Got offered a job yesterday, $20/hour.

[Texacon]

Lots of good stuff in this one.

Robb  (1000+ posts)        Mon Jul-05-10 09:29 AM
Original message

Got offered a job yesterday, $20/hour. 

So my neighbor wandered over yesterday while I was working in the front yard. I spent most of the Independence Day weekend slogging about with a shovel and wheelbarrow in record heat.

We have an arrangement these days, I've told him not to come over when I'm working unless he's carrying a shovel or a beer. In his brilliant style, he tries to catch me working and come over with one beer, in his hand, drinking it himself.

I've given him good-natured ribbing about the trucks in his driveway, two trucks made from three trucks, if you understand. His brother runs a reasonably successful auto wrecking operation. He himself runs a quite successful landscaping company. They're the only Hispanic family on our block, a working-class post-war rambler sort of neighborhood, and I believe I'm the only one he talks to. In addition, we probably are the youngest on the block by a few decades, which is not unremarkable as we ain't young. I tell people, when asked to describe the neighborhood, that's it's a bunch of small houses with well-attended flagpoles and ****ing awesome lawns, except mine.

I apologize, I'm usually guilty of telling the part of the story that interests me most, readers be damned. I'll get to it here.

Anyhow, he's noticed that for my not-so-spry age, I'm doing quite well moving 13 yards of mulch around the house with a wheelbarrow. Good repetitive physical labor, I say, makes you feel old but keeps you young -- chop-wood-carry-water sort of thing. There was also nothing else for it, sadly, other than pulling the old fence apart to get the delivery dumptruck in closer -- and that fence is more screws and nails than wood at this point, I doubt it'd survive the operation. I clipped a piece of it with a Kubota the other day and it exploded like glass.

Doing it again. Sorry.

Anyhow, he tells me he'd hire me to do just what I'm doing, even at my pace, for $20 an hour. And I'd work all summer. And he needs about ten guys who will keep showing up and shoveling bark and gravel into wheelbarrows, carry rolled-up sod, move big stones around, and hammer stakes and what-not.

He just can't keep people, he said, especially people under 30. The "kids" don't want to do the physical labor; last year he offered a $5 an hour bonus to anyone who worked three months solid with him. He handed it out, too, he said, three times. He employs about 40 people, generally.

I have to admit it was tempting.

Anyhow, this struck me as food for thought, after the thread the other day about the young woman who didn't want the job of writing down license plates to check cars for repo status. I would've been all over a summer job that paid $20/hour when I was younger and less beat-up -- even in 1877 dollars.

MineralMan  (1000+ posts)        Mon Jul-05-10 10:13 AM
Response to Original message

5. Interesting story. 
 
Few people are interested in jobs that involve using major muscle groups steadily throughout the workday. At age 64, I'm certainly not. Those people who are willing to do grunt labor, though, aren't having too much trouble finding work. As you said, landscapers, roofers, trash haulers, and others are always looking for workers.

That said, working as a laborer is a tough job...one that wears out the body in not too many years.

When I was a kid of about 10, the small CA town I lived in built its first sewer system. That was around 1955. Modern excavation techniques were not used. The ditches in the street were dug by hand, once the asphalt was removed with jackhammers. No backhoes anywhere in sight.

There were plenty of laborers on the job. Digging trenches and throwing the dirt up on the street. Once the pipes were laid, the laborers were back on the job, backfilling.

I remember this, since my mother suggested that I sell lemonade to the men working on this project. So, I did. I made gallons and gallons of lemonade, using lemons from the huge lemon tree in our yard, sugar from the store (bought with a loan from my mother), and ice from our refrigerator, that had to be made on a constant basis.

10 cents per 16 oz. glass. There were no disposable glasses, so I'd take a few dozen glasses from the house with me, along with my 5 gallons of lemonade. Each day, I'd make five trips, taking just enough time to wash all the glasses and make another 5 gallons of lemonade.

It was summertime, hot, and I could have sold three times as much as I was able to make.

That sewer job lasted all through the spring, summer, and fall, employing hundreds of workers. It sort of revitalized the economy of that small citrus-farming town, giving lots of people work. The pay rate for that labor was $1.25/hr. I made more than that with my Radio Flyer wagon and my lemonade.

