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I can't really send this, but tell me if you think my viewpoint is off the mark here

kranky

kranky

Elite Member
Yeah, I can't send this, and I can't tell him this. I'll just live with the angry employee until he gets over it.

To my employee:

I am not irritated that you want to help your kid get a job now that he's graduated from college. And I know that we have an opening for someone to work on digitizing old paper records into PDFs.

Unfortunately, your kid thinks that job is worth $40,000 a year. That's his expected salary, according to his application. That is about $20 an hour to do a job that does not really require a college degree. My budget for the job is $14 an hour. I'd like to hire someone who doesn't really have an opportunity to do better, who doesn't have a degree, who maybe once had a manufacturing job now being done by someone in China. I know $14 an hour is not a lot of money, but I don't have a lot of openings for people who really need a steady job with good benefits but don't have a degree. I was lucky I talked people out of outsourcing it to some company who would have people do it for minimum wage.

So if I hire your kid, he's going to feel terribly underpaid. He is going to be gone at the first opportunity to make more money, and I'll end up having to hire someone else and train them. You and I both know he doesn't intend to stay here, he only wants to have some income until he finds something in his field. And if I don't hire him, you're going to be upset with me because he could do the job (as could almost anyone) and instead of hiring your kid I hire someone else.

Hiring him is not the right move, and by not hiring him I'm going to have an angry employee. I have no way to win in this situation. It's too late now, but perhaps things would have been a bit easier for your kid had he not taken out $45,000 in college loans to get a degree in video game design. I'm sure he had a lot of fun during his college years. I enjoy video games myself. But I would not have taken on massive debt to get a degree with such minimal job opportunities. It would have been smart for you to talk him into something a bit more mainstream, or checked into the school's success in placing graduates in this niche field.

Sorry.
​
 
kranky said:
My budget for the job is $14 an hour. I'd like to hire someone who doesn't really have an opportunity to do better, who doesn't have a degree, who maybe once had a manufacturing job now being done by someone in China.
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My older brother fits this description and would gladly work for $14/hour.
 
You are correct that someone else could be happy in that position while this kid may be unhappy. But, it really doesn't matter who gets this cushy job (a kid or an unemployed former manufacturer). If it is as easy as you claim, then retraining another person is nothing. Either the job is more difficult than you claim or there is less training than you claim. You can't have it both ways.

I also think you are off paying someone $14 an hour. It just seems to high for a scanning position. Offer $12/hour to the kid, let the kid reject the job, then hire the person you want. Problem solved.
 
rivan said:
My older brother fits this description and would gladly work for $14/hour.
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My BIL lives in Swissvale. He works construction for some outfit that is part of the local Union. He gets work ranging from 1 day to 3 months long, then has no work for what seems the same range. I wish he'd just get a steady job, but he's stubborn unfortunately.

Best of luck in your search!
 
Employee,
I'm not hiring your kid and if you exhibit any negative attitudes towards my decision then I'll replace you with someone that will be grateful to have a job.

The Boss

Edit:Outsource both jobs to India.
 
dullard said:
You are correct that someone else could be happy in that position while this kid may be unhappy. But, it really doesn't matter who gets this cushy job (a kid or an unemployed former manufacturer). If it is as easy as you claim, then retraining another person is nothing. Either the job is more difficult than you claim or there is less training than you claim. You can't have it both ways.

I also think you are off paying someone $14 an hour. It just seems to high for a scanning position. Offer $12/hour to the kid, let the kid reject the job, then hire the person you want. Problem solved.
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The retraining isn't as bad as what's required to screen, interview, evaluate, fill out tons of paperwork, etc. to get someone hired. That's what I hate. Training costs are billed to each department, so even if the training is minimal it makes the department's numbers look bad. The whole process is just a PITA.

I decided I would push for the highest salary I could get approved, then hire someone who doesn't have a degree. This kid wouldn't reject the job no matter what it paid, since he now has no job and no prospects for a job being a video game designer, and this job would let him carpool with his father to work.
 
kranky said:
The retraining isn't as bad as what's required to screen, interview, evaluate, fill out tons of paperwork, etc. to get someone hired. That's what I hate. Training costs are billed to each department, so even if the training is minimal it makes the department's numbers look bad. The whole process is just a PITA.

I decided I would push for the highest salary I could get approved, then hire someone who doesn't have a degree. This kid wouldn't reject the job no matter what it paid, since he now has no job and no prospects for a job being a video game designer, and this job would let him carpool with his father to work.
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well if you think his field's outlook for job opportunity is poor, wouldnt you want to hire him?

also is dad in same department as son?
 
I don't understand why you can't send it after toning it down a half notch. You're right and I don't see the harm in explaining your reasoning to him.
 
Are there any other potential avenues he could help at the business with his degree?
Video game design is kind of broad, is he a programmer?
 
I'd skip the last part, you're being judgemental and saying that he's not doing is job as a father, and it's really not useful since it's not like he can change the situation now.
Keep the it's a lose-lose situation and say the chioce you're making.

Also, he should look for a job as a programmer.
 
Marlin1975 said:
Whats the kids degree in(VGD is that really it?), could be $14 is better than they would ever get. 🙂
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Must be the younger generation. Teller at the bank, with a high school education, was pissed she wasn't making $35K. Got mad and quit for a job making less.
 
It sounds like your primary objection to the candidate is his expected salary of $40K.

Why was it asked in the first place? If the job pays $14/hr, it pays $14/hr, so you should have disregarded his answer to the question anyway.

Are you looking for a "lifer" at $14/hr? I would assume that type of job has high turnover anyway. I think your response is a bit harsh. The best hire I ever made was almost not made, because I was somewhat fearful for several reasons that he wouldn't stay very long. Yes, I had to replace him pretty soon after I hired him because he was promoted and has continued to thrive in the company 5 years later.
 
Why do you need to answer to your subordinate at all? If you believe not hiring his kid is the correct decision then there is no reason you need to justify it to to the father. If the father doesn't like your decision he can find work elsewhere, or just shut up and let his kid find his own way in life.
 
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