I remember even up to just a few years ago, the delight of
being able to dock my car at a fuelling station for a fill-up and being greeted
ever so politely by the attendants who were more than willing to oblige. The
appropriate inquiries were made in regard to my gasoline preferences, and if I
were in a rush or feeling particularly lazy, I didn’t even have to exit my vehicle
to have my purchase processed and receipt hand-delivered. The best part of this
experience was the fact that I knew my money was being well-spent and in said
scenario, a gratuity didn’t have to be built right into the purchase for fear
that it wouldn’t naturally be merited by the courteous staff.
Nowadays, any visit to a big box store will quickly prove
that the so-called “customer service” agents are as ignorant as the general
public when it comes to where anything is (or for that matter, whether the
store even stocks the items in question). Moreover, by and large, said sales
associates are seemingly too busy social networking to even bother to make
momentary eye contact, while ringing through one’s purchases. To add insult to injury,
if service is even provided (and that’s a big if), there’s a fairly high
probability it’ll be with a grimace and sense of bitterness, rather than a
wholehearted smile.
The ironic part about all of this, of course, is that as we
continue to progress through the “information” age, the importance of
maintaining strong relationships and developing interpersonal/communications
skills is emphasized, all the while our actual contact with each other becomes
increasingly superficial and disconnected (at least in “real” time).
While one is able to trace the roots of the aforementioned
described worker-type alienation associated with menial labour back to Marx’s
heyday during the time of the Industrial Revolution, there is clearly something
more here at play.
I don’t think anyone has ever really had grand delusions
that being a lifer at a supermarket or fast-food joint is a part of living the
“(North) American Dream”. However, there was a point in recent history during
which people were satisfied simply with the idea of having a job that allowed
them to get by – that allowed them to pay their bills - and perhaps provided
them with a bit of extra spending money so that they could occasionally treat
themselves and/or savings money that they could put into an investment for
their future retirement. They may not have been pursuing their ultimate passion
in life, and several I’m sure quite likely hated the work that they did, but
there was a sense of motivation to work hard, to work efficiently, and to work
fast. It was understood that money did NOT in fact grow on trees, and the idea
of getting oneself tangled up in credit card debt was something to be desired.
Comparatively speaking, the modern employee devotes far more
time to gossiping with/about their colleagues and coming up with excuses for
taking undeserved breaks, than actually working. Not only are we plagued with unionized
workers who go on strike and demand higher wages during times of economic
crisis, but further as recently reported in the news, incidents of on-the-job
substance abuse are on the rise.
Inflation is definitely a factor. I mean one cannot
reasonably deny that the expectations for the modern employee have risen while
the benefits and pay-scale, in many cases, have remained stagnant (or worse
decreased). The idea of hitting the “glass ceiling”, for young up and comers
(BOTH men and women), due to the eradication of mandatory retirement and
“seniority rules” has too likely contributed to a lack of motivation (why try
so hard if there’s no room for growth?). Further, “credentialism” and
accordingly, the amount of employees who are currently in “underemployed”
positions (ie: positions for which they are overqualified) undoubtedly can be
cited as a source of the development for the modern employees’ poor work ethic
and poor attitude. BUT, I also think it’s generational. How else can you
explain to me the striking contrast between the pleasantness of the older
British woman and the general disinterest of the bubblegum-chewing teenaged
girl; both of whom work as cashiers for the same low payrate at the pharmacy
just down the road from my house (something too to consider is that the older
woman likely has HIGHER expenses just based on demographic factors alone)?
A lot of you will likely hate me for saying this, but I
think it comes down to the fact that frankly we’re too privileged. People my
age and younger (in rich industrialized nations such as Canada, that
is) have never had to worry about being drafted for a war, or developing a fatal condition due to poor sanitation and
health regulations on the job. Most of us continue to be spoiled by our parents
far past the point (and age) of reasonable. Further, the vast majority of the
most undesirable and dangerous jobs have either been outsourced overseas or are
completed by illegal migrant workers under the radar. As a consequence of all
of this, a sizable portion of the youth population has developed a rather
disgusting “sense of entitlement” – like they’re big shit and should be treated
accordingly, without ever having to work for said status, and if you call them
on this, they’ll go and cry to their employer (literally).
If this sounds like you, listen up and listen well. Barring
extenuating circumstances (such as winning the lottery, being born a Hilton, or plainly just selling your
soul), we all have to start at the bottom. Some of us are fortunate enough to
rise up after years of recognized hard work and networking, while a good
majority never get there (unfortunately a lot of this is still based on
discriminatory treatment towards selected minority groups. Don’t be fooled by
the delusion that we live in a fair meritocracy – we don’t.). But guess what?
That latter group, as much as they may bitch and moan about being
underappreciated and underpaid, are still thankful they’ve got money to put
food on their tables. Perhaps a reality (and attitude) check is in order.
