TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Colorado Teacher Shares Heartbreaking Notes From Third Graders

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Um, yeah. Did anyone read this and see the Agenda? A little TOO pat, too convenient. Seems like yet another scam of the Left to push yet more of their agenda. Not that these things are happening, but the Answers seems to be the Left Wing Agenda. Uh huh.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I saw this story yesterday, LGS.

I took it at face value. What's the "agenda?"

flan

huskerbb · Guru

I guess I don't know what the "agenda" is, either.

I also don't get the point of posting it other than....well, I don't know.

The teacher can't change it. The school can't change it. Society can't really even change it.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

huskerbb wrote:
I guess I don't know what the "agenda" is, either.

I also don't get the point of posting it other than....well, I don't know.

The teacher can't change it. The school can't change it. Society can't really even change it.

Oh my gladiolas...husker and I agreed on TWO threads today!!!

evileye

flan

ed11563 · Guru

flan327 wrote:
huskerbb wrote:

I also don't get the point of posting it other than....well, I don't know.

The teacher can't change it. The school can't change it. Society can't really even change it.
Oh my gladiolas...husker and I agreed on TWO threads today!!!
flan

The point is that, for some of the students, things have ALREADY changed.

Eight- and nine-year-olds are capable of empathy.

And apparently society hasn't completely shut down the kids' ability to speak out instead of hiding.

ed11563 · Guru

I wonder what Spouse would have written...

Of course, her mother had beaten into her the lesson of "Never NEVER tell anyone!"

huskerbb · Guru

ed11563 wrote:
flan327 wrote:
huskerbb wrote:

I also don't get the point of posting it other than....well, I don't know.

The teacher can't change it. The school can't change it. Society can't really even change it.
Oh my gladiolas...husker and I agreed on TWO threads today!!!
flan
The point is that, for some of the students, things have ALREADY changed.
Eight- and nine-year-olds are capable of empathy.
And apparently society hasn't completely shut down the kids' ability to speak out instead of hiding.

It changed because the students were able to open up to their teacher--not because the teacher posted it on facebook or whatever.

ed11563 · Guru

huskerbb wrote:

It changed because the students were able to open up to their teacher--not because the teacher posted it on Facebook or whatever.

YES !!!

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Teachers need to be able to teach. They cannot be a supplemental parent to 20-30 kids. While it's wonderful if a teacher can by empathetic and connect with her students, the inference that teachers lack something if they don't know these personal things about the kids is unfair.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

"Schwartz says she also hopes her lesson can help her connect students and their families with the proper resources they need to live comfortably."

The "resources" necessary for living comfortably used to consist of the resource of Mommy and Daddy getting off their behinds and earning and providing a living for their own families. I dont' care how much aid you shell out, no amount of aid, can ever or will ever overcome irresponsible people.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Sorry, but I think the whole "dad got deported to Mexico" to be a little too staged. Just my opinion.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
"Schwartz says she also hopes her lesson can help her connect students and their families with the proper resources they need to live comfortably."

The "resources" necessary for living comfortably used to consist of the resource of Mommy and Daddy getting off their behinds and earning and providing a living for their own families. I dont' care how much aid you shell out, no amount of aid, can ever or will ever overcome irresponsible people.

Yes, I agree, but it's the kids who suffer.

flan

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Yes. So, the kids should be removed from derelict parents.

ed11563 · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
"Schwartz says she also hopes her lesson can help her connect students and their families with the proper resources they need to live comfortably."

The "resources" necessary for living comfortably used to consist of the resource of Mommy and Daddy getting off their behinds and earning and providing a living for their own families. I dont' care how much aid you shell out, no amount of aid, can ever or will ever overcome irresponsible people.

"Resources" should include employment counseling / placement service.

Some adults don't KNOW some of the basics, like ...

* show up on time, ready to work

* take care of personal grooming, which includes showering and wearing clean, appropriate clothing

* showing respect for other employees and customers, and the workplace

* following reasonable orders from their managers

* arriving and staying SOBER at work

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

ed11563 wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
"Schwartz says she also hopes her lesson can help her connect students and their families with the proper resources they need to live comfortably."

