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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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15-06-2019, 04:30 PM | #1 | |||
Bathed In A Yellow Glow
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NSW Central Coast
Posts: 2,530
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Business reporter for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-...13-p51xdl.html . |
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15-06-2019, 05:16 PM | #2 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 67
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I work for a large window company based in North Geelong about 5 minuets from the old Ford site, we have had a few former Ford employees come and work with us. The job pays much less than they were used to earning but the people who can learn to live with that are still with us and have been a good pickup for our company, they have lots of skills and, in the most case, want to work.
Unfortunately a couple of people didn’t stay too long, either didn’t like the drop in money or (welcome to the real world), or kept saying things like ‘that’s not how we did it at Ford’s’ (these type of people tend not to last too long in my experience). I suppose the ones who stayed (and I) are lucky that the company will give anybody a chance regardless of age, sex, previous experience and even criminal record. It’s up to you what you do with that chance. |
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15-06-2019, 05:36 PM | #3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,075
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By definition, the award rate is 'reasonable'. Their problem is they were somewhat spoilt and lost touch with how overpaid they were relative to equivalent workers outside the auto industry.
A friend of my dad's was a Qantas maintenance worker, and he was one of the first to be made redundant when Qantas first started offshoring its maintenance/engineering. He eventually found work, but he was on half the pay at Hawker that he had been at Qantas - for the same work. Lets not kid ourselves, these big companies with a heavily unionised workforce bear little relation to what workers get in smaller companies, and its little surprise when eventually these big companies cut costs by offshoring. By all means, make hay while the sun shines, but always plan for the good times to end eventually. |
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15-06-2019, 05:37 PM | #4 | ||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,577
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I'm the last full time employee at my workplace, everyone else after me are casuals, while I didn't come from Ford or the manufacturing industry its hard to find work and if you do its all casual now.
All our new production staff are labour hire staff as casuals, the decent ones may get offered a position directly with us, you've got one chance. Someone got the *** a few days ago when they asked for the wifi password - cya bro. The bar is much higher than previously, also having long term at the one place isn't a good look on a resume these days - you've got very limited experience and no ambition or drive and just happy collecting wages. We've been through 5 or so accountants in 2 years, useless wage collectors. Theres 120,000 people coming into Melbourne every year, plenty of choice for employers. If you're one of these people who operates like a yes or no flowchart where you lack initiative then the Centrelink queue is your career choice. Last edited by Franco Cozzo; 15-06-2019 at 05:54 PM. |
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15-06-2019, 09:32 PM | #5 | ||
AKA "the other bloke"
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,980
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I'm part of the dying breed.. My dad spent 30 years with his firm, not due to lack of ambition, due to his loyalty. His boss treated him right so he stayed, it's a quality I picked up off him and 25 years later I'm with the same employer, yes I've moved about for them, changed roles, promotions etc, I just see myself as loyal, dedicated, I don't abuse my sickies, but I guess now days this is no longer seen as loyalty or dedication
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Her's: 2000 AU II Fairmont Ghia 75th anniversary VCT meteorite & 2014 yaris - white His Toy: 2012 fg II GT-E, emperor red His: VS Ute 5 Litre 5 speed (povo pack) His: 2012 FG II GS, Vanish His: 2003 BA GT-P, Lightening Strike Jnr: 2002 AU III Falcon XR6 ST, 5 speed Blueprint & 1978 XC Fairmont Neptune Blue Previous: 1976 HX 50th Anniversary Kingswood 2014 FGX G6E Turbo 1980 XD Falcon GL 2003 BA Falcon XR6 1991 EB Falcon S 1989 EA Fairmont 1982 XE Fairmont 1968 XT Falcon |
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16-06-2019, 10:39 AM | #8 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,577
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Quote:
We've got two left with 20-30+ years, the majority of our production staff were older blokes. Too rigid in their old ways, refused to change so they all got shown the door. When a company identifies it needs a culture change then the long termers are the first on the hit list. The recruitment industry and our general manager say long termers aren't good employees because they've got limited experience outside of that companies system - they don't adapt to change. Last edited by Franco Cozzo; 16-06-2019 at 10:44 AM. |
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16-06-2019, 12:28 PM | #9 | |||
AKA "the other bloke"
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,980
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Quote:
yeah its funny how it can be seen, in my workplace, i'm referred to as a dinosaur .. no matter how much of the new ways i take on board, i still wear that stigma to the point that promotions for me now are done, I'm good enough to act in the higher roles in my workplace, hell i've even recently been passed up for 3 promotions in 1 month even though i've been in the role for almost a year & have been asked to stay on in it until january 2020, but heaven forbid when i interview i actually get 1 of them full time. what makes me laugh though is when in my workplace the new way of things does not work & they need to "fix" the issue.. guess who they come up to to sort out the mess & get the ship back on track.. so it leaves you in the position of .. do you stay, work hard, keep your chin up, be positive & keep at it thinking you'll be rewarded one day or do you leave, go somewhere else, start from the bottom again & re do all the jobs you did years ago cause you have to prove yourself all over again.. either way, in today's day & age, i've taught my son a new workplace value, Himself.
