr. High and they beat it in my head that 5 minutes early was 5 minutes late.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    My father drilled it into me. Coaches reinforced it.

    Being on time is late.
    Work harder* than the guy next to you.
    Leave nothing on the field because slumps feed on regret. Pain and exhaustion go away, but regret may never fade.

    I got my first job - a paper route - when I was eight years old. My dad wouldn't allow his neighbors to get their paper late, so I was never late, and the only way I got a day off was if I was puking and then I still had to find someone to cover the route. I delivered papers in the middle of Ohio winters with the flu. Today that's child abuse. Back then it was good parenting.


    *My dad and his generation were all about hard work. These days, I greatly prefer to work smarter.
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    • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      My father drilled it into me. Coaches reinforced it.

      Being on time is late.
      Work harder* than the guy next to you.
      Leave nothing on the field because slumps feed on regret. Pain and exhaustion go away, but regret may never fade.

      I got my first job - a paper route - when I was eight years old. My dad wouldn't allow his neighbors to get their paper late, so I was never late, and the only way I got a day off was if I was puking and then I still had to find someone to cover the route. I delivered papers in the middle of Ohio winters with the flu. Today that's child abuse. Back then it was good parenting.


      *My dad and his generation were all about hard work. These days, I greatly prefer to work smarter.
      Sounds like we had the same father, coaches and childhood.
      I delivered papers from 8 or 9 until college. That was my morning job.
      My after school job was working at the fruit stand unloading semi's

      --
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        Originally Posted by kenmichaels View Post

        Sounds like we had the same father, coaches and childhood.
        I delivered papers from 8 or 9 until college. That was my morning job.
        My after school job was working at the fruit stand unloading semi's

        --
        I tossed papers until, I think, 16. I quit to take a job at a video store. Infinitely more money and free movies. I think I saved more money in rental fees than I actually earned, though.

        A morning and an evening job? And school? And, if I recall correctly, also an athlete? That's hardcore. Your dad must've been a Marine.
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      My father drilled it into me.
      That explains so.....so...much.
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      I got my first job - a paper route - when I was eight years old. My dad wouldn't allow his neighbors to get their paper late, so I was never late, and the only way I got a day off was if I was puking and then I still had to find someone to cover the route. I delivered papers in the middle of Ohio winters with the flu. Today that's child abuse. Back then it was good parenting.
      Almost exactly the same experience. I had a paper route, and I remember one day, telling my Mom it was snowing too much out to deliver. My Dad told me to deliver the papers. I asked if he would drive me. He said, "No. You have to do it yourself. Someday you'll know why". He was right. I know why.




      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      *My dad and his generation were all about hard work. These days, I greatly prefer to work smarter.
      I had a job in a local shop. There was a foreman that didn't like me. I told my Dad about it. He said something like, "Be the best worker. Always show up on time. Never take off days. Never complain. Some day, your foreman will tell the shop owner that he wants to fire you. And they will ignore the guy, because nobody fires the best worker."

      To be fair, I didn't listen that time. But it was great advice. Often, he would tell his whiny son, "Never complain. Fix the problem, or quit. Complaining gets you nothing".

      I was in my mid twenties before I realized that he was doing his job, even when it meant I was mad at him.. That's good parenting.
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        Almost exactly the same experience. I had a paper route, and I remember one day, telling my Mom it was snowing too much out to deliver. My Dad told me to deliver the papers. I asked if he would drive me. He said, "No. You have to do it yourself. Someday you'll know why". He was right. I know why.






        I had a job in a local shop. There was a foreman that didn't like me. I told my Dad about it. He said something like, "Be the best worker. Always show up on time. Never take off days. Never complain. Some day, your foreman will tell the shop owner that he wants to fire you. And they will ignore the guy, because nobody fires the best worker."

        To be fair, I didn't listen that time. But it was great advice. Often, he would tell his whiny son, "Never complain. Fix the problem, or quit. Complaining gets you nothing".