The "resources" necessary for living comfortably used to consist of the resource of Mommy and Daddy getting off their behinds and earning and providing a living for their own families. I dont' care how much aid you shell out, no amount of aid, can ever or will ever overcome irresponsible people.
"Resources" should include employment counseling / placement service.
Some adults don't KNOW some of the basics, like ...
* show up on time, ready to work
* take care of personal grooming, which includes showering and wearing clean, appropriate clothing
* showing respect for other employees and customers, and the workplace
* following reasonable orders from their managers
* arriving and staying SOBER at work

If ADULTS dont' know that, then they are HELLA IDIOTS. Grow the F Up and take RESPONSIBILITY for yourself. Wow.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

But how do I eat a fat sandwich???

flan

ed11563 · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
ed11563 wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
"Schwartz says she also hopes her lesson can help her connect students and their families with the proper resources they need to live comfortably."

The "resources" necessary for living comfortably used to consist of the resource of Mommy and Daddy getting off their behinds and earning and providing a living for their own families. I dont' care how much aid you shell out, no amount of aid, can ever or will ever overcome irresponsible people.
"Resources" should include employment counseling / placement service.
Some adults don't KNOW some of the basics, like ...
* show up on time, ready to work
* take care of personal grooming, which includes showering and wearing clean, appropriate clothing
* showing respect for other employees and customers, and the workplace
* following reasonable orders from their managers
* arriving and staying SOBER at work

If ADULTS don't' know that, then they are HELLA IDIOTS. Grow the F Up and take RESPONSIBILITY for yourself. Wow.

When I was hiring salespeople I interviewed a lot of people, some of whom did NOT know these things.

You can think that adults should already know all this, but "should" is not the same as "do".

Do you KNOW any adults who work for minimum wage AND can't keep a job?

You can label them "HELLA IDIOTS", but that doesn't help anyone.

I'm saying that "proper resources" should not mean sources of free money.

ed11563 · Guru

flan327 wrote:
But how do I eat a fat sandwich???

flan

Okay, I could tell you about "forks", "knives", "plates", as well as chewing and swallowing.

Shall we schedule a video conference for this?

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan

ed11563 · Guru

flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan

Probably, most of those kids have never seen a fat sandwich in their lives. cry

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan

Grandparents aren't capable of teaching them? I guess not, if they failed so miserably with their own children that they now have to raise their grandkids.

Personal responsibility. Yeah, it matters.

huskerbb · Guru

The sad fact is that it's a never-ending cycle.

Pregnant teens, single mothers, drugs, perpetual welfare and poverty.

It's not the kids' fault, per se, but at the same time, they will grow up to perpetuate they cycle. When will their communities say "enough is enough"? No matter how much government money you throw at the issue--it will NEVER pull them out of poverty. It will NEVER replace a two parent household where people have decent jobs and are able to have a middle class lifestyle.

Sure, I feel badly for kids who are in this situation--but when do they take some responsibility for attempting to break the cycle? How about not getting pregnant at 14? How about finishing high school--as bad as they might be, a diploma from a poor, inner city school is better than no diploma.

There are ALREADY resources available to many of these kids if they would actually finish high school and even want to go to college--but it's exponentially more difficult if they are saddled with a child, running with a gang, don't finish high school, or are on drugs.

At some point, you are responsible for your own choices no matter what your upbringing.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan
Grandparents aren't capable of teaching them? I guess not, if they failed so miserably with their own children that they now have to raise their grandkids.

Personal responsibility. Yeah, it matters.

You and I both know that good parents can and do raise kids who make bad choices.

flan

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan
Grandparents aren't capable of teaching them? I guess not, if they failed so miserably with their own children that they now have to raise their grandkids.

Personal responsibility. Yeah, it matters.
You and I both know that good parents can and do raise kids who make bad choices.
flan

Absolutely--so the opposite should also be true--and is. Bad parents can and do raise kids that make good choices.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

huskerbb wrote:
The sad fact is that it's a never-ending cycle.

Pregnant teens, single mothers, drugs, perpetual welfare and poverty.

It's not the kids' fault, per se, but at the same time, they will grow up to perpetuate they cycle. When will their communities say "enough is enough"? No matter how much government money you throw at the issue--it will NEVER pull them out of poverty. It will NEVER replace a two parent household where people have decent jobs and are able to have a middle class lifestyle.

Sure, I feel badly for kids who are in this situation--but when do they take some responsibility for attempting to break the cycle? How about not getting pregnant at 14? How about finishing high school--as bad as they might be, a diploma from a poor, inner city school is better than no diploma.

There are ALREADY resources available to many of these kids if they would actually finish high school and even want to go to college--but it's exponentially more difficult if they are saddled with a child, running with a gang, don't finish high school, or are on drugs.