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Her's: 2000 AU II Fairmont Ghia 75th anniversary VCT meteorite & 2014 yaris - white His Toy: 2012 fg II GT-E, emperor red His: VS Ute 5 Litre 5 speed (povo pack) His: 2012 FG II GS, Vanish His: 2003 BA GT-P, Lightening Strike Jnr: 2002 AU III Falcon XR6 ST, 5 speed Blueprint & 1978 XC Fairmont Neptune Blue Previous: 1976 HX 50th Anniversary Kingswood 2014 FGX G6E Turbo 1980 XD Falcon GL 2003 BA Falcon XR6 1991 EB Falcon S 1989 EA Fairmont 1982 XE Fairmont 1968 XT Falcon |
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16-06-2019, 12:50 PM | #10 | |||
Experienced Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australasia
Posts: 7,686
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And you believe this B.S. has nothing to do with change as most people do adapt to changes, think you will find the corporate world is getting too greedy wanting to pay peanuts and the sucks bow to them. Cheers |
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16-06-2019, 01:51 PM | #11 | ||
DJT 45 and 47 POTUS
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 7,285
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Most of these people are earning less than they used to.
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Falcon: 1960 - 2016 My cars Current ride 2016 FG X XR6 - 6 speed manual Previous rides 2009 FG XR6 - 6 speed auto 2006 BF MkII XT ESP - 6 speed auto 2003 BA XT V8 - 5 speed manual 1999 AU Forte - 5 speed manual 1997 EL Fairmont - 4 speed auto 1990 EAII Fairmont Ghia - 4 speed auto |
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16-06-2019, 02:47 PM | #12 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 11,324
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37 years on and it makes me feel proud to have worked for the same boss....me. !
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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16-06-2019, 02:48 PM | #13 | ||
Bathed In A Yellow Glow
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NSW Central Coast
Posts: 2,530
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I don’t know anything about the car industry but I do about some other manufacturing environments and most of the companies I’ve worked for target new staff who have been employed by at least a few different employers as it means they usually have seen more than one approach to meet an end.
That’s invaluable when it comes to problem solving. It doesn’t matter that you’ve been required to do the same type of work by each employer or if your roles have varied, it does mean though that it’s unlikely you’ve become institutionalised where you can do the job with your eyes closed as the same problems and approach to them keep reoccurring. Age also didn’t play a part in selecting new staff, young or old if you showed a willingness to listen and learn, easily embraced change, weren’t offended if your suggestions to supervisory staff weren’t adopted, had an understanding your employment was a part of a bigger picture and most importantly showed you could get along with other employees then you’d breeze through your probation period and would most likely climb a small way up the ladder. Given that these companies usually filled positions outside of their current workforce to bring in new and fresh ideas it also meant to climb you needed to be prepared to sell your skills to other employers to gain the experience many companies look for. A change of employer for some people is like a new lease of life and they are the ones who often go on to make a positive mark for themselves and the places they work for. Over the years I’ve seen more than a few staff start off on production lines or in warehouses and climb to management roles and it doesn’t happen often if you nail yourself to one spot. . |
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16-06-2019, 08:58 PM | #14 | ||
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,892
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16-06-2019, 09:09 PM | #15 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Northern Suburbs
Posts: 5,011
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16-06-2019, 09:51 PM | #16 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 548
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A young person today entering the workforce would will be changing many jobs, industries and careers in his working lifetime.
The job you went to university / tafe for might not exist in 10 years. As in life always be ready for change, upskill and reskill and be flexible and hard working. No point complaining about the past. |
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16-06-2019, 10:05 PM | #17 | |||
Experienced Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australasia
Posts: 7,686
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Quote:
Cheers |
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16-06-2019, 11:36 PM | #18 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,577
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Quote:
Get used to it bud, it's 2019 not 1979 so keep on skilling up and moving or one of Melbourne's 120,000 new migrants every year may do your job better than you and for less. All our oldies got forced out and we've not had dramas from any of their departures, a lot of knowledge left with them but that knowledge is captured in shared resources through IT infrastructure. |
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17-06-2019, 08:10 PM | #19 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Catland
Posts: 3,782
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Sort of sad that the fixed knowledge gets the shaft, but it is what it is.
