And the bar attempts to go a notch lower.
- Thread starter cmill
- Start date
SteveCostello
My member is well-known.
I'm an eCommerce web developer at a clothing manufacturer. If they told me to go spend some time making some dance costumes when things are a little slow, I'd quit on the spot. And my job doesn't even take the level of concentration that a pilot does. A lack of performance on my part doesn't have the chance of killing people or causing millions of dollars of damage to company property.
Not only is this lowering the bar, it is a dilution of skills. Instead of learning to become a better and better pilot on better and better aircraft, he is being asked to learn how to run a saw, which has absolutely nothing to do with his job as a pilot, and, IMHO, is a significant downgrade in responsibility and skill. It may have been a "good faith effort" to help bolster his income during the slow periods, but it's incredibly insulting to suggest that someone should spend time learning how to do something completely unrelated to their career path as opposed to investing more time in becoming better at their chosen career.
I'd much rather the company just straight up tell me they don't have enough work for me. Keep me on contract or something, but otherwise, set me free. That would keep them from wasting my time and theirs.
Not only is this lowering the bar, it is a dilution of skills. Instead of learning to become a better and better pilot on better and better aircraft, he is being asked to learn how to run a saw, which has absolutely nothing to do with his job as a pilot, and, IMHO, is a significant downgrade in responsibility and skill. It may have been a "good faith effort" to help bolster his income during the slow periods, but it's incredibly insulting to suggest that someone should spend time learning how to do something completely unrelated to their career path as opposed to investing more time in becoming better at their chosen career.
I'd much rather the company just straight up tell me they don't have enough work for me. Keep me on contract or something, but otherwise, set me free. That would keep them from wasting my time and theirs.
Roger Roger
Bottom of the list
Eh, it'd be one thing if he had an A&P and they asked him if he would do mx on the side. Carpentry is a little different animal.
Working in carpentry is a skilled trade, and there's nothing at ALL insulting or demeaning about being a carpenter. It's a fine, honest, good job.
If you're a carpenter.
If you're a pilot, your employment is as a pilot, and being asked to carpentry work isn't "insulting" (as in, menial or degrading) it is just not what your job is. Would be like taking a flight attendant, telling her that her services as a flight attendant aren't needed, but go on out to the counter and start checking people in, as she's a gate agent now. Um, yeah, a F/A doesn't know how to do that. Nothing 'bad' about being a gate agent, and if the company wants to offer training for new job placement that's one thing, but not just send someone off to a new position with no conversation or anything.
I hope you get things worked out with your company.
If you're a carpenter.
If you're a pilot, your employment is as a pilot, and being asked to carpentry work isn't "insulting" (as in, menial or degrading) it is just not what your job is. Would be like taking a flight attendant, telling her that her services as a flight attendant aren't needed, but go on out to the counter and start checking people in, as she's a gate agent now. Um, yeah, a F/A doesn't know how to do that. Nothing 'bad' about being a gate agent, and if the company wants to offer training for new job placement that's one thing, but not just send someone off to a new position with no conversation or anything.
I hope you get things worked out with your company.
I could see some interesting hedge animals as a result of that......might not be PG-13
Great. At least they asked. And he had the choice to clean toilets, or not. And if they had just called the engineer into the office and said, "We're not generating the revenue necessary to keep you. We need to let you go, effective today. We're sorry. There's some paperwork in HR awaiting you, and there's a box for the articles in your desk. We wish you the best. If you need a reference, we'd be happy to vouch for your work." he would be bitching for getting laid off/fired/terminated/out of income.
You don't ask an engineer to clean toilets, yet you've seen it happen? I guess it does happen. It just comes down to what someone's willing to do to keep food in their mouths and gas in their cars until something better comes along. I clean toilets. I scoop poop too. And I do all sorts of stuff I'd prefer not to do. Do I think I should go hire someone to do it for me because it's "beneath me" because I own my farm? Or is it "different" because I'm the owner?
What sector of the industry I work in is irrelevant to this conversation. As a business owner, which I am one of those, too, I will try to find ANYTHING for someone to do to enable to keep them employed, even if it's not what I hired them for. If I had to make the choice to do that, or terminate them, I'd offer them whatever else it was first. Ultimately, it's their decision. But, if, as the owner, I came onto a forum and saw a post like this, they'd be run before sunset, and I'd find someone who had the ability to understand that I was trying to keep them employed until things stabilized, or returned to what I had hired them for.
Part of the responsibility of the employee is to ask the employer WHEN things will return to normal. "How long will I need to do X before things get back to where my job is justified?" Those details haven't been disclosed in the thread, nor would I expect them to be. Ultimately, it comes down to developing the ENTIRE situation and understanding the context of it before thinking someone is out to screw someone else over.
So... You tell me; would you rather have a decision to make, or not have a decision, or an income?
