On 1/10/2024 6:10 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
"PennyMc"Â wrote in message news:17a8d5d8c7c004b7$4149$2880686$4636d863@news.newsgroupdirect.com...
Besides, I've never in my life been so coldly treated when going to a
new job. Sorry, but I'm outa here!" I packed up and left.
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In high tech establishments those without STEM skills are replaceable commodities, a concept my father told me about after attending
management classes. The clerical staff tended to be noticeably insecure
about their job security while I think the tech staff watched out for themselves and ignored the others unless they needed something. At times
I became the designated liaison between engineering and production
because the engineers plainly didn't want to deal with the very
sarcastic girls. If I wanted them to do something particularly delicate
I had to demonstrate by doing it myself first, then they couldn't let me embarrass them. My theatre experience with touchy and difficult people
paid off.
Since I lack formal credentials I've often had to prove myself to be accepted. At Mitre I was tasked to explore a reported problem with
equipment used on a satellite link. I set up a bit error test of 10
million bits at 2400 bits per second and waited for the result. Soon an engineer asked when I would be finished tying up the link, and I
mentally calculated that the test would take 1 hour, 9 minutes and 26.7 seconds, because I had memorized reciprocals to do mental division and convert fractions to decimals, period to frequency, etc. He tried to
check and then admitted he didn't know where to start. That finally
earned me respect and soon I was accepted as a circuit designer. They
were mainly radio engineers while I had learned computerized
measurement. I was the right person in the right place when radio became digital, as in cell phones.
While I understand the physics it was still weird to watch signals
disappear into empty space and return noticeably later, fully intact.
I always find it interesting how little quality support staff is valued.
The higher the "skill" level of the "workers" the worse it seems to
be. In the medical profession for example the single most frequent
complaint AHEAD OF malpractice, maiming, and death is unpleasant front
office staff. They also have the highest turnover. Not because of
firing, but because they quit. Their poor attitude is projected on
clients, a frightened mother with a sick kid fights back, and it all
goes badly. This is indirectly the fault of the staff, but its more
directly the fault of the managers, doctors, nurses, and other "skilled" workers for not appreciating and respecting the fact that those front
office staff are important and the face of the whole business.
My wife had her own medical practice for 25+ years (now she works for a
clinic owned by hospital), and she had low turnover and high client
ratings. She paid her staff better than entry level workers, and took
the time to explain that they were as important to the patient
experience as any other person there. This really translates to any
business. I'm terrible as a personnel manager. I just expect you to do
it right, and if I tell you how you did it wrong understand that next
time I expect you to do it right, and here is what you did wrong.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
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