Technologically impaired

[ragtop69gs]

I spent 32 years in the automotive manufacturing industry. When I hired in it took almost 4000 people across 3 full shifts to produce our products. When robotics first started appearing we laughed at them as both robots and stamping dies were destroyed while trying to implement them. 3 months and they were gone. 1 year later they were back and working amazingly well ! Within 5 years our employment went down to less than 2000 people. New tech since then has the plant producing twice as much product with only 600 employees across 3 shifts. Great for the company, Ok for quality, but dismal at best for the surrounding community's economy. Most of the restaurants, bars and other businesses that workers supported have closed up and vacant storefronts now stand where there was once a vibrant local community. Multiply this by at least 10 for just the auto plants that were nearby, many others just plain closed down and moved south of the border into mexico.

[CaseyJ955]

Actually, the best place to cut costs for businesses is not staff, rather cut the regulations and government crap they have to deal with every day. This is THE largest detriment to productivity from small to medium size businesses today. The typical cost for having an employee is 40% of their base pay...this is just to satisfy the regs and such that Congress has imposed on the businesses. That is what it costs for HR to manage the payroll, benefits and rules and regs. Why do you think labor is being sent overseas? Not because of labor, but because of the costs associated with having an employee.

Sad to say, my wife, as an HR executive/director of small to medium size businesses spent over half her time just making sure the companies were compliant to all the crap they had to deal with. She is so happy she's retired!!!

 

+1

 

To bad it sounds so taboo to cut regs and taxes on businesses. If I had a company I would not hesitate to move it offshore if it meant higher profit. After all, its a business, not a charity for the government.

[snyper316]

Good Grief !!!

 

I hear it verbally every day but to see it in print today is a first !!!

 

" like "

 

as in ... I'm like .... blah blah

What ya saying good grief to?

 

Living life one curve after the other. Vroom scooting, thru the countryside.

[SilvrT]

What ya saying good grief to?

 

 

The use of "like" in every day conversation ... totally ridiculous if you ask me. For example... "I'm like... WOW, that's rad" or "he was like... freakin out" or "it was like ... super fast" ... get my point?

 

Must be a "millenial" thing coz folks I know in my generation don't speak like that. (note the appropriate use of the word "like")

 

To be with the times I suppose I could have typed "Must be a "millenial" thing coz like folks I know in my generation don't speak like that. "

 

Sorry ... off-topic and I'm ranting ... couldn't help myself.

[snyper316]

My bad habit is anyways.... Well anyways I see what your saying.. I do Mt best not to say it..

 

Living life one curve after the other. Vroom scooting, thru the countryside.

[snyper316]

Omg I seen I did that. Not a millennial but have a son that is... Wow I'll just go back to my corner ...

 

Living life one curve after the other. Vroom scooting, thru the countryside.

Edited November 24, 2016 by snyper316

[bongobobny]

The use of "like" in every day conversation ... totally ridiculous if you ask me. For example... "I'm like... WOW, that's rad" or "he was like... freakin out" or "it was like ... super fast" ... get my point?

 

Must be a "millenial" thing coz folks I know in my generation don't speak like that. (note the appropriate use of the word "like")

 

To be with the times I suppose I could have typed "Must be a "millenial" thing coz like folks I know in my generation don't speak like that. "

 

Sorry ... off-topic and I'm ranting ... couldn't help myself.

Hey Man, like, I beg to differ in like, what you said... Us Hippy Generation totally overused the word! Don't you remember the Valley girls??

[CaseyJ955]

Hey Man, like, I beg to differ in like, what you said... Us Hippy Generation totally overused the word! Don't you remember the Valley girls??

 

I havent though of that for years, like wow! For bonus points you can do a "like totally". Throwing in a "Radical" might be overkill, but hey, why mess around with half measures brother?

Snyper, you can come out of your corner and rejoin us at the grown-up table, just let us know you identify as a Valley Girl and all is good.

 

Is there anyone riding a Venture, especially a 1st gen, that wont remember these times? In the times we live in now they dont release the cellphone long enough to form a coherent sentence.

Edited November 24, 2016 by CaseyJ955

[SilvrT]

Hey Man, like, I beg to differ in like, what you said... Us Hippy Generation totally overused the word! Don't you remember the Valley girls??

 

You and I are the same age; however, we grew up in somewhat different worlds ... not sure about you but it was north-eastern Canada for me. Hippies were not a part of my lifestyle back then. Valley Girls? never heard of it.

 

[SilvrT]

My bad habit is anyways.... Well anyways I see what your saying.. I do Mt best not to say it..

 

Living life one curve after the other. Vroom scooting, thru the countryside.

 

no worries M8T .. speak as you choose ... it's not about you, it's a "me thing" and sometimes I just have to rant LOL

 

[snyper316]

no worries M8T .. speak as you choose ... it's not about you, it's a "me thing" and sometimes I just have to rant LOL

 

Yeah. No offense taken specially after I went back to see where "like" was used so much. Found out it was me I cracked the heck up... pardon the pun I was like OMG

 

Living life one curve after the other. Vroom scooting, thru the countryside.

