Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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People treat everyone poorly nowadays, not just TSA workers. List any number of jobs and how many of those jobs and people are appreciated? They aren't. So, if the TSA wants to get in line, it's a long list. As for appreciation, at least they have the benefit of a govt job with benefits, while lots of Americans are slaving away at minimum wages jobs with no benefits, pension and retirement. They also work indoors , in a nice environment under nice conditions.
We have become a society with a social hierarchy. We rank people and assign them a station in life. If you have a "McJob", then you must be a loser. If you have a low paying, low wage job, then are nothing. We used to value all work. In times past, i believe that we even respected janitors and anyone doing a job was looked upon as a worthy individual no matter what the job was. Now, that's not true anymore.

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 I'm going to look at it from the customer's standpoint.

On Saturday, I stopped at a local credit union, then went to Trader Joes. There could NOT have been a bigger difference between the way I was treated at the two places.

I'll let you guess which place I'll continue to spend my money at.

flan

Case in point, we bought a grill at Kmart that was fully assembled. Or, so we thought. After getting it home, it was clear that about half of the screws and bolts were never put in . And, of course, they didn't include the unused hardware. Obviously, whoever put it together, just slapped it together and didn't care enough to do the job completely. We had to figure out how to make it work by going to the hardware and trying assorted parts to get it put together in a way so that it won't fall apart.

Crappy service is endemic of a culture that doesn't value traditional values of hard work and a job well done. This is a society that would rather win the lottery and get rich quick than to work hard and save and be frugal get oneself ahead the old fashioned way. It's a society where being a fame whore is celebrated. So, yeah, schlepping your mundane job to them now seems like a waste of time other than the minimal pay it affords. I am not defending it, i am just saying what did we think would happen when we moved away from traditional values?

LGS is right - it comes down to how people view those who work the jobs. I can't tell you how many people would say to their child, right in front of me "see honey, this is why you should study and go to college, so you don't end up a cashier at Target". They didn't know that I was a manager (when it's busy, everyone jumps on the register) and they didn't know that I made more money as a manager than most teachers. And why would you think you have the right to say that right in front of me?! Disgusting behavior. And it happened all the time.

And the number of times I would watch someone throw their garbage on the floor and look at me and say "you get paid to pick it up, not me"...it would make your head spin. I never believed people could be so rude. And have worked retail since I was 15.

We need to value the contributions of everyone in the workforce. Each person was not meant for college. Not everyone can be the CEO - someone has to work the front lines. Treat each person with respect. It's amazing how much better the service is when you treat the person delivering the service LIKE A PERSON. I have gotten freebies and upgrades galore just for treating the service provider with kindness.

Mellow Momma wrote:

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LGS is right - it comes down to how people view those who work the jobs. I can't tell you how many people would say to their child, right in front of me "see honey, this is why you should study and go to college, so you don't end up a cashier at Target". They didn't know that I was a manager (when it's busy, everyone jumps on the register) and they didn't know that I made more money as a manager than most teachers. And why would you think you have the right to say that right in front of me?! Disgusting behavior. And it happened all the time.

And the number of times I would watch someone throw their garbage on the floor and look at me and say "you get paid to pick it up, not me"...it would make your head spin. I never believed people could be so rude. And have worked retail since I was 15.

We need to value the contributions of everyone in the workforce. Each person was not meant for college. Not everyone can be the CEO - someone has to work the front lines. Treat each person with respect. It's amazing how much better the service is when you treat the person delivering the service LIKE A PERSON. I have gotten freebies and upgrades galore just for treating the service provider with kindness.

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 MM,

I've worked at Target AND Ayr-Way!! LOL

People consider librarians maids as well. Did your kid spill any entire carton of chocolate milk on the floor? I actually don't MIND cleaning it up (accidents happen), BUT at least you can apologize.

A certain male patron brings current issues of 3 different newspapers to the Children's Room, which is FINE, since he can't leave his young children unattended. BUT, invariably, he mixes all the sections of all the papers together.

flan

When we first got married, DH worked for a landscaping company. He was a foreman and made great money. He did that in the summer and went to school in the fall/winter. He had one customer who had an adorable little boy who loved to watch the crew mow their lawn. Once he ran outside to high five DH after the crew was done. He asked DH if he lived nearby. His mom answered "oh honey, he cuts our grass. He can't afford to live in *our town*". DH responded " actually ma'am I live two streets over. Have a nice day".

Just because someone is providing a service doesn't mean they are sub human. It doesn't mean they must come from "the wrong side of the tracks".

Oh heck. The most affluent people in our town our contractors! The guy who owns the garbage service has a huge 6 bedroom house, lol.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Oh heck. The most affluent people in our town our contractors! The guy who owns the garbage service has a huge 6 bedroom house, lol.

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 Yep. I got much more authentic responses from people when I would say my dad was a garbage man. I have never been ashamed of that fact. Although, a lot of attitudes changed when they found out he wasn't just a garbage man. He owned the garbage company that serviced 8 counties. 

I guess that's why it never occurred to me to treat people differently. The janitor and the president get the same smile and good morning.

Mellow Momma wrote:

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When we first got married, DH worked for a landscaping company. He was a foreman and made great money. He did that in the summer and went to school in the fall/winter. He had one customer who had an adorable little boy who loved to watch the crew mow their lawn. Once he ran outside to high five DH after the crew was done. He asked DH if he lived nearby. His mom answered "oh honey, he cuts our grass. He can't afford to live in *our town*". DH responded " actually ma'am I live two streets over. Have a nice day".

Just because someone is providing a service doesn't mean they are sub human. It doesn't mean they must come from "the wrong side of the tracks".

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 Wow! As much as I paid my landscaper I would be surprised  if  he didn't  live in a mansion.  I respect  anyone  who works hard for a living. 

