Current Events > American factories are desperate for workers. It's a $1 trillion problem....

(+) Yeah! (+)

PoundGarden posted...

That's crazy. I mean, some areas it's just rough all around I guess, don't know what to say. I'm not saying you're wrong or trying to be unempathetic, im just trying to dispell this generalization that most factory work is bottom tier pay. The 3 states I've worked in (Alaska, Minnesota, Iowa) all paid decently for manufacturing.

Just because you're incapable of having an adult discussion, doesn't mean others are. He and I are doing quite well without you feebly trying to stir the pot, thanks.
Perhaps if you tried presenting your case as an adult vs acting like an attention starved toddler you'd be taken seriously? Idk, its worth a shot.

This is Greenup Kentucky, and it's borderline third world. The only thing keeping anything alive in this entire area is Huntington, WV.

So this place might not be the best indicator of factories overall, but it is a good indicator of how poor small town factories are, I think.

The Trent posted...

so in 13 years you've done nothing to improve your skills?
god damn those overlords

I get 40+ OT so.....im good.

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RchHomieQuanChi posted...

Yeah...that's what people are doing which is why nobody is working in these fucking factories lmao

it's either that or the government money, i don't know which really

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Lairen posted...

I get 40+ OT so.....im good.

okay man if you're happy i'm happy

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The Trent posted...

it's either that or the government money, i don't know which really

Both.

You also have to wonder how many people are taking advantage of the unemployment boost so they can use their free time learning something new

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Lairen posted...

Yes. They suck and lie. Ive worked their 13 years. You can tell them to stop sucking.

So the twns of thousands of people complaining online about Target screwing over their hours, people i know personally who work there, news pieces on Target/WM etc doing exactly this all goes out the window because of your anecdotal evidence? Classic. You're full of it lol

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RchHomieQuanChi posted...

You also have to wonder how many people are taking advantage of the unemployment boost so they can use their free time learning something new

hopefully a whole bunch, honestly
but i don't have faith in most people like that

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The Trent posted...

okay man if you're happy i'm happy

Ive gotten so many hours i have hundreds of unused vacation time so im constantly requesting days off but then i just work 10 hour days and end up barely using any vacation hours.

Im sorry your friends suck though.

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PoundGarden posted...

So the twns of thousands of people complaining online about Target screwing over their hours, people i know personally who work there, news pieces on Target/WM etc doing exactly this all goes out the window because of your anecdotal evidence? Classic. You're full of it lol

They suck.

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Lairen posted...

Ive gotten so many hours i have hundreds of unused vacation time so im constantly requesting days off but then i just work 10 hour days and end up barely using any vacation hours.

Im sorry your friends suck though.

my friends?
dude i don't know anyone that works at target, i'm over 35

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The Trent posted...

it's either that or the government money, i don't know which really

They were having problems before the pandemic. They can't find enough welders and hvac workers nationwide, and it's been that way for while. It's a shortage of entry level and skilled manufacturing positions. Not many people are going into these jobs.

I remember I the 80s and 90s the goal was to NOT get a factory job. The goal was to go to college and get a job that isn't manual labor. That was one of the selling points of college to us back in the day. So that probably helped create this situation in a social engineering kind of way.

The Trent posted...

hopefully a whole bunch, honestly
but i don't have faith in most people like that

It's what I'm doing. I make more off of unemployment than working some shitty retail/service/factory job and actually have enough free time to hone my skills in IT without being distracted by a crappy job.

Wouldn't be a problem if companies actually bothered to train people anymore

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The Trent posted...

my friends?
dude i don't know anyone that works at target, i'm over 35

You cant know people that work at target if your 35?

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Lairen posted...

I get 40+ OT so.....im good.

So you've been there 13 years and you're either management in which case that doesn't really apply to what I'm talking about with, yknow, NEW hires and the pandemic pay bump

OR

You've been there 13 years and are not management, which proves my earlier point about needing a degree to fully move up

OR

You've been there 13 years, have a degree, and are not management. If thats the case, thats a Lairen problem, not a Target one.

