Pneumatics Blog

How does one become a member of this "Good-Old-Boys" network?

Its apparently been my major downfall for all of my working life. I am smart, outgoing, responsible, reliable, a forward thinker, and unfortunately usually one of the first to go for the lamest reason they can come up with regardless of my usefulness and value in the company.

I've never been sacked "let go" but I've certainly seen the GOB network in action. I suspect the main problem of many engineers is that they don't self promote enough, they think their actions will speak for them, whereas the GOB's relentlessly talk themselves and their mates up.

Working all weekend, for nothing, on a technically complex project that you thought of and implemented just because it's the right thing to do - Worth little.

Being first to the GM and telling him about what "we" did on the weekend - Priceless.

"If your company is cutting costs by downsizing, start looking for another job before your head is on the block..."

That is just the greatest wisdom! ga

Good old boy networking means softball and golf are job qualifications where I work. In some instances, it means a raise.

The engineering supervisor is not all that shiny and has managed to displace several shinier engineers than himself. (Only too aware of the contrasts)

In the company where I work, when the down turn hit a few years back, the company decided to reduce salary by 10% and increase working days per month by working on 3 extra Saturdays. The option was accept or quit. No one quit. The company was able to tide over the bad patch and then restored the salaries after two years. This was considered a better option than getting rid of old workers who get higher salaries but have a better experience.

unless of course your skills in softball puts you on the feild and benches your supervisor.

Then you get transfered to 2nd shift.

Do you know how long it takes to replace an engineer with 30 years of experience?

It takes roughly 30 years...

The value placed on an older worker is somewhat dependent on how flexible that older worker is.

IF that older worker is willing (eager) to learn new skills. Such as 3D CAD, FEA, new software( powerpoints). That worker is more likely to be retained than if they are just putting in time until they retire.

Is that worker willing to put in some unpaid overtime or just the bare minimum hours?

My wife is a nurse educator. She sees a lot of older nurses that don't like to learn new skills, especially internet or computer skills. A good percentage of those are younger than she is.

Does my company value older workers?

In a word, no.

Here, employees are viewed purely as interchangeable parts of the machine. There is talk in all the official releases of "Valuing people", but it is only talk.

I am 63 years old. My boss(VP Technical Development) is 62. The other day we were talking and he stated "Ron we should be good for another 20 years".

Yes older persons who have true experience are valued here.

Ron

I remember back in the beginning of the 1980s here in the UK, older workers were sacrificed in favour of a younger staff, they also got rid of chief maintenance engineers and replaced them with accountants, at the time I said that they would suffer dealy because of this, and sure enough it came to pass, and now they are crying out for engineers, especially older more wiser ones!

Another aspect of the value of older workers that I failed to mention in an earlier post was: A worker must keep up with progress within a company or industry. A worker who is schooled in 40 year old technology is not of much value to a company using up-to-the-moment technology.

That was easy for people like myself, every time new technology came into being we were trained in it's use and to use it!

A good small company knows who is contributing and who is not, if you are a producer "you" need to find "that" company with which offer your blood sweat and tears. It doesn't matter how old you are, if you can get the job done better than most, a good company will look after you like you are a gold mine, cause you are. Only a company headed for doom would lay off their best employees.

this made me think of General Motors after they changed models and could not get the parts installed right after many employees retired. They brought a few of the old timers back in seeking advice and one showed them where the problem was and had been for years. the men on the line had just handeled the problem without ever telling anyone. When ask why they never mentioned it to managment the old man said "Noone ever ask me " .

for small businesses older workers are great value. I try and pair an older experienced worker with a mature young workers for teams.

I have been working for 50 years now. Never had a day without a job. After 20 years in the MiddleEast, landed in India and within 15 minutes of reaching home got a phone call with a job offer. I am still working. The seceret is keeping abreast of technology, enjoying the work, mentoring younger workers and never feeling threatened by younger workers. The company values my work and still gives me incentives and promotions.