Don't Disrespect Me!

[Arlo Kalon 2.0]

I over heard a conversation yesterday that brought back a memory. What I heard was a guy making a suggestion to a worker in a store about an aspect of his job he should try to improve upon. It was a legitimate observation delivered without a hint of malice or judgement. The other guy said "who do you think you are disrespecting me like that!". The helpful suggestion was entirely lost on him as he walked away. The memory it kicked in was a similar circumstance I had when I was a pinstriper at a motorcycle factory. A guy who was a trainee in our department was quickly developing a reputation as a slacker. I suggested to him one day that rather than being online during work hours he ought to consider getting the pinstriping practice panel and try to further develop some skill. By the end of the day, I noticed a definite hostility towards me emanating from him. I asked him what was up with his attitude. He said "dude, you outright disrespected me today when you told me to get my *** off the computer and get busy" (not even remotely what I said - but very revealing that it was the way he chose to hear it). I gave him a little speech about how just because you're here and breathing doesn't automatically qualify you for respect. This is a workplace and you earn respect by how you do your job. He wasn't having any of it - he simply threatened me should I ever dare to disrespect him again. I carried some weight in the custom paint department with the supervisor, Jeff Long, whose pinstriping capability is superhuman. I complained about the guy and by the end of the week he was out of our department. I am sick of the entitlement mentality younger people have nowadays and this absurd belief that just because they exist they deserve immediate respect from everyone else alive. Am I off base here or does anybody else think I have a valid point? Just something I wanted to make a mild rant about today.

On a sign related topic, I was out in my driveway yesterday adding some finishing touches to the pinstriping I finally did on my own truck when a guy pulled in my drive in a brand new Ford F150 pickup. He said he drove by a few days before and saw me striping it and came back later to check out what I had done. He asked me how much it would cost to stripe his truck. I said a similar job to what I had on my truck would be $500.00. He's going to drop it off this weekend. I already have another Honda Gold Wing to stripe for a guy who saw the one I did last week I posted pics of here. I am loving all this striping work I'm getting... I am making $100.00 an hour on them with about $5.00 worth of material cost. I wish I would have gone back to the old school work a long time ago!

 

[Circleville Signs]

I agree with you 10000000000%. We started giving "participation awards" and 12th place trophies so that no one's sensitive feelings would get hurt. I mean, we have to make sure that every kid has "self esteem", right?

What all these kook pop-pyschologists missed was that self esteem must be based on something tangible and real - not just existence.

 

[Fanaticus]

I want my golden spoon.

 

[SignManiac]

I warn everyone I hire up front. I let them know that I'm an expert at firing employees who don't earn their keep. Don't seem to have very many slackers around here.

 

[TheSnowman]

It's times like these I'm glad I'm not slammed crazy with work all the time and I'm just a one man shop...but yes you are right Arlo. I'm only 29, but my generation is by far not "the greatest generation". I've got beefs with basically anyone that attended a college anywhere in the last 10 years. Seems like they all leave there thinking that they are the best at everything, and they are OWED everything in life that people have to work really hard for. It's sad.

 

[Gino]

I agree with you 10000000000%. We started giving "participation awards" and 12th place trophies so that no one's sensitive feelings would get hurt. I mean, we have to make sure that every kid has "self esteem", right?

What all these kook pop-pyschologists missed was that self esteem must be based on something tangible and real - not just existence.

Just about every psychologist alive.... including Dr Phil and all these other crackpots is..... they needed help and in seeking help, now think they can solve other nutjobs problems as well.


I'm not in favor of hitting a kid to make them understand right from wrong, but I am against undeserved entitlements to keep them quiet. Most of the kids today have no idea of what it means to make a living.... they think it should be provided. Parents want to GIVE their children all the things they didn't have growing up or make up for lost time. That's baloney. Let them earn their own way through life and learn on their own.

Good on scoring the striping jobs.
​

 

[OldPaint]

there is a lot of that here on 101 between us "old timers" and the up n comers. they come here looking for help because they have no idea what they got themselves into.............THEN get really hostile when not only 1, but 5 people tell them how they delt with same problems in this business YEARS AGO......but i guess its just me gettin old huh?
respect is EARNED!!! nowhere in any work place are you going to get INSTANT RESPECT because you ARE THERE. you got to remember ......YOU, AINT THAT IMPORTANT!!! only YOU THINK YOU ARE. old saying about respect i alway carried with me from when it was told to me as a kid: you give respect to those who command it, never to those who DEMAND it.