So....which is it? This...this isn't the slam dunk you think it is

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The Trent posted...

you're confusing endurance and durability with skill

Those are skills

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Lairen posted...

You cant know people that work at target if your 35?

none of my friends work at target and i'm not trying to make new friends amongst target employees GET AT ME LAIREN

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RchHomieQuanChi posted...

It's what I'm doing. I make more off of unemployment than working some shitty retail/service/factory job and actually have enough free time to hone my skills in IT without being distracted by a crappy job.

good on you
when do you plan to reenter the workforce then?
are you working on IT skill stuff daily or do you keep some kind of schedule?

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PoundGarden posted...

So you've been there 13 years and you're either management in which case that doesn't really apply to what I'm talking about with, yknow, NEW hires and the pandemic pay bump

OR

You've been there 13 years and are not management, which proves my earlier point about needing a degree to fully move up

OR

You've been there 13 years, have a degree, and are not management. If thats the case, thats a Lairen problem, not a Target one.

So....which is it? This...this isn't the slam dunk you think it is

Theyve asked if i wanted to move up which requires you to be a supervisor and that position sucks ass. I constantly train and know more than my team lead. Ive told them to stop asking years ago.

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The Trent posted...

good on you
when do you plan to reenter the workforce then?

Whenever I get my certifications really. I already have my Google one

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RchHomieQuanChi posted...

Whenever I get my certifications really. I already have my Google one

that's what's up
i'm pulling for you

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Lairen posted...

Ive gotten so many hours i have hundreds of unused vacation time so im constantly requesting days off but then i just work 10 hour days and end up barely using any vacation hours.

Im sorry your friends suck though.

You sound absolutely miserable, and exactly like every single member of Target management I've ever spoken with. I'm sorry you're so bitter and refuse to accept any reality outside of your red bubble.

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The Trent posted...

that's what's up
i'm pulling for you

Appreciate it homie

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PoundGarden posted...

You sound absolutely miserable, and exactly like every single member of Target management I've ever spoken with. I'm sorry you're so bitter and refuse to accept any reality outside of your red bubble.

With an easy 40+ position???
Ok.

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Lairen posted...

Theyve asked if i wanted to move up which requires you to be a supervisor and that position sucks ass. I constantly train and know more than my team lead. Ive told them to stop asking years ago.

Ah yes, I completely forgot the classic fallback of "psshh, they WANT me to be management, but yknow, im too good for that and don't want to be a corporate stooge, man!"

Holy fuck are you for real

PS: after 13 years in a factory, you'd be in a 6 figure management position. But do go on about how awesome Target is

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PoundGarden posted...

Holy fuck are you for real

spoilers: no

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Lairen posted...

Theyve asked if i wanted to move up which requires you to be a supervisor and that position sucks ass. I constantly train and know more than my team lead. Ive told them to stop asking years ago.

I know what you're saying here. For people that don't get it. I've turned down multiple promotions also. I have no desire to be a supervisor or a trainer, or a specialist. I'm fine doing what I've been doing for the last 10 years. I qualified to supervise all of the supervisors, but that would be a miserable experience.

PoundGarden posted...

Ah yes, I completely forgot the classic fallback of "psshh, they WANT me to be management, but yknow, im too good for that and don't want to be a corporate stooge, man!"

Holy fuck are you for real

So you have no argument?

Did you want me to explain all the responsibilities of a team lead over a team member for a few more dollars? Any team lead only took the position for a chance to move up.

Yeah i know you got nothing but im still acting like your serious.

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Snakebone99 posted...

I know what you're saying here. For people that don't get it. I've turned down multiple promotions also. I have no desire to be a supervisor or a trainer, or a specialist. I'm fine doing what I've been doing for the last 10 years. I qualified to supervise all of the supervisors, but that would be a miserable experience.

They told my new current Team lead hed promote in a year and a half. Thats basically impossible. Ive had one team lead promote in all of my time. The rest quit.

And with a new team lead that sees i know more than him and i dont want his job: i get all the hours i want. The cycle repeats.

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PoundGarden posted...