At some point, you are responsible for your own choices no matter what your upbringing.

I worked in the inner-city for 10 years & it broke my heart to see kid after kid get pregnant (or knock up the GF) and drop out of school at 14 or 15.

I wanted JUST ONE KID to break the cycle.

flan

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Callimg them "hella idiots" doesn't solve the problem. Clearly you have never worked with these types of people.

At Target, we called them "first generation job holders". They were people who never had anyone in their home go to a job every day, never saw a strong work ethic role modeled for them, never were taught what workimg for a living entailed. Saying "they should just take responsibility" is all well and good, but it doesn't give them the info they need to hold down a job. It isn't common sense. It's common to several of us here, because we grew up with it modeled in our homes. But a lot of people didn't.

Some common things people don't know:

-- attendance is important (they honestly don't understand you have to show up every shift)
-- serial call offs will lead to termination
-- tardiness can lead to job loss (they think if they show up eventually, they are ok)
-- leaving before the shift is over is not ok
-- doing job tasks in a timely manner is important (not eventually)
-- having clean clothes on matters
-- talking back to your managers is not ok
-- talking back to other employees is not ok
-- hitting another employee will lead to termination
-- you must be nice to the customers no matter what. (I had an employee tell me "I didn't know you could fire me for not being nice to the customers)

It is common sense to you and I. But to people who live in a neighborhood where people do not go to work every day, where they don't see people with a good work ethic, it is NOT common sense. And just saying "take responsibility" doesn't help them learn.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I cannot believe for one second that Target does not provide a handbook for new employees to read when they get the job. And then, they have to sign they read it.

So, yes, if all that information is provided to them when they get the job - they have a personal responsibility to know it.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
ed11563 wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
"Schwartz says she also hopes her lesson can help her connect students and their families with the proper resources they need to live comfortably."

The "resources" necessary for living comfortably used to consist of the resource of Mommy and Daddy getting off their behinds and earning and providing a living for their own families. I dont' care how much aid you shell out, no amount of aid, can ever or will ever overcome irresponsible people.
"Resources" should include employment counseling / placement service.
Some adults don't KNOW some of the basics, like ...
* show up on time, ready to work
* take care of personal grooming, which includes showering and wearing clean, appropriate clothing
* showing respect for other employees and customers, and the workplace
* following reasonable orders from their managers
* arriving and staying SOBER at work

If ADULTS dont' know that, then they are HELLA IDIOTS. Grow the F Up and take RESPONSIBILITY for yourself. Wow.

Sorry, if have difficulty wiping your own butt and understanding the above you are a HELLA Idiot.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan
Grandparents aren't capable of teaching them? I guess not, if they failed so miserably with their own children that they now have to raise their grandkids.

Personal responsibility. Yeah, it matters.
You and I both know that good parents can and do raise kids who make bad choices.
flan

So then why can't they teach the grandkids they are raising? Why is "they are being raised by a grandparent" an excuse for not having a role model? You are the one that made that an excuse.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
I cannot believe for one second that Target does not provide a handbook for new employees to read when they get the job. And then, they have to sign they read it.

So, yes, if all that information is provided to them when they get the job - they have a personal responsibility to know it.

But, but, but...LL, someone should read it to them!! They just can't manage to fit that into their Facebooking time!

Tinydancer · Guru

I wouldn't hire any of these people who don't know this stuff. Saying all of those things are not common sense is patently untrue. Even if they've never had a parent who worked a real job doesn't mean they haven't seen it else where. If these really are too much for them to handle they shouldn't be working. What is the world coming to when common sense is considered something you must "learn"?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I love it. They are too dumb to understand common sense even when it is provided to them in writing, and yet, it's wrong to call them dumb.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan
Grandparents aren't capable of teaching them? I guess not, if they failed so miserably with their own children that they now have to raise their grandkids.

Personal responsibility. Yeah, it matters.
You and I both know that good parents can and do raise kids who make bad choices.
flan
So then why can't they teach the grandkids they are raising? Why is "they are being raised by a grandparent" an excuse for not having a role model? You are the one that made that an excuse.

If a grandparent is in ill health & not working, that makes it harder.

I learned by watching my dad work 2 jobs & sometimes 3.

flan

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Call them idiots all you want. It reflects on you.

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan
Grandparents aren't capable of teaching them? I guess not, if they failed so miserably with their own children that they now have to raise their grandkids.

