Is he? I don't know.

Some people like hard work. They wouldn't know what to do with themselves otherwise.

Some people hate hard work. They are willing to go to a lot of effort (ironic, eh?) in order to avoid it.

Most people, though, like to be very engaged with things they are interested in, but only with things they are interested in. Problem is, for many people the things that they are interested in are not things that pay.

Oh, and I'll just toss this out. I don't think it has a damn thing to do with the values of the parents.

 

I don't know, Mike. After 11 years of retirement, I have not a bit of vanity about personal accomplishment nor making a even bit of difference in the big scheme of things. However, I am still quite proud of how hard I worked when I worked. You can call me John, Doctor, Colonel, Schnauzer, or asshole, but never mister.

 

I have several short answers to this long question.

We live in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia, one of the most prosperous counties in the country. Most of our neighbors have lawn services that cut their grass, so finding a teenager that is willing to cut our lawn once a week is out of the question. It is not unusual for a kid to get a BMW for a sixteenth birthday present let alone waiting till they graduate from High School.

This is juxapositioned with what kids see in there parent's work experiences with mergers and corporate downsizing that has displaces people regardless of tenure or job performance. The concept of putting in an honest days work and being rewarded with long term employment seems largely to be a thing of the past. It seems that the average tenure with most tech companies is about three years now. Not thirty years as in the past.

IMHO Micheal Douglas' monolog about "Greed is Good" in the movie Wall Street has tainted a generation. Coupled with the survey of MBA students after Michael Milken was sentenced to five years in prison after the junk bond fiasco where he got to keep about five hundred million dollars after the fine and his prison time, the survey revealed that the MBA students thought that risk was worth the reward. So much for the "hard work ethic".

It seems that it is sad but true when companies like Walmart are embracing older workers that have the work ethic that includes showing up for work on time, and doing the job that they are paid to do. Not socializing or talking on their mobile phones and ignoring customers.

 

As I've mentioned before, our kids have a pretty good value system.....following example set at home. Neither are focused on material goods/ stuff. At 24 and 34, they seem to be content with a modest lifestyle, with travel as their main splurge (wonder where they learned that ) Neither of them carry any credit card debt....pretty amazing in this day and age.

Our main 'teaching aid' has always been to give them choices....and let them face the consequences. Even in attending college, we agreed to pay a certain amount...adequate for a top education in 4 years; if they chose to go to a less-than-top-rank college, there would be $$ for grad school. Both attended the top-rank schools....so the grad school costs are on their own ticket. We have/will help out, but to a very modest degree.

Good thread, Maury.....thanks for starting it. Btw, have you tried Craig's List for Help Wanted....there must be one in Pgh

 

I may be wrong but frankly, I don't think it is, even in Pittsburgh. Climbing ladders, working in what may be freezing winds, etc. and being paid on the table means Uncle Sam gets some - right?

 

Well, it all depends. That's over minimum wage, but only because minimum wage is really, really low.

The real measure is the free market. And it seems the market has spoken.

Perhaps this isn't about work ethic at all, just about what the going wage for boring physical labor is in your area.

 

A little bit of an exaggeration. Average temp in Pittsburgh is low 50's. And the pay is high for this area.
Rob, I thought I heard myself when reading your post. Growing up in a family business working those hours was expected in my family as was yours I suspect.
And Mike, I disagree. I think it has 100% to do with values taught by our parents.

 

^^ I grew up in a relatively poor home. Most of the neighbors worked in small-time factories and made very little money. Books, literature, music, etc. was a luxury. My mother was a pianist, so we always had a piano and we always had good music. My dad and mother both loved books, so we were encouraged to read and all had library cards early in life. However, my dad was a struggling minister of a very small church and money was extremelllllllllly tight. I went to work at 16 (while I was still in school) and paid my parents room and board (half of my meager earnings) in order for them to be able to feed and house the family (no, our church could NOT afford a parsonage). I bought all my own clothes, paid for all my books, and other school-related materials as well. I continued to help support my family until I got married and when I got married my dad had to go to the church finance committee and ask for a raise to cover my lost funding. I've never gotten any $$ from my parents for any reason and everything I have, I've worked for.
I never wanted my children to have to work like I had to work, so I never charged room and board. Our youngest still lives at home and I still do not charge her a dime. It is not my plan to ever do so. She's a big help here and I'm glad she's here.

 

^ I can understand your reasoning, Val, but she is still giving you something in return for living there free of charge - helping you out. That is different than letting the kids live at home with no demands at all. We've got guys at home at 35 whose mothers are washing their clothes, etc. - just like when they were 7. Not good preparation for life or work.

 

^^ I'm glad to say that Lora has done her own laundry since she was in about the 8th or 9th grade. She looks after the house, mail, pets, etc. if we're out of town and she also runs a lot of little errands, etc. for me. She has extraordinary allergies so housecleaning, etc. is not something she can do for me, but my sweet little daughter in law has been helping me with that once a month. I do most of the cleaning here by myself, but its nice to have a pair of helping hands to do the big stuff and free my time to do yardwork, etc. My son often comes by and cleans the tops of cabinets, fridge, etc. and does carpet cleaning when I need it.
Lora also buys a lot of her own foods, but I always fix a little plate for her at dinnertime and put it in a container for her to take to work for her lunch (she works at night).
We really gave all our kids a great deal, but for the most part they have a good work ethic.