 

[TyrantDesigner]

Back when I still had my silk screen business ... I had a person out on a delivery that should have taken about 30-45 minutes and low and behold he came creeping in 2.5 hours later ... I simply asked what took so long, and that a simple delivery shouldn't be a quarter of the day, followed up by some questions such as if there was construction, major accidents, etc .... simple stuff ... wasn't mad just wanted to know so I can plan for the future.

he stood there, said "You're mean, I quit."

Idiots. Since then, I really don't think I give a flip about excuses.

 

[SD&F]

This is not only our youngsters..I hired an older guy (my age)who had his own sign business for 15 years. I was looking for an experienced CNC operator. I wanted a back-up. I interveiwed him with my current CNC operator there(he is secure in his job) and myself. We both explained what we expected. We told him it would be a trial basis and if he did no know our equipment or be a fast learner we would have to let him go. He said he knew our table, software and what we were wanting. He did not.....he was lost. We let him go after five days because he wandered around the warehouse. I received a threatening email stating he would beat the s--t out of my operator and though he liked me he was very upset and warned me. I take all threats like this seriously against someone. I called the COPS....WHAT WOULD YOU DO?????

 

[SignManiac]

We've had a few nut cases along the way. I'd call the cops too.

 

[SD&F]

Thanx, they called him when they arrived and he said he was extremely upset. He was sorry he had put it in writing I think.

 

[signswi]

I've always had the opposite experience -- older employees tend not to be as flexible or adaptable and don't take change well. I don't really get into the criticism game, if someone needs a nudge you do it by finding things they are passionate about and setting them loose on it. If they aren't passionate about anything in your business you find someone who is.

Hire people who's passion aligns with your business and who demonstrate adaptability and drive and you'll feel like your business succeeds without you (a good thing).

 

[Marlene]

I had a person out on a delivery that should have taken about 30-45 minutes and low and behold he came creeping in 2.5 hours later ... I simply asked what took so long, and that a simple delivery shouldn't be a quarter of the day, followed up by some questions such as if there was construction, major accidents, etc .... simple stuff ... wasn't mad just wanted to know so I can plan for the future.

I liked that you asked "why" as so many don't bother. asking why will mostly get the reasons why something wasn't done as expected. sometimes, it just gets the answer you got, but still, it is good to ask. we had a guy who took forever to fill out paperwork. asked why and found out he was dyslexic and the reason it took so long was he was being extra careful to make sure the info with all the measurements was correct. he wasn't slacking, just trying to do a good job and knew how important it was to make sure the info was correct.

we have had just as many issues with young people as older. it all comes down to the person, some are slackers, some just aren't very good at the job, some just need some extra time to learn how to do what we do.

 

[lexsigns]

ya know- I have heard many things from the younger generation that makes them sound like they are entitled... ( My best friends kid once said he didnt ask to be born so his mom needed to support him in a style he wanted - that was before she kicked him out to join the military- sings a different toon now)
makes me pretty sick but really I think it's the parents spoiling them.
Rarely hear of any of them earning anything..

Thats why I work alone most of the time. Last summer I had an intern who came here on her own begging to work for free to learn.( she is in School)
I took her for the summer - she was better than great ( I paid her every week) and she was really greatful. I had her back for Christmas break and already asked her to come work for the summer part time.
There are a few out there who are not so spoiled

 

[Cross Signs]

i over heard a conversation yesterday that brought back a memory. What i heard was a guy making a suggestion to a worker in a store about an aspect of his job he should try to improve upon. It was a legitimate observation delivered without a hint of malice or judgement. The other guy said "who do you think you are disrespecting me like that!". The helpful suggestion was entirely lost on him as he walked away. The memory it kicked in was a similar circumstance i had when i was a pinstriper at a motorcycle factory. A guy who was a trainee in our department was quickly developing a reputation as a slacker. I suggested to him one day that rather than being online during work hours he ought to consider getting the pinstriping practice panel and try to further develop some skill. By the end of the day, i noticed a definite hostility towards me emanating from him. I asked him what was up with his attitude. He said "dude, you outright disrespected me today when you told me to get my *** off the computer and get busy" (not even remotely what i said - but very revealing that it was the way he chose to hear it). I gave him a little speech about how just because you're here and breathing doesn't automatically qualify you for respect. This is a workplace and you earn respect by how you do your job. He wasn't having any of it - he simply threatened me should i ever dare to disrespect him again. I carried some weight in the custom paint department with the supervisor, jeff long, whose pinstriping capability is superhuman. I complained about the guy and by the end of the week he was out of our department. I am sick of the entitlement mentality younger people have nowadays and this absurd belief that just because they exist they deserve immediate respect from everyone else alive. Am i off base here or does anybody else think i have a valid point? Just something i wanted to make a mild rant about today.