[cowpuc]

TOTALLY diggin on this ,,, bringing back some mighty fine groove if ya get my drift.. Now I REALLY miss my flower covered hip huggers, beads, mood rings, fortune telling 8 Balls, beaches wreaking of copper tone, late night Super Soup at Dunkin Donuts to quench the munchies, Temptations blairing from the AM radio, those little Christmas tree air freshners and mini skirts.. Diggin the heat brothers, diggin the heat - peace love dove, far out n solid!

 

 

Dedicated to my friend @slowrollwv - thanks for turning me on to this tune bro!!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKC5ecLi3Og

[bongobobny]

Valley Girls? never heard of it.

 

Here ya go!!

 

 

or this one compares normal speak with, like, Valley talk...

 

Edited November 24, 2016 by bongobobny

[SilvrT]

Here ya go!!

 

 

or this one compares normal speak with, like, Valley talk...

 

 

OMG !!! that's like ... hilare

[snyper316]

You know it is totally hilarious. Where this thread has gone

 

Living life one curve after the other. Vroom scooting, thru the countryside.

[snyper316]

However I am a man and not a valley girl

 

Living life one curve after the other. Vroom scooting, thru the countryside.

[Max]

Max

Re: Technologically impaired

We've been watching, over coffees, a local McD with 2 test pilot kiosks for a few months now, what a riot ! At least until the McD world is trained, they're quite counter productive and actually requires extra staff to help people figure out how to place orders. Initially, this kiosk (should be renamed kaosk) was worth a ringside seat just to watch the pandemonium. More recent, it's gotten to the point were the kiosks are basically ignored and business as usual. Now the cashiers print out 'wait in line' numbers on the bottom of the receipt which are displayed from a big screen when orders are ready. That wasn't a bad idea.

 

And, this brings up another point. Not all technology will survive. If it really isn't easier to use, and time productive for the customer, it won't stay. I've used one of these "Kaosks", lol, and I agree with what has been said. They're hard to understand, and cumbersome to use. It's not at all faster and more convenient for the customer. I predict it will slowly go away. Or, it'll be a relic that will be in Mcdonalds restaurants, but will be bypassed by going to the counter.

 

On the other hand, self checkouts at Lowes, HD, Walmarts and such, have been wildly successful because it sometimes is an asset for the customer. I regularly use them if I only have a few items to check out, and it drastically speeds up the process for me. That's the way these new technologies are. If its good, it'll stay, if it's bad, it'll go by the wayside. But, in the mean time, it sure can be painful for us to learn while we're trying to figure out if it's good/bad.

 

I think we're on the same page BigLenny.

Wife and I dropped in to same Mcds for a coffee this aft. This thread came to mind, I took a minute to ask a seasoned cashier a few questions with a smiling shift manager standing within ear shot. Asked how the new-ish kiosks were working out. She said "they're working out pretty good. A few people are still having a few problems using them but we have a full-timer around that keeps an eye out to assist those people."

I tried a dry run and found the menus fairly easy to navigate, but understand folks that aren't tuned in to touch technology might have difficulty initially.

Anyway, the loaded question, is this new technology affecting your jobs in a negative way? A big "heck no, as a matter of fact we hired more staff as we are now busier with the kiosks, bring em' on"... And how are you busier, wouldn't the kiosks reduce staff? to which she replied " nope, we now have 3 points of order (drive thru,till & kiosk) instead of 2, the busier, the better".

Maybe the cashier was quoting the 'party line', but that's what she said.

Totally rad.

[djh3]

So I have a question for these dumb @ss $15 an hour clowns. If a burger is say $6 (no fries and drink) now, and the cost for labor is 8 bucks an hour. How much do they think the owners will have to charge for the burger if labor doubles in cost?

On the flip side, I make between 10-11 bucks an hour for 30 hours a week as an educator at the local college. So if Micky D's is gonna pay $15 an hour, how much will my pay go up? It has to or else I'm goin job hunting.

[bongobobny]

Yup, it's the same story over and over throughout history! Every tine they raise the minimum wage the employers have to come up with the extra money to pay the higher wages, so the price of EVERYTHING goes up, and economically we are still in the same boat...

[SilvrT]

economically we are still in the same boat...

 

Not necessarily ... the more money a person makes, the more taxes they pay ... depending on what tax bracket that wage increase puts them. One might actually wind up in a smaller boat!

[Sailor]

On one hand new technology has helped me with my quality of life. I had cataracts and astigmatism and was going blind. I now have silicone implants ( in my eyes !) that cured all those problems. I have a steel plate in my ankle and a steel replacement knee and will be getting the other one done in the spring. I had cancer and was not expected to live but I am still here 10 years later.