Ah yes, I completely forgot the classic fallback of "psshh, they WANT me to be management, but yknow, im too good for that and don't want to be a corporate stooge, man!"

Holy fuck are you for real

you're so haughty, lol. you make all these assumptions and put words into people's mouths and yet you brush off anyone else's account as anecdotal evidence. You're also very prejudiced. Have fun with your sycophant existence.

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god damn y'all like talking about target more than my wife

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Questionmarktarius posted...

That is a supply/demand thing.
The supply is low, because it's elsewhere. It's a de facto wage floor, without being a de jure one.

The supply is artificially low, and a result of another policy. This is like equivalent of gangs selling insurance or else they destroy yourself. Fix an issue that your own policy caused.

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Target was my first job when I was 18. I worked in the food department, which involved unloading food from trucks and stocking the food. I disliked it. Customers were the worst part. When I would be stocking shelves, they would constantly ask where the bread, eggs, or whatever was despite there being huge signs posted everywhere

Hated it so much I ended up finding another job: Vitamin World. Im still working there now. Pay is decent (commission helps). Im just working there until I finish school.

Lairen posted...

So you have no argument?

Did you want me to explain all the responsibilities of a team lead over a team member for a few more dollars? Any team lead only took the position for a chance to move up.

Yeah i know you got nothing but im still acting like your serious.

Nothing to explain, you're lazy, I get it. I'm not sure why you basically do the job and train others to do it but won't take the title or pay, bit its not my life so idgaf, no need to explain your questionable life strategy. Don't care, you do you, but you're not gonna bullshit me about Targets bullshit hiring practices

Not sure how that invalidates my point that Target hires people at a high rate for part time hours or cut hours for the people that got the pandemic bonus rate, but please, try and keep up.

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PoundGarden posted...

Nothing to explain, you're lazy, I get it. I'm not sure why you basically do the job and train others to do it but won't take the title or pay, bit its not my life so idgaf, no need to explain your questionable life strategy. Don't care, you do you, but you're not gonna bullshit me about Targets bullshit hiring practices

Not sure how that invalidates my point that Target hires people at a high rate for part time hours or cut hours for the people that got the pandemic bonus rate, but please, try and keep up.

Im so lazy yet get all the hours and turn down promotion? What was your original point? That your sucky friends couldnt get hours at target?

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Squall28 posted...

The supply is artificially low, and a result of another policy.

That's what a de facto wage floor does, yes.

Lairen posted...

They told my new current Team lead hed promote in a year and a half. Thats basically impossible. Ive had one team lead promote in all of my time. The rest quit.

And with a new team lead that sees i know more than him and i dont want his job: i get all the hours i want. The cycle repeats.

It does make you feel like your job security is locked in stone. They know they are getting me at a steal, so they let me get away with anything, and I get first pick on schedules and desks. They know that I can roam around and do the job of multiple people, so they love me. I'll take that over $30 or $40 more a week.

Lairen posted...

Im so lazy yet get all the hours and turn down promotion? What was your original point? That your sucky friends couldnt get hours at target?

No no you're right. Lazy people don't turn down promotions they're being begged to take. COOL AF people do that, I wish I was as cool as you.

Also, if you ever plan on leaving Target (I doubt it), you may want to come up with a better answer than "it was too much work" (nope, nothing lazy there). Because I guarantee the question "so.....is there a reason you stayed a basic employee for 13 years and never pursued management" will come up. And I gotta say...there really isn't a good answer for that lol.

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i'm confused are these dudes making a lifelong career out of target

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PoundGarden posted...

No no you're right. Lazy people don't turn down promotions they're being begged to take. COOL AF people do that, I wish I was as cool as you.

Also, if you ever plan on leaving Target (I doubt it), you may want to come up with a better answer than "it was too much work" (nope, nothing lazy there). Because I guarantee the question "so.....is there a reason you stayed a basic employee for 13 years and never pursued management" will come up. And I gotta say...there really isn't a good answer for that lol.

Is because I was extremely happy with my job not an acceptable answer?

Snakebone99 posted...

