Lament of the Part Time Workers
(Part of the Continuing Series: Song of the 99%)
In the “New Economy” that began in 2008 and had no end in sight as of the Fall of 2011, a new breed of worker has emerged. Perhaps they have always been there but not as noticeable or in as significant numbers. This is the Fully Qualified (Over Qualified) Part-Time worker.
The issue they face today is that Employers will not hire full time workers if it can be avoided. The news media has ben reporting how employers have found that they CAN do more with less and intend to continue to do so even as the stock market and other economic indications improve. (The stock market improves as the economy ahead for companies looks better. If companies can continue to do more and more with less, their profits will improve.) Full time workers get benefits like a good health care plan. Part Time employees get a meager almost worthless health care plan and are usually paid $8 - $9 / hour.
The issue tonight is the hours they are allowed. Most companies make the distinction at approximately 32 hours a week for a period of usually 8 weeks or two months. Now we get to the interesting part. The employee works is given 6 hour shifts four days a week, keeping them safely away from the 32 hour border. At six hours a day, they get one 15 minute break, no meal, and no second break. So for almost a complete workday (minus two hours), the employer gets an almost full day for work with a very small 15 minute break and the employee is gone from home and at work for virtually a almost full workday. Will the employees complain? Not in this economy. The employer has the upper had with a long line of very qualified, (over qualified) people who are eagerly awaiting an opening.
The impact of this is that we have highly skilled people trapped in jobs that do not afford them a survival wage yet the employees are at work for almost as much time as a full time job. You want the economy to improve?
Companies ened to give workers a decent wage and hours that enable them to have health care and other benefits. People can barely afford to buy food and an increasing number are finding they cannot pay their rent or mortgage. Why, the salaries and hours allowed workers will not afford them a decent life. The economy will not improve with concumer spending until the working consumers have funds to spend. Far too many lost their jobs or left their jobs in 2008 unknowing of the impending Great Recession and now they are working meger jobs hoping to find a way to survive tommorrow.
The impact to employers? They are watching in record numbers employees leave after briefly weorking for the company. Employees have ZERO loyalty to a company whose attitude is “you should be gratful for $8/hour and 24 hours.” They leave (but not without having something in hand first) at every opportunity they have to get either better wages, better health care, or better conditions.
WAKE UP 1% and smell the burnt coffee. Lets put it in terms you understand. How much money can you continue to burn training employees until they are up to speed only to have them leave shortly thereafter or even before training begins. If you want employee loyalty, you have to earn it. (to borrow a phrase.)
The problem with this is it either falls on deaf ears (the 1% who honestly seem to be unaware of the situation or the desparation of the workers) or upon the workers who all too painfully already know this story.
Good Luck to the 99.