Anyone care to take an opinion on why productivity growth is so lacklustre? That one has been puzzling me as all the tech and interconnectivity should be sending it to the moon.
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I6 + AWD |
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18-06-2019, 10:38 AM | #20 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,577
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Quote:
It's the same thing with me and my role, it's set up that I can get hit by a bus getting coffee and tomorrow someone else sits at my desk and picks up where I left off - the only thing you lose is my personality as I'm a customer facing staff member. A good business is process based, not people based - people get old and kark it or move onto greener pastures. |
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18-06-2019, 11:02 AM | #21 | |||
Render unto Caesar
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ::1
Posts: 4,228
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Quote:
I am working with one of the previous big 3 automakers here in AU - they've not invested in anything significant in over 15 years. Only now they are after being dragged kicking and screaming, but even then it is a small amount.
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"Aliens might be surprised to learn that in a cosmos with limitless starlight, humans kill for energy sources buried in sand." - Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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18-06-2019, 11:15 AM | #22 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Heading thru Hell (Corner)
Posts: 8,343
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Quote:
I see where you were going with this statement, but I disagree to some extent. Don't get me wrong, a good business does need to have good, well-documented procedures and processes. But it also needs people who are prepared to follow those procedures and processes. No point in having good work processes if people don't follow them. But a good business also needs to have good people. It especially needs the right people in customer-facing roles. And it needs leaders that know how to get the best out of their people. That doesn't just mean someone who has great technical knowledge (be that engineering expertise or accounting skills or good hand skills, etc) but also someone who has great 'soft' skills. Someone who can nurture their team to get the best out of them. A good business, IMHO, needs good processes and great people who make those processes actually work. I've seen too many businesses promote people into leadership roles because they have good technical skills. But their role is now about leadership, not technical skills, and they have not been assessed on their ability to actually effectively lead people....!!! I remember one manager of mine who was appointed into a technical leadership role, even though they didn't have the full technical qualifications. i thought the placement was going to be a dismal failure. Turns I out I was completely wrong as the person had fantastic leadership skills and effectively used the technical skills of the team below them to cover any gap. Best boss I ever worked for! Changed my thoughts and approach to leadership for ever.
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Labels are for jars, not for people. Life is a journey, not a destination. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Daily: 2013 FGII EcoLPi in Winter White Play: 2015 FG X XR8 in Emperor Show' N Shine thread Gone, but not forgotten: 2015 SZII petrol Titanium Territory in Emperor Last edited by FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0; 18-06-2019 at 11:20 AM. |
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18-06-2019, 11:59 AM | #23 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 22,546
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Wretched - from where you sit, why is it things have gone that way? Not a trick question.
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18-06-2019, 01:08 PM | #24 | |||
Thailand Specials
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Centrefold Lounge
Posts: 49,577
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Quote:
They might very well could be but they won't make it past the HR lady to get the interview which is half the battle for our ex manufacturing industry workforce. I find your customer facing staff tend to show initiative - it's part and parcel of the role, you've gotta be on the A game, you're trying to entice people to your brand - people hate change, why should they inconvenience themselves to come to us? It's the dildos out in the admin teams who don't know poo from clay who operate like they've had a lobotomy operating like a yes/no flow chart and the production staff who are standing around the clock card at 5 minutes left to go before they run out the door having dropped everything prior like a sack of crap. Does this good go-getter type leader stay with the same company for 30 years? Recruitment professionals and top tier management don't seem to think so. |
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18-06-2019, 01:40 PM | #25 | ||
Bathed In A Yellow Glow
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NSW Central Coast
Posts: 2,530
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Even if you're in senior management, many companies believe your effectiveness has run out at about 5 years and fresh blood is preferred.
As far as production processes are concerned I agree with psychobimbo and Franco Cozzo, good procedures and their documentation are required so a smaller learning curve exists for new staff and without the right employees none of it works. . |
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18-06-2019, 07:31 PM | #26 | |||
Experienced Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Australasia
Posts: 7,686
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Quote:
Ahhh now I understand your reasoning, sorry ol mate the American ideology is not cutting the mustard here in this country, even the yanks are learning to go back to the old ways. What you stated nearly destroyed our company and now the new owner values the dedicated workers not some American B.S. policies. As for your migrant comment you proved my point. |
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