Just put in zip code 41144 and look at the wages. Costco and Walmart pay $12.50 to start. No factory around here competes with that. The call centers for Amazon and AT&T pay $12.50 an hour.

The factories don't even try to compete. They know that people with little education and little social skills will take the jobs No matter what, so they pay minimum wage, or as close as they can get.

Factories in your area may be great, around here they are not. They are old, outdated, dangerous, and underpaid.

So, I did that and one of the very first results is "Plant Laborer" with a starting wage of $18 - $20 and the only requirement is a highschool diploma or GED. There's another one listed as Automotive Assembler that starts at $19.50+ an hour. And a third listing for Production Worker that starts at $17.18+ an hour.

Just pointing out that there are more profitable listings with low requirements than the ones you showed.

Lol love it when the power dynamic changes. Workers in the past have had to compete for under paying jobs. I guess it's now time for businesses to compete for overpaid workers. In the past workers were told they had to adapt if they wanted to be employed, it's now up to businesses to adapt so that they can stay in business.

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Snakebone99 posted...

Is because I was extremely happy with my job not an acceptable answer?

You can say whatever you want. Just know that all people will hear and all they'll see on paper is "complacent doing the bare minimum and zero aspirations for more than a basic level of responsibility, no interest in personal growth or further skill development. Happy in their box, does not like change". You're not going to be able to bullshit someone who detects bullshit for a living, unless you're going for another entry level retail job, no, that's really not an acceptable answer nor a desirable quality in a candidate (zero aspirations for self growth or to contribute more towards the company as they gain more experience). Quality companies want people who want to advance and succeed, they're not chomping at the bit to hire someone who says "exactly where I was 5 years ago" when they ask "where do you see yourself in 5 years" LMAO

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justaguy3492 posted...

Lol love it when the power dynamic changes. Workers in the past have had to compete for under paying jobs. I guess it's now time for businesses to compete for overpaid workers. In the past workers were told they had to adapt if they wanted to be employed, it's now up to businesses to adapt so that they can stay in business.

these are comradical new times that we live in

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PoundGarden posted...

You can say whatever you want. Just know that all people will hear and all they'll see on paper is "complacent doing the bare minimum and zero aspirations for more than a basic level of responsibility, no interest in personal growth or further skill development. Happy in their box, does not like change". You're not going to be able to bullshit someone who detects bullshit for a living, unless you're going for another entry level retail job, no, that's really not an acceptable answer nor a desirable quality in a candidate (zero aspirations for self growth or to contribute more towards the company as they gain more experience). Quality companies want people who want to advance and succeed, they're not chomping at the bit to hire someone who says "exactly where I was 5 years ago" when they ask "where do you see yourself in 5 years" LMAO

The funny thing is, it's not bullshit. I'm extremely happy, and wouldn't want to change a thing. I feel extremely lucky in this aspect of my life. I'm able to live life the way I want for the most part.

I'm in an extremely happy and comfortable boat, why would I rock it.

Snakebone99 posted...

The funny thing is, it's not bullshit. I'm extremely happy, and wouldn't want to change a thing. I feel extremely lucky in this aspect of my life. I'm able to live life the way I want for the most part.

I'm in an extremely happy and comfortable boat, why would I rock it.

My mistake, I thought I was replying to the guy who's worked at Target for 13 yrs in an entry level position

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The skilled factory work shortage can be blamed on lack of trade schools, we need more trade schools in order to have more machinists and welders, the issue isn't pay but lack of places to learn said skill. The latter can be solved with automation much like fast food.
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Worlds smallest violin for shitty companies which underpay staff

PoundGarden posted...

My mistake, I thought I was replying to the guy who's worked at Target for 13 yrs in an entry level position

Yeah, I'm at Amazon for 10 years, not Target. You may say its a character flaw, but not everyone needs to be the leader. The leader needs a right hand man, and that's me. I can fill in for him, I can support him, and I make his leadership stronger through doing so. That is my role, im comfortable and happy in that roll, and I fill that roll well.

So I don't think it is a character flaw, I think its a strength that I know what roll best suits me, and I'm not wasting productivity chasing promotions that don't suit me.