Personal responsibility. Yeah, it matters.
You and I both know that good parents can and do raise kids who make bad choices.
flan
So then why can't they teach the grandkids they are raising? Why is "they are being raised by a grandparent" an excuse for not having a role model? You are the one that made that an excuse.
If a grandparent is in ill health & not working, that makes it harder.
I learned by watching my dad work 2 jobs & sometimes 3.
flan

That's an assumption that does not apply to most situations. Not all grandparents are in ill health. But if they are not working - they should have that much more time to make sure their grandkid is learning what they need to learn.

Tinydancer · Guru

Well then you sticking up for them reflects on you. You really would tolerate this from someone you worked with? I find that hard to believe.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I miss the weekend.

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Call them idiots all you want. It reflects on you.

flan

I want to know when it stops. When do you stop making excuses for people that have the OPPORTUNITY to learn and DON'T?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan
Grandparents aren't capable of teaching them? I guess not, if they failed so miserably with their own children that they now have to raise their grandkids.

Personal responsibility. Yeah, it matters.

LL, I have seen many RESPONSIBLE grandparents who raised their own children to KNOW better. But, they become caught up in drugs or whatever and blow up their own lives and then the grandparents wind up raising their kids. My neighbor is raising her daughter's 3 children as she has been in and out of jail all of her life for drugs and petty crime. The grandparents are highly responsible teachers who are good members of the community and have worked very hard. Their daughter made her OWN adult choices. Her daughter is the one who is responsible for who she chooses to be. So, to say the "failed" is true in the sense that she made poor choices, but they did everything in their power to try to put her on the right path. She CHOOSE to veer off of it.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
I miss the weekend.

flan

Then take the week off until next weekend.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan
Grandparents aren't capable of teaching them? I guess not, if they failed so miserably with their own children that they now have to raise their grandkids.

Personal responsibility. Yeah, it matters.
LL, I have seen many RESPONSIBLE grandparents who raised their own children to KNOW better. But, they become caught up in drugs or whatever and blow up their own lives and then the grandparents wind up raising their kids. My neighbor is raising her daughter's 3 children as she has been in and out of jail all of her life for drugs and petty crime. The grandparents are highly responsible teachers who are good members of the community and have worked very hard. Their daughter made her OWN adult choices. Her daughter is the one who is responsible for who she chooses to be. So, to say the "failed" is true in the sense that she made poor choices, but they did everything in their power to try to put her on the right path. She CHOOSE to veer off of it.

I'm aware of this, Gaga. My post was because flan said that they have no role model because they are being raised by a grandparent.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I miss the weekend.

flan
Then take the week off until next weekend.

It's an inside joke.

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I miss the weekend.

flan
Then take the week off until next weekend.
It's an inside joke.
flan

Then why post it on the board? And it's not very "inside". And it's not very funny.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I agree with ed, especially if we are talking about a poor section of town.

How does anyone learn these things? An adult role model, usually a parent.

But many of these kids are likely being raised by a grandparent. Mom or Dad may be in prison, or not in the picture.

flan
Grandparents aren't capable of teaching them? I guess not, if they failed so miserably with their own children that they now have to raise their grandkids.

Personal responsibility. Yeah, it matters.
LL, I have seen many RESPONSIBLE grandparents who raised their own children to KNOW better. But, they become caught up in drugs or whatever and blow up their own lives and then the grandparents wind up raising their kids. My neighbor is raising her daughter's 3 children as she has been in and out of jail all of her life for drugs and petty crime. The grandparents are highly responsible teachers who are good members of the community and have worked very hard. Their daughter made her OWN adult choices. Her daughter is the one who is responsible for who she chooses to be. So, to say the "failed" is true in the sense that she made poor choices, but they did everything in their power to try to put her on the right path. She CHOOSE to veer off of it.
I'm aware of this, Gaga. My post was because flan said that they have no role model because they are being raised by a grandparent.

Ok.

Tinydancer · Guru

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I miss the weekend.

flan
Then take the week off until next weekend.
It's an inside joke.
flan

My computer was down this weekend but don't count on that next weekend. As a matter of fact I'll make sure to be here just for you next weekend. Doesn't that sound fun?

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Lawyerlady wrote:
I cannot believe for one second that Target does not provide a handbook for new employees to read when they get the job. And then, they have to sign they read it.

So, yes, if all that information is provided to them when they get the job - they have a personal responsibility to know it.