The point was that it was no problem getting laborers. Today, it's very difficult.

NNN0LHI  (1000+ posts)      Mon Jul-05-10 10:37 AM
Response to Reply #5

8. I have posted on here a few times some not so glamorous ways to make money

Edited on Mon Jul-05-10 10:55 AM by NNN0LHI

Like doing day care as my college educated daughter who can't find a real job does right now. Like I say nothing glamorous and not a fun job but it pays the bills. My wife used to do the same thing when I would get laid off.

Every time I posted the suggestion it was like I farted here or something. Instant thread killer.

I had one DUer respond to one of those posts and that was only to question me as to whether it was really "good money", as I had suggested. Like I had insinuated it was going to be enough to vacation in Europe every year or something?

I had to explain that no, its not that kind of "good money." Its the kind of "good money", that will keep the kids fed and a roof over their heads when there isn't anything else.

I never had a problem finding a job even when the unemployment rate was higher than it is now. And I didn't find them by sending out resumes or filling out applications either. I started driving around to construction sites and any other groups of laborers working and asked to speak to the boss to see if any work was available. There usually was. Wasn't the greatest jobs and the pay was nothing like I had been making at Ford. But I did it anyway. I wasn't about to burden my own parents with my problems. They had enough of their own problems to worry about.

I sure know what you mean MM.

Don 

lumberjack_jeff (1000+ posts)      Mon Jul-05-10 10:55 AM
Response to Reply #8

12. In your life, unemployment has never been as bad as it is now.
 
In the sense you are using it "unemployment rate" is meaningless.

These threads make me nuts. "There is plenty of work to be had, for hard workers." Just once, I'd like to hear an unemployed person make this argument.

 

Now the racism comes out ....

eilen  (1000+ posts)        Mon Jul-05-10 02:15 PM
Response to Reply #15

44. My brother is a carpenter
 The jobs he is getting now are half the size of the ones he did before and he says the worksites are 75% Mexican, likely on work visas as they are hired from the general contractor and are on government jobs. The one he is on currently even has imported Chinese cabinet installer with their Chinese imported cabinets. I think this is a stimulus job.

His son who is 15 went to work with him for a day and it was the hardest he had ever worked. I think he decided he would rather take care of chores around the house and help his father on the weekend projects after that.

Lots more at the link.

KC

[Texacon]

Trillo (1000+ posts)        Mon Jul-05-10 10:41 AM
Response to Original message

10. I've heard variations of that story for years.

Work. Work. Work. Work. Work.

"Kids today aren't worth a damn. They won't work"

Divide and conquer. Every kid by the time they're 18 has worked worked worked for 13 school years and not been paid one damn dime for their efforts.

The last thing they need is some smug asshole telling them they don't work hard enough.
 

Spoken like a true high school kid.

KC

[USA4ME]

Wow!  Robb could have taken the job and, at $20/hr, tripled the pay of the best job he's ever had.  He really is a dingbat.

.

[JohnnyReb]

Well, I'm 64 and I'll admit I couldn't do hard labor if I had too. But I could get a job driving a piece of heavy equipment in a minute and the unemployment rate here is right at 20%. You know why that's true? Because us old F***'ers show up on time, stay all day, everyday and don't grumble about it. The young one's, not so much.

[Chris_]

I'd take that job.  I'd take it RIGHT NOW because it pays more than my office job.  Sitting inside an A/C is nicer then being out in our triple digit heat.  But, it's a good way to lose weight and get a tan.  I just don't think being a female and working in a male dominant workplace would be comfortable.

DUmmies are lazy.

[franksolich]

Wow!  Robb could have taken the job and, at $20/hr, tripled the pay of the best job he's ever had.  He really is a dingbat.

The Robb primitive is a "stay-at-home" "dad" while his wife works in a menial job to keep things together.

It's sort of the same situation as with the now-gone shadowy primitive and his now-former wife, excepting there's one or two kids involved too.

I dunno the whole story behind that, but I suspect the Robb primitive is just lazy.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I had one DUer respond to one of those posts and that was only to question me as to whether it was really "good money", as I had suggested.

Well, really now, it's all 'Good money' if you don't have a better job lined up and it doesn't involve a chance of going to jail.