"dittos"

 

[skyhigh]

I agree 100% on this new entitlement generation, although I am pretty fortunate with my kids (not too many complaints anyways).

A funny story....
This happened a few years back..... I was out of town doing an install for a company. The parent company is local to me, although I've never been to this branch facility (75 miles away)

Anyways....while my 2 employees were busy installing the new sign, I was on my cell phone making some calls. The manager at this location came out and suggested that I was the slacker of the bunch (no denying that), and that if I was his employee I wouldn't be working long. He thought I spent too much time on my cell phone, and asked if that call was more important than helping my fellow workers? To his surprise, my answer was YES!!! Now that really ticked him off, and he responded with...."perhaps your boss would be interested to hear that"???

Luckily I was "saved by the bell" when my phone rang again. :Big Laugh He stood there, long enough to hear me talking with HIS boss (a good friend of mine.....AND the guy that hired me to do the job).

He figured the rest out, all by himself.



Arlo,
It doesn't matter how nice your intentions, criticism is never going to be accepted in a positive way. Either tell your fellow workers he's putting the F's to you, or leave the evaluations to a supervisor. In my experience, many times its those doing the criticizing who are the worst offenders.

 

[skyhigh]

I over heard a conversation yesterday that brought back a memory. What I heard was a guy making a suggestion to a worker in a store about an aspect of his job he should try to improve upon. It was a legitimate observation delivered without a hint of malice or judgement. The other guy said "who do you think you are disrespecting me like that!". The helpful suggestion was entirely lost on him as he walked away.

All within EARSHOT of a customer?? Maybe that's the disrespect he meant? If so, I may agree.

 

[Flame]

It's a fine line. I see a lot of rude people BEING disrespectful, and I don't have an ounce of patience for them (I've been to known to once in a blue moon, snap a sign in half in front of a customer), but with that said. 100% agree with the entitlement thing. I've hired numerous people over the years, and people rarely work because I'm hiring young, green guys to start off at the bottom and learn their way up. They rarely last long. I had a kid 2 weeks in ask for a $3 raise because he felt like he deserved it. WTF, you're 19 homey!!! You're already making good money for just getting on here.

I could rant on and on about dumb kids who think they're worth a lot of money and because they once saw a guy put on a sticker, that they should run your shop. Or DEMAND to borrow one of your toys (atv, dirtbike etc.) after working for you a month... yada yada. Don't know why, it just seems like a lot of spoiled self entitled brats who think they deserve the world to be handed to them on a silver platter.

 

[Colin]

I am sick of the entitlement mentality younger people have nowadays and this absurd belief that just because they exist they deserve immediate respect from everyone else alive. Am I off base here or does anybody else think I have a valid point?

Yup; it's called a lack of humility.

 

[Sign-Man Signs]

This is not only our youngsters..I hired an older guy (my age)who had his own sign business for 15 years. I was looking for an experienced CNC operator. I wanted a back-up. I interveiwed him with my current CNC operator there(he is secure in his job) and myself. We both explained what we expected. We told him it would be a trial basis and if he did no know our equipment or be a fast learner we would have to let him go. He said he knew our table, software and what we were wanting. He did not.....he was lost. We let him go after five days because he wandered around the warehouse. I received a threatening email stating he would beat the s--t out of my operator and though he liked me he was very upset and warned me. I take all threats like this seriously against someone. I called the COPS....WHAT WOULD YOU DO?????

Being a US Army Ranger back when I was youngster I would have kicked his ***. Now being an old Army Ranger I carry a 4" Ruger 45 on me all the time. Only pulled it twice, never fired. Both were break ins caught in the act. Most supposed bad asses are all hot air most of the time.