The employee handbook spells out some things, but not every single thing. A lot is left up to individual circumstances and individual stores to determine. The handbook doesn't say specifically "no sleeping while at work" but it does say "no loafing". Some people do not understand that sleeping IS loafing.

I am am not defending these types of people. I am just saying it isn't as cut and dried as you would like it to be.

Some honestly DO want to work and improve themselves, but they just cant. I had a girl who was responsible for her 6 brothers and sisters because her mom was in prison. She ended up losing her job because of excessive absences. With 6 kids to look after, she couldn't hold it together. She needed day care help, help with her brother who kept ditching school, help with her toddler sister who was acting out becssue she missed mom, help with another (underage) sister who was sleeping with the neighbor boy. I was a part time social worker when she was on duty - I spent a lot of time just listening and trying to comfort her. She wanted to work, was good at what she did, but she was trying to hold her family together.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I cannot believe for one second that Target does not provide a handbook for new employees to read when they get the job. And then, they have to sign they read it.

So, yes, if all that information is provided to them when they get the job - they have a personal responsibility to know it.
The employee handbook spells out some things, but not every single thing. A lot is left up to individual circumstances and individual stores to determine. The handbook doesn't say specifically "no sleeping while at work" but it does say "no loafing". Some people do not understand that sleeping IS loafing.
I am am not defending these types of people. I am just saying it isn't as cut and dried as you would like it to be.
Some honestly DO want to work and improve themselves, but they just cant. I had a girl who was responsible for her 6 brothers and sisters because her mom was in prison. She ended up losing her job because of excessive absences. With 6 kids to look after, she couldn't hold it together. She needed day care help, help with her brother who kept ditching school, help with her toddler sister who was acting out becssue she missed mom, help with another (underage) sister who was sleeping with the neighbor boy. I was a part time social worker when she was on duty - I spent a lot of time just listening and trying to comfort her. She wanted to work, was good at what she did, but she was trying to hold her family together.

Why isn't that cut and dried that people who don't know they can't sleep at work are lacking in common sense?

And your last paragraph is not the people we are talking about. That's a girl struggling to do her best in the worst of situations, not someone who doesn't know to take a bath.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Lawyerlady wrote:
I cannot believe for one second that Target does not provide a handbook for new employees to read when they get the job. And then, they have to sign they read it.

So, yes, if all that information is provided to them when they get the job - they have a personal responsibility to know it.

Another thing to consider - cultural differences. What is considered acceptable in their neighborhood, or even necessary for survival, is unacceptable in the workplace. Very often, they do not understand this. If someone disrespects you in your neighborhood, you need to fight back and get respect. At work, when you are disrespected, often you need to suck it up. This flies in the face of every single thing they were ever taught. The handbook clearly says "no physical confrontations will be tolerated" but they think there is an exception for if you have been disrespected - beca use who would ever say you couldn't fight back? It just makes no sense to them. So they think "no fighting" means don't walk up to someone and cold **** them. They don't understand it means if someone calls you a name under their breath, you cannot hit them. That is illogical to them.

Again, I am not saying they are right. I am trying to provide a point of view to consider to try and understand a different culture better.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Lawyerlady wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I cannot believe for one second that Target does not provide a handbook for new employees to read when they get the job. And then, they have to sign they read it.

So, yes, if all that information is provided to them when they get the job - they have a personal responsibility to know it.
The employee handbook spells out some things, but not every single thing. A lot is left up to individual circumstances and individual stores to determine. The handbook doesn't say specifically "no sleeping while at work" but it does say "no loafing". Some people do not understand that sleeping IS loafing.
I am am not defending these types of people. I am just saying it isn't as cut and dried as you would like it to be.
Some honestly DO want to work and improve themselves, but they just cant. I had a girl who was responsible for her 6 brothers and sisters because her mom was in prison. She ended up losing her job because of excessive absences. With 6 kids to look after, she couldn't hold it together. She needed day care help, help with her brother who kept ditching school, help with her toddler sister who was acting out becssue she missed mom, help with another (underage) sister who was sleeping with the neighbor boy. I was a part time social worker when she was on duty - I spent a lot of time just listening and trying to comfort her. She wanted to work, was good at what she did, but she was trying to hold her family together.

Why isn't that cut and dried that people who don't know they can't sleep at work are lacking in common sense?

And your last paragraph is not the people we are talking about. That's a girl struggling to do her best in the worst of situations, not someone who doesn't know to take a bath.

So many people in these types of situations are just like that girl though. They are trying their best in really horrific situations that you and I could not even imagine.