 

[ConservativeMobster]

You know what really kills me?  All these ads on websites that state crap like "single mommy/daddy get your grant for going back to school" "$10,000 grants check it out"

Like where are these jobs when they graduate?  They don't exist!  Keep the lazy asses in school until they figure out THE PERFECT JOB AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!

[Ballygrl]

You know what really kills me?  All these ads on websites that state crap like "single mommy/daddy get your grant for going back to school" "$10,000 grants check it out"

Like where are these jobs when they graduate?  They don't exist!  Keep the lazy asses in school until they figure out THE PERFECT JOB AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!

I think we're seeing the results now of people, who while in school, constantly had their egos boosted, who were told how wonderful they were, who participated in sports where no score was kept so they could feel good about themselves, we're seeing a lot of that generation who think they're special, who think because they're so special that they're owed something and it's not necessary to work hard.

[thundley4]

I think we're seeing the results now of people, who while in school, constantly had their egos boosted, who were told how wonderful they were, who participated in sports where no score was kept so they could feel good about themselves, we're seeing a lot of that generation who think they're special, who think because they're so special that they're owed something and it's not necessary to work hard.

You read this article from the Chicago Tribune?

[Ballygrl]

You read this article from the Chicago Tribune?

OMG no, was there an article that said that? I've always felt like that, glad to see my feelings justified.

[Ballygrl]

Oh wow, just saw the link in your post and just finished reading the article and it's totally right. That article so needs to be posted at DU.

[thundley4]

Oh wow, just saw the link in your post and just finished reading the article and it's totally right. That article so needs to be posted at DU.

I think that is a part of why things like Columbine and other school shootings have occurred. It's not bullying that causes it, it's the sense of entitlement that the left has instilled in kids.

[Ballygrl]

I think that is a part of why things like Columbine and other school shootings have occurred. It's not bullying that causes it, it's the sense of entitlement that the left has instilled in kids.

Yep! I don't advocate calling kids "dummies" when they're in school, but I do wonder how many of those who were called "dummies" were driven to be successful because of it just to prove that person wrong?

[soleil]

The Robb primitive is a "stay-at-home" "dad" while his wife works in a menial job to keep things together.

It's sort of the same situation as with the now-gone shadowy primitive and his now-former wife, excepting there's one or two kids involved too.

I dunno the whole story behind that, but I suspect the Robb primitive is just lazy.

Not sure if he is lazy or not, but I do know that being a stay at home parent is hard work. I commend all that can do it. I can't afford to, but even if I could, I know it would be harder work than my job. A different kind of hard, but hard. More rewarding I am sure though.

[formerlurker]

You read this article from the Chicago Tribune?

This article is the biggest piece of fluff reporting I have read in a while -- and the last paragraphs debunk the entire article.    I can assure you that students today are far far more accomplished than the students of my generation.    I sit in absolute amazement at the presentations given by my district's high school AP biology, economics, math, etc. classes.    Sorry, that isn't resultant of light teaching or grading.  

Parents push their children far more than they did we I was young.   Preschool was daycare when I was 3.   It is now the launching pad of tremendous amount of activities.   Kindergarten students are writing sentences by the end of the year.   There is a high concentration of stay-at-home moms of elementary school students in my district, and most of those moms are extremely involved with the school, and their children.  My district is also in the top sports division in the state -- these kids play in leagues starting at age 4 (soccer, football, baseball, track, tennis and basketball).  By the time they reach middle school when the sport is school based, they are accomplished athletes.   Parents are pushing their children to perform, not allowing them to walk away because they are not enamored with the sport.    I am laughing over the thought of parents in FL and TX where football (pee wee through college) is soooooooooo important.   You think those parents are letting junior get away with not applying himself to that sport?    

Competition for colleges is fierce, and it  has nothing to do with padding grades (who the hell pads grades?).  

[formerlurker]

Not sure if he is lazy or not, but I do know that being a stay at home parent is hard work. I commend all that can do it. I can't afford to, but even if I could, I know it would be harder work than my job. A different kind of hard, but hard. More rewarding I am sure though.

Very hard.   

[NHSparky]

Spoken like a true high school kid.

KC

I'm guessing Trillo is going to be in for a RUDE awakening when he finds out that what he's done for the last 13 years is sit on his ass, not work.