        I was in my mid twenties before I realized that he was doing his job, even when it meant I was mad at him.. That's good parenting.
        I hear what you're saying but keep getting this sinking feeling that you have ethics because you stole em.
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        • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
          Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

          I hear what you're saying but keep getting this sinking feeling that you have ethics because you stole em.
          Long ago, when the Milky Way collided with the Sagittarius Galaxy, in a land that time wishes it could forget, called Ohio, there was a vicious battle between a martial arts expert and man with a goatee.

          This time, the martial artist won and stole the ethics of the other man. Partly to blame for this loss is the fact that the goateed man went to a college with the most ridiculous sports mascot in all of history.

          There has been ginormously horrific and unstoppable enmity between these beings ever since.
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          • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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            Are work ethic and work ethics the same exact thing?

            For me, work ethic has to do with how long and hard hard I work and work ethics has to do with the integrity and honesty with which I perform my job.

            Just asking. Be gentle. I only possess a GED education.

            Cheers. - Frank
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            • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
              Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

              Are work ethic and work ethics the same exact thing?

              For me, work ethic has to do with how long and hard hard I work and work ethics has to do with the integrity and honesty with which I perform my job.

              Just asking. Be gentle. I only possess a GED education.

              Cheers. - Frank
              I think that's a good distinction. "Work Ethics" might be the umbrella under which a lot of work related things fall. Integrity and honesty certainly being one. Being polite to managers and co-workers is another. Respecting other people's time is another.
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              • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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                Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

                I think that's a good distinction. "Work Ethics" might be the umbrella under which a lot of work related things fall. Integrity and honesty certainly being one.
                Agreed.
                Being polite to managers and co-workers is another.
                In my world we simply refer to that as having good manners or basic social skills..
                Respecting other people's time is another.
                This is referred to as 'common, human decency.'

                Cheers. - Frank
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                • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
                  Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

                  Agreed.
                  In my world we simply refer to that as having good manners or basic social skills..
                  This is referred to as 'common, human decency.'

                  Cheers. - Frank
                  True. Short supply.
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                  • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
                    Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

                    Long ago, when the Milky Way collided with the Sagittarius Galaxy, in a land that time wishes it could forget, called Ohio, there was a vicious battle between a martial arts expert and man with a goatee.

                    This time, the martial artist won and stole the ethics of the other man. Partly to blame for this loss is the fact that the goateed man went to a college with the most ridiculous sports mascot in all of history.

                    There has been ginormously horrific and unstoppable enmity between these beings ever since.
                    Now, it is time to put down the glass?

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                    • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
                      Originally Posted by tagiscom View Post

                      Now, it is time to put down the drink?

                      No, more sleep.
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          • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
            Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

            Long ago, when the Milky Way collided with the Sagittarius Galaxy, in a land that time wishes it could forget, called Ohio, there was a vicious battle between a martial arts expert and man with a goatee.

            This time, the martial artist won and stole the ethics of the other man. Partly to blame for this loss is the fact that the goateed man went to a college with the most ridiculous sports mascot in all of history.

            There has been ginormously horrific and unstoppable enmity between these beings ever since.

            The Fighting Terriers, baby! YEAH!
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            Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    get a little dirt on your hands
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I was raised in an environment that nurtured the Cinderella syndrome and nobody expected my sister and I to ever have to work outside of the home. The be there when you're supposed to was ingrained in me, though. You don't tell people you'll be somewhere at some time then not show up. It's not allowed - classless, thoughtless, rude, self-sanctifying. The way the young are not being raised anymore, though, I don't think you can instill that kind of respect for others in them after they're already near adulthood.
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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      Working hard, lol, l will work very hard as long as it is a business that is investment based.

      Or a business that compounds in earning potential over time!

      You will never become rich in a 9 to 5!

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  • Profile picture of the author st0nec0ld
    For me, work ethic is developed from our personal experience but it also a bit of using common sense.
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