When People Don't Care About the Work They Do

[qcman]

I am the QM in a unionized tier 2 job shop and I am at a loss as how to get people to care. The company insist on using temp services and what I see coming in the door is scary and this is a state with 7% unemployment. The people that do make it and have a halfway decent work ethic do a 180 as soon as they get in the union. Union or not can you really get people to care about the work they do?

[Randy]

qc...

You hit on attitudes American society in general with the "I want it now, I have a right Generation". We have to avoid politics, religion and at times truth so good luck in your quest.

[Steve Prevette]

In Reply to Parent Post by qcman

I am the QM in a unionized tier 2 job shop and I am at a loss as how to get people to care. The company insist on using temp services and what I see coming in the door is scary and this is a state with 7% unemployment. The people that do make it and have a halfway decent work ethic do a 180 as soon as they get in the union. Union or not can you really get people to care about the work they do?

I can't make you (or anyone except me) care about something. We need to partner on building what is meaningful work. Give someone a drudgery task, tell them to do and not think, leave your emotions at home you are paid to be here to work, then the only result will be people who don't care. Our willingness to care about something does get beat out of us over the years, and can be very hard to turnaround.

Yes, I think it can be done. But it takes more than just ordering a person to care. I'm attaching a presentation by Kenny Moore (author of The Monk and The CEO). I'm really a big fan of his - you can get on his mailing list by getting to his website which is on the slides.

[Stijloor]

In Reply to Parent Post by qcman

I am the QM in a unionized tier 2 job shop and I am at a loss as how to get people to care. The company insist on using temp services and what I see coming in the door is scary and this is a state with 7% unemployment. The people that do make it and have a halfway decent work ethic do a 180 as soon as they get in the union. Union or not can you really get people to care about the work they do?

Hello qc,

Here is an article that I found: "How to Get Your Employees Excited Again." I don't know if you are in a position to initiate company-wide changes. However, you are a manager/leader and you may be able to start a small "motivational" project within your area of control. Talk to other managers and find out what people really care about. It may not be what you think.

Stijloor.

[Wes Bucey]

FWIW:
In my long career, I've seen literally hundreds of job shops, maybe more than a thousand. I can tell you that it takes me only about 15 minutes on the shop floor to tell whether it is a happy place where folks appreciate having a job and return the favor by doing their best or whether the employees feel like slave labor, no matter how much the pay.

Quite frankly, the difference seems to be in the attitude and behavior of the top bosses, not in the employees, because I have sometimes seen the same individual at different shops over a period of years and do notice a change in demeanor which seems to coincide with the general attitude of the workforce.

I want to stress I AM NOT referring to the "constant complainer" who gets some secret satisfaction out of always bad rapping the company and fellow employees, but I do mean the average, competent, working person who NEEDS the paycheck as much as oxygen.

There's a reason the most recent version of ISO 9001 has a clause about work environment, but it is a scandal how woefully short of suggestions for a GOOD work environment (including the psychological and social environment for the workers.)

I am certain you all have either worked at a place or know someone who did where the "vibes" coming from all levels of management were all aimed at depersonalizing the workers and eliminating any empowerment. Well, the situation is simply that all work environments fall somewhere on the spectrum from idyllic to downright disagreeable. Just as Deming's Red Beads point the finger at the processes created by management, so, too, is it logical to look to management for the root cause of a dysfunctional work environment.

[somerqc]

Wes,

You hit it on the head!

I have experienced both. You are right, it takes less than 15 minutes to figure out the "culture" at a company.

My first job out of school had a terrible boss with great people. The people did good work because they had pride in their work, but, I think the work would have been that much better with a better culture/environment.

Prior to moving to my next job, I was given a tour of the facility for a job I was interviewing at. Fortunately, I was given an offer and accepted within 2 hours. Why? Throughout the plant, people were saying hi, how are you, welcome...etc. This wasn't an act. In fact, it was pointed out to me that "good morning" was acceptable there when I started (nobody said this at my first job due to the environment). The culture resulted in great work by happy people. It was incredible to work in that environment.

It is eerily easy to see the different attitude in the people for even someone that was only 2 yrs into their career (yep, I was still greener than spring grass).

John

[sal881vw]

Whilst agreeing with the above, please excuse my absence and my intrusion......I have been busy in a new job,

In my opinion people tend to dislike their job due to mismanagement and uncertainty in their career advancement.

[Helmut Jilling]

In Reply to Parent Post by qcman

I am the QM in a unionized tier 2 job shop and I am at a loss as how to get people to care. The company insist on using temp services and what I see coming in the door is scary and this is a state with 7% unemployment. The people that do make it and have a halfway decent work ethic do a 180 as soon as they get in the union. Union or not can you really get people to care about the work they do?

You ask a simple question with a difficult answer. However, a couple things come to mind.

1. First and foremost, WHICH temp agency you use plays a big role. Some supply only warm bodies, and have a philosophy of "if we send enough bodies, maybe they will like a few." Stay away from them. They may be cheaper, but cost you a lot more in the long run. Some agencies actually provide competent raw material. You "pays a little more upfront, but ya get's a lot more in return."

2. There are two very worthwhile books to read. First - Good to Great by Jim Collins. He makes the point that managers do not have to motivate their employees. People want to do a good job. They don't come to work saying, "I wonder how badly I can do today." Managers do not need to try to motivate people, managers' jobs are to find and remove those hurdles that rob people of their inherent motivation. Take that away, and 90% of folks will come to work with a good attitude.

3. The book simply titled "Fish." Great read. Simle book about how to develop an appreciatation and love for your current job, any job. Very inspirational and simle.