[Karin]

Formerlurker, you are lucky to be living in a district where you can feel you're maybe getting your money's worth for your property taxes.  My own, I'm not so sure.  I had a graduate of our high school ask me what the change should be out of a $20 for a $5.50 charge. 

I heard a Marist poll over the weekend showing that about 25% did not know who we declared independence from.  This pissed me off so much, I wanted all the spoiled pampered public school teachers to go ahead and go on strike.  A random sample of ordinary citizenry would probably do just as good a job scabbing. 

[ConservativeMobster]

My experience has been more like Karin's.  I know there are good districts and many taxpayers get their money's worth....not I.

I didn't read the article yet, but the point here I think is that there are too many high school students and college grads that expect the golden job right out of the gate.  And for lack of available jobs they are encourged to continue their education with grants at taxpayer expense.  No piece of paper is going to feed you if the work isn't there.  And hard labor, menial jobs are beneath some if not most of these kids.

[ConservativeMobster]

Very hard.   

How is being at stay at home parent any harder than being a working parent?  We should take this to another topic, I really would like to know your thoughts on this.

[soleil]

How is being at stay at home parent any harder than being a working parent?  We should take this to another topic, I really would like to know your thoughts on this.

I can only speak for myself. I stayed at home with my baby for the first 6 weeks, then I took her to work with me until she was 5 months old. That was very very hard. I was sad for her to go to daycare, but at the same time, I felt like I could breathe. Still, there have been times when she has been at home for weeks at a time, and I stayed home with her. It wore me out way more than going to my job does. It is a different kind of exhausting, but your patience is tested almost every second of the day (and I am an extremely patient person), there is hardly ever a moment for myself. Now I still have a very small child, and it may be easier to be a stay at home parent to older kids since they are more independent. For me, it is easier at my job than staying home with my child. I prefer to stay home with my child because I love her so much, but when it is time for daddy to get home, I am happy because I get a break. A usually much needed break.

[Godot showed up]

I don't make 6 figures, but I have to say straight out that $20/hr is crap pay for an educated adult. Like this Robb said, though, as a teenager or even 20-something I'd "have been all over it." (And I was.)

BUT, if I couldn't make more or if I were a stay-at-home dad as franksolich knows this Robb to be, there is no way I could live with myself if I turned down $20/hr while my wife was off earning the only paycheck. And work I could do right next door! There's no excuse for this. I can't believe he's not ashamed of himself. He's already doing hard physical labor so obviously he's up to it. Sounds like his neighbor would let him take the time he needs, too.

[soleil]

I don't make 6 figures, but I have to say straight out that $20/hr is crap pay for an educated adult. Like this Robb said, though, as a teenager or even 20-something I'd "have been all over it." (And I was.)

BUT, if I couldn't make more or if I were a stay-at-home dad as franksolich knows this Robb to be, there is no way I could live with myself if I turned down $20/hr while my wife was off earning the only paycheck. And work I could do right next door! There's no excuse for this. I can't believe he's not ashamed of himself. He's already doing hard physical labor so obviously he's up to it. Sounds like his neighbor would let him take the time he needs, too.

Maybe they are one of those families that prefer to have the child in the home as opposed to daycare. Not sure. Don't know Robb well at all. Many families do this though. We could survive on my income alone but not my husband's. However, I am one of those parents that think it is good for a child to be in an environment with other children. I know many differ on this, and that is fine. I have no clue why Robb and his family choose for him to stay home, but this may be a possibility.

[Godot showed up]

Maybe they are one of those families that prefer to have the child in the home as opposed to daycare. Not sure. Don't know Robb well at all. Many families do this though. We could survive on my income alone but not my husband's. However, I am one of those parents that think it is good for a child to be in an environment with other children. I know many differ on this, and that is fine. I have no clue why Robb and his family choose for him to stay home, but this may be a possibility.

It's not that he's a stay-at-home dad that I'm judging, it's his refusal to do work that he can do while he stays at home!

This depends on how old the kids are, but how young can they be if he's in his 60s? I doubt they're babies or even toddlers. Which means they could be outside, within eyeshot, for 3-5 hours, while dad picks up some tax-free dough. (Another reason to be "all over it"; it's really $20/hr, not $20/hr gross.)