To All,
As I am taking two (2) business classes this semester we are going to discuss a lot of legal issues in one (Human Resources Management) and a lot of social/philosophical/psychological issues in the other (Organizational Behavior.)
I would like to take time and bounce some general thoughts off of all of you and learn from the vast diversity and life experiences of ya’ll.
I’ll start by telling two (2) stories so that you get the idea of this question.
Story #1) Many years ago I was watching 60 Minutes (or equivalent) with my father when they were interviewing a man who had been out of work for some 12 years. He was a coal miner and the local mine had shut down. He said in the interview that he couldn’t get another job as a coal miner until they reopened the mine. My father commented that, “He isn’t a coal miner. He is a bum. If he hasn’t worked in over 10 years he is a bum.”
I related this story in class (HR) and a young lady told Story #2) “I agree completely. I have an uncle who was an accountant. Where he worked they started introducing computers and required everyone to learn how to use the computer. He refused to work on those things and hasn’t worked in 20 years. He still refuses to get on a computer.”
So basically it seems that somewhere between one (1) day and 20 years of not practicing your chosen profession you transform from an “X” to a “bum.”
I’ll start by saying I think someone could go a bit more than a year. Looking for work in your profession can be difficult and stressful. After a year though it seems to me that a person needs to consider retooling and changing professions / careers. I think I am leaning toward at least a year given the current economy and difficulty finding work. I definitely think that over two (2) years and you are a bum.
For purposes of this question all time lost that is due to illness or injury does not count. I have a friend who fought a deadly disease and the treatment could have killed him. His treatment lasted an entire year. So, once treatment was over that is where I would start the clock. Also, say someone has to take time off to care for a relative. The time caring for the relative does not count. Example: someone is a marketing specialist who takes two (2) years to care for a dying relative. Those two (2) years do not count. Once the relative dies and this person tries to reenter the workforce as a marketing specialist the clock is ticking.
Finally, this doesn’t count someone who starts working outside of their field and keeps looking for something that was their field. So if the out of work coal miner got a job stocking shelves at Wallmart he would be a former coal miner, but not a bum. He is at least working.
I think you get the idea. Let me know your thoughts and feel free to explain your line of thinking.
Regards,
Doug
As I am taking two (2) business classes this semester we are going to discuss a lot of legal issues in one (Human Resources Management) and a lot of social/philosophical/psychological issues in the other (Organizational Behavior.)
I would like to take time and bounce some general thoughts off of all of you and learn from the vast diversity and life experiences of ya’ll.
I’ll start by telling two (2) stories so that you get the idea of this question.
Story #1) Many years ago I was watching 60 Minutes (or equivalent) with my father when they were interviewing a man who had been out of work for some 12 years. He was a coal miner and the local mine had shut down. He said in the interview that he couldn’t get another job as a coal miner until they reopened the mine. My father commented that, “He isn’t a coal miner. He is a bum. If he hasn’t worked in over 10 years he is a bum.”
I related this story in class (HR) and a young lady told Story #2) “I agree completely. I have an uncle who was an accountant. Where he worked they started introducing computers and required everyone to learn how to use the computer. He refused to work on those things and hasn’t worked in 20 years. He still refuses to get on a computer.”
So basically it seems that somewhere between one (1) day and 20 years of not practicing your chosen profession you transform from an “X” to a “bum.”
I’ll start by saying I think someone could go a bit more than a year. Looking for work in your profession can be difficult and stressful. After a year though it seems to me that a person needs to consider retooling and changing professions / careers. I think I am leaning toward at least a year given the current economy and difficulty finding work. I definitely think that over two (2) years and you are a bum.
For purposes of this question all time lost that is due to illness or injury does not count. I have a friend who fought a deadly disease and the treatment could have killed him. His treatment lasted an entire year. So, once treatment was over that is where I would start the clock. Also, say someone has to take time off to care for a relative. The time caring for the relative does not count. Example: someone is a marketing specialist who takes two (2) years to care for a dying relative. Those two (2) years do not count. Once the relative dies and this person tries to reenter the workforce as a marketing specialist the clock is ticking.
Finally, this doesn’t count someone who starts working outside of their field and keeps looking for something that was their field. So if the out of work coal miner got a job stocking shelves at Wallmart he would be a former coal miner, but not a bum. He is at least working.
I think you get the idea. Let me know your thoughts and feel free to explain your line of thinking.
Regards,
Doug
Aren't you sorry you asked now?