Whah whah whah.

As someone who worked at Walmart up to testifying in front of Congress, I have never once looked down on any job And its employees due to the "color of its collar".

With all that said, the TSA and its employees truly bring it upon themselves. Even as a SAHM, I travel nationally and internationally at least 2 times a year, if not more. The author complained that people showed up unprepared...but when there isn't consistency within how the agency fulfills its own directives, why should people remember all the rules.

My regional airport requires the shoes to be put in the bins. My parents regional airport requires the shoes to be out and go through the scanner in their own. And don't get me started on the TSA precheck yellow card that you might get, which allows them to not have to take their shoes off at all.

Nope, the TSA brought this upon themselves and perpetuate it on almost a daily basis.

And I ended up getting a Known Traveler Number just so I could get precheck every time. If I had to stand behind one more traveler who was getting all of their full sized liquids pulled out of their bag while they cried and stomped their foot and said "I had no idea I couldn't bring a 48oz bottle of vodka and a machete in my carry on!" I was going to scream. People are totally unprepared for the experience and they blame the TSA for it. I watch TSA tell people to pull everything out of their pockets, and the traveler insists they have emptied their pockets, then TSA uses the wand and it beeps over their pocket and the traveler pulls out keys, change, a money clip and says "I didn't realize you meant everything". Seriously?! It's enough to make me batty - I can't imagine dealing with it everyday. All day.

Mellow Momma wrote:

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And I ended up getting a Known Traveler Number just so I could get precheck every time. If I had to stand behind one more traveler who was getting all of their full sized liquids pulled out of their bag while they cried and stomped their foot and said "I had no idea I couldn't bring a 48oz bottle of vodka and a machete in my carry on!" I was going to scream. People are totally unprepared for the experience and they blame the TSA for it. I watch TSA tell people to pull everything out of their pockets, and the traveler insists they have emptied their pockets, then TSA uses the wand and it beeps over their pocket and the traveler pulls out keys, change, a money clip and says "I didn't realize you meant everything". Seriously?! It's enough to make me batty - I can't imagine dealing with it everyday. All day.

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 I don't know how precheck works. Maybe you could help. My MIL and I had precheck on the way to Oklahoma but not on the way home. Is precheck something one has to pay for? Or maybe it simply wasn't available at the OKC airport?

Respect is gone in a lot of ways. A long time ago you worked hard for a company, put in an honest day's work, and gave them the best you had. Then they rewarded you. Not so anymore. It's nothing now for companies to fire people nearing retirement and bring in younger cheaper employees. Employers used to be very dedicated to their employees. Not so now. And it shows in how their employees feel.

chef wrote:

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I don't understand the fussing re TSA. I flew to Oklahoma back in May and experienced one of those full body scanners in the OKC airport. I have to say that it was not invasive one bit and took all of 3 seconds. They tested my hands for GSR then did a pat down and I was on my way. The whole process took maybe 2 minutes. I find it asinine how many people complained about such a simple process.

As to their rules ... I think the liquids rule is stupid since it's an arbitrary cut off - 3.4 oz - really? So 3.5 oz is dangerous? But, I didn't fuss with them. I had my liquids stuck in a quart size bag per the rules like a good traveler. Never mind that anyone who paid attention in Chemistry class can tell if a liquid is water or something else. I was thankful that empty water bottles were ok so I didn't have to pay exorbitant airport prices for water.

The TSA is in a no-win position. They enact rules to keep us safe and people gripe. They relax the rules and something happens and people gripe. Can't win. Personally, I remain respectful and do as I'm asked. I'd rather deal with rules I consider stupid than have another attack (terrorist or otherwise) happen.

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 Very good point!

And the employees don't make the rules but they have to enforce them and listen to gripes from rude people...those who think the rules DON'T apply to them.

flan

 

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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Respect is gone in a lot of ways. A long time ago you worked hard for a company, put in an honest day's work, and gave them the best you had. Then they rewarded you. Not so anymore. It's nothing now for companies to fire people nearing retirement and bring in younger cheaper employees. Employers used to be very dedicated to their employees. Not so now. And it shows in how their employees feel.

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 Very well said.  I couldnt agree more.   Employers want loyalty, yet they give none.  They want to now own your time 24/7 with phone, cell phone, email, internet, but they don't want to pay for your time.  If you want loyalty then it has to be a 2 way street.   So, they brought a lot of this on themselves with the culture and behavior towards their employees. They don't value people anymore.  You are just a warm body to fill a spot.  If you drop dead, the only concern would be replacing your spot. 

Mellow Momma wrote:

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I have flown about a dozen times this year alone and I don't find TSA to be a hassle at all. Yes, some airports require shoes in the bin and some ask for them outside. I assume that each airport has different equipment and therefore different needs. It isn't terribly difficult. Just do whatever they ask - it's not a huge burden to put your shoes in the bin if you are not expecting to.

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 If it's a federal or even state agency, with federal mandates/requirements/rules, then the onus on the federal agency is to be consistent from one location to another.

and the point is, don't complain about people not knowing what the rules are when your agency changes the rules in one trip, no matter how easy it is to comply. 

a great example is the precheck yellow tag. If it is based on security risk, or lack there of, why would someone get it on obe leg of a roundtrip, but not on the return leg?  how hard is it to be consistent, given its a national agency? Oh wait, that would mean putting forth a bit more effort in common sense work vs throwing out perfectly good great milk YEARS into the policy that breastmilk can go through as long as the strip stays clean. 

-- Edited by Ilumine on Tuesday 5th of July 2016 08:24:44 AM

I LOVE pre-check. What I don't love is when G gets it and I don't. LOL! But he almost always has pre-check for some reason. Maybe because he travels so much...