Understand, I'm not saying I'd go chop broccolie, wood, or anything else. What I'm saying is that I'd be glad that I had a decision to make, and an on-going dialogue available to me vs being out on my ass trying looking for another job. If, at the end of the conversation, I'm not satisfied with the prospects of my future with that company, I will make the choice to move on an find a better fit. If I have a relationship with those people, and believe that things are in a lull, but should be getting back to normal by an expected timeframe, than I take them at their word, and move forward. If things don't get back to normal, than there is another decision for me to make, but at least at that point, I'd be much better prepared for that prospect.
Itchy
Well-Known Member
Here is how I think it should have gone: cmill walks in, explains the situation. Boss says, I'm sorry that's not in the cards. IMHO, offering a job in the cabinet shop is a bit demeaning.
Cmill approaching the boss, saying the situation is not working out for him, gives a heads up to the boss, that I either have to step up the game on our side, or look for another pilot willing to work on my terms. (and pay subsequent training costs)
Changes happen all the time, and cmill has to look for a better gig. But, I feel offering woodshop work to a professional, in order to keep his professional services available, is a F.U. to said professional. If you can afford a private aircraft and the necessary crew and expenses, great. If you can't, then you are either going to get out of the game, or step on people to achieve your end.
The sad part is, there is an ass for every saddle, and I am sure boss man will win in the end.
Cmill approaching the boss, saying the situation is not working out for him, gives a heads up to the boss, that I either have to step up the game on our side, or look for another pilot willing to work on my terms. (and pay subsequent training costs)
Changes happen all the time, and cmill has to look for a better gig. But, I feel offering woodshop work to a professional, in order to keep his professional services available, is a F.U. to said professional. If you can afford a private aircraft and the necessary crew and expenses, great. If you can't, then you are either going to get out of the game, or step on people to achieve your end.
The sad part is, there is an ass for every saddle, and I am sure boss man will win in the end.
Why is that sad? I hope he wins. At the same time, I hope that they can work something out that is mutually beneficial so they both win in the end.
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
I'm a database guy, so don't take this the wrong way. It is a super useful skill to have, even if it isn't your day job. I get called ALL THE TIME to fix slow applications. Everyone always blames the database, so I get called. The problem is almost always the application, but being able to look at multiple areas (OS/DB/Middleware/code/network) is a far more effective strategy when it comes to complex systems. Most people try to fix what they know, when the low hanging fruit is the thing they don't know.
When the only tool you have is a hammer, you start seeing a lot of nails...
JDean3204
Well-Known Member
Wow that sucks! What's next, a mop.....oh wait, that was a Navy Flashback
Ha, sweepers sweepers man your brooms, give the ship a clean sweep down fore and aft. DO NOT miss that at all. The US Navy, worlds finest janitorial service!
N519AT
Ahh! This is how I change this!
I know a guy that got hired to fly a corporate turboprop. The company (mainly the bean counters) that hired him decided that the plane doesn't fly enough per year to justify a full time pilot, so they put him in sales as well to get good use out of their investment. The result? He hasn't sold a dime of anything since he was hired (2 years ago) because he is so busy just managing the plane. It's not that he's not putting the effort in, he just doesn't have the time.People don't understand that managing these planes and then flying them, no matter how many hours per year is absolutely a full time job and then some.
He's getting paid welllll above industry average for the work that he's doing, but I still wouldn't want to do that. I'm a pilot. I want to fly, not go and sit in an office for 8 hours on the days that I'm not flying. It seems like a lot of corporate outfits are having their pilots work in the office when they're not flying nowadays unfortunately.
He's getting paid welllll above industry average for the work that he's doing, but I still wouldn't want to do that. I'm a pilot. I want to fly, not go and sit in an office for 8 hours on the days that I'm not flying. It seems like a lot of corporate outfits are having their pilots work in the office when they're not flying nowadays unfortunately.
Sweep down all ladders decks and passageways.
If I never hear a boatswains whistle again I will be a happy man
gotWXdagain
Polished Member
To go along with the intoxicated dog, it sounds like your employer gave you a hammer, then put in front of you a set of nails.
I'd have taken it, keeps food on the table and gas in the tank, and I'd be learning a new skill on the side.
I'd have taken it, keeps food on the table and gas in the tank, and I'd be learning a new skill on the side.
SteveCostello
My member is well-known.
That's the thing, though... you reach a point in your career where "learning a new skill" (especially one that has absolutely nothing to do with your current career) is actually career dilution. And in this line of work, the last thing a pilot needs is something to dilute his/her skill set. Building on that skill set with related activities? Bonus. Good stuff. Being asked to cut wood when you aren't flying? Silly. That's just IMHO, and I get that other people don't agree with that. 10 years ago, I might have been one of them.