On the other hand I enjoy driving and at one time had a racing license. I do not like the idea of a self driving car, too many things can go wrong. Who has not had a computer crash on them? Cars today are more mobile entertainment systems than enjoyable driving experiences. I have never been able to afford a new car and always buy second hand. How reliable are these electronic cars going to be when they are 10-12 years old? While wage increases do raise costs I think it is up to good management to make a company succeed. In the company I used to work for in 1990 we had 150 managers and 4000 full time employees. In 1992 we had 300 managers and 4000 full time employees. Now there are about 700 managers and 2000 full time employees and 2000 part time employees. This is a transportation company and every year the fares go up, some by 50-100%. The employees wages have gone up by 1-2% per year and management blames all its problems on the employees. Every time they introduce new technology they introduce more managers to supervise it and expect the present employees to take it on along with their regular duties while the managers give themselves large bonuses.

Neither I nor my wife have cell phones. We have an answering machine. We use the phone at our convenience, not some telemarketers. We don't wast time with video games, we have too much living to do and time is getting short. We do use the computer but find it very frustrating at times.

OK, end of rant. Some technology good, some a waste of time and money.

[baylensman]

So I have a question for these dumb @ss $15 an hour clowns. If a burger is say $6 (no fries and drink) now, and the cost for labor is 8 bucks an hour. How much do they think the owners will have to charge for the burger if labor doubles in cost?

On the flip side, I make between 10-11 bucks an hour for 30 hours a week as an educator at the local college. So if Micky D's is gonna pay $15 an hour, how much will my pay go up? It has to or else I'm goin job hunting.

 

So I have a question when did McD's become a career? Or any of the dozens of others wanting ungodly money for what is a part time job?

:backinmyday:Here we go into the way back machine but in high school the fast food (not all chains at the time) jobs were good for 8-15 hours a week, you went factory or garage/gas station (yes gas stations were manned) if you wanted up to 20 hrs a week(limited by law if you were under 18 and still in school). 20 hrs to about 30 hrs were dry cleaners tailor shop and light boo keeping for moms who wanted a little more income or experience before going back to work full time.

 

The big difference was getting over 36 hours a week and becoming FULL TIME. with benefits and cost of living raises. When business starting cutting everyone back to 34 hrs a week the state (I lived in PA) stepped in and said 32 hrs was full time and benefits had to be offered. When some bigger businesses made noise about cutting staff back to 28 hrs a week, the sate said " we can make 20 hrs a week full time" that stopped.

 

SORRY OFF THE SOAP BOX NOW:soapbox:

[snyper316]

Heck now days McD's works school kids till close and around 24-32 hours a week, If they complain they get canned... I used to pump Gas for Gas+ there are still some around Central Missouri. Alot of them have closed. I never looked at McD's as a career. My friend Brian however is Maintenance Supervisor and they furnished him a Cadi. I was perfectly happy making 5.15 an hour when I worked there. Last year me and my son went to work at this place called Jarden's basically they are Sunbeam. I was busting my A** working and he sat there and b***d saying he wasn't making enough to bust his A**. So..... we are making 8.30 an hour. That is pretty good pay for us doing what were doing. He told me you can bust your A** for .60 cents over minimum wage. I'm not!!! I had no clue minimum wage had went up to 7.65 an hour. When I started working when I was 14 I was making 4.15 an hour which was minimum wage. I thought to myself no wonder stupid crap is dumb expensive. You used to get all kinds of personal days ie... Sick days, Personal Day, Vacation Days, I know there is one other in there just can't think of the name of it. They took all away but Vacation and a couple of Holiday's and now you miss you get a point. No matter what Dr. Note or not. Insurance that is thru the roof, I miss my 50 cent copays for meds, 10 dollar copays for Drs. Now with insurance the way it is it breaks you to the point you can't afford the $50 copay. Top that insurance going up next year and I believe the copay for Dr is being increased by $5. It probably sounds like pocket change but it all adds up especially when you got Utility Companies are asking for increases every 3-6 months. Everyone wants to argue that your dilerious that things go up if Min Wage goes up. Maybe it is my imagination, But I am pretty certain it isn't.

[snyper316]

PS Don't even think about talking to your parents about things, They just say hell I remember paying 50 cents a gallon for gas. Grandpa used to tell me he missed the gas wars where you could get gas as cheap as a Nickel, Ice Cream for 3 cents, Now you can't even by a piece of gum for less then 50 cents. O yeh one more thing Here is a Quarter call someone Who cares (Travis Tritt)

[Flyinfool]

Ahh yes the good old days.

My first job I thought I had the world by the tail since I started at the then minimum wage of $1.25 and shortly there after I got a merit raise up to $1.30. Man that was like having all the money in the world. Gas was $0.29/gal US.

 

And ya I busted my tail for that job, that is why I got that big raise.

 

Or as my Father in Law used to say.

"Don't give me that crap about the good old days, back then I had to work a full day to fill my gas tank, now I can fill it in an hour."