Would you cross a union picket line?

[Shaun Harris]

When a picket line is a physical, unlawful barrier to me freely going about my business I will cross it. When a picket line is not impeding foot and vehicle traffic and displaying placards to communicate their side of the story, the picketers have the right to be seen.

Agree with you, freedom of speech as such

[Virago]

I go to Bunning's quite a bit for work, and the impression I get is that it is a job for the retired person, the in between jobs person, or the unemployable anywhere else person...

I used to think the same. But the last two visits I've made I've stuck staff who were very knowledgeable about the products they were selling, genuinely interested in helping, and obviously enjoying the process. Perhaps I've just got lucky.

[jasonu]

I go to Bunning's quite a bit for work, and the impression I get is that it is a job for the retired person, the in between jobs person, or the unemployable anywhere else person.

That is the case over here with Home Depot and Lowes. There is the occasional knowledgeable customer service person but mostly you are better to simply ask where would I find such and such then figure it out for yourself.

[Blackbird]

I used to think the same. But the last two visits I've made I've stuck staff who were very knowledgeable about the products they were selling, genuinely interested in helping, and obviously enjoying the process. Perhaps I've just got lucky.

Likewise.... I've found the staff in the Hamilton and Rotorua branches really helpful. Ditto for Placemakers in Whitianga. The latter do seem to have a policy of picking up older people who have retired to the beach and want a bit of pocket money or something to do. Find them great to deal with.

[Paul in NZ]

I dont in general believe in crossing picket lines. Not my monkeys and not my circus.

Most stuff I need has competitive suppliers so I just go there.

[rambaldi]

Likewise.... I've found the staff in the Hamilton and Rotorua branches really helpful. Ditto for Placemakers in Whitianga. The latter do seem to have a policy of picking up older people who have retired to the beach and want a bit of pocket money or something to do. Find them great to deal with.

Used to work in one of the big box hardware stores (check out bitch though). You generally want to find someone older as they may have actually used some of the kit they are selling, and aren't such a Muppet that they can't get a job as a tradey. Some of the areas though, like seasonal, it doesn't matter much a table and chair set is a table and chair set.

[pritch]

But the last two visits I've made I've stuck staff who were very knowledgeable about the products they were selling, genuinely interested in helping, and obviously enjoying the process.

Not Bunnings, but Mitre10 which is probably not dissimilar; there is a KBer employed at the local Mitre10, he is retired from the job that was his career.
He told me that others of the staff there are in a similar situation. That would explain why, when I have asked for advice, I've been pleased with the help I got.

I suspect there are a number of former painters, builders, farmers and others who know their way around tools and hardware working there.

[Woodman]

Not Bunnings, but Mitre10 which is probably not dissimilar; there is a KBer employed at the local Mitre10, he is retired from the job that was his career.
He told me that others of the staff there are in a similar situation. That would explain why, when I have asked for advice, I've been pleased with the help I got.

I suspect there are a number of former painters, builders, farmers and others who know their way around tools and hardware working there.

Up until 3 months ago I was managing a branch of a retail chain, and after having unbelievable issues with young staff, made a conscious decision to employ older people. Not the only business in town to have that policy either.

[caspernz]

Up until 3 months ago I was managing a branch of a retail chain, and after having unbelievable issues with young staff, made a conscious decision to employ older people. Not the only business in town to have that policy either.

Employing more mature staff has benefits in plenty of industries, as long as the attitude is positive, the experience they have is near priceless.

[haydes55]

Up until 3 months ago I was managing a branch of a retail chain, and after having unbelievable issues with young staff, made a conscious decision to employ older people. Not the only business in town to have that policy either.

I just quit a job as 2ic of operations at hrv. I'm 24, operations manager is 25. Filter change manager 23, telemarketer manager is 23, office manager is 20. The only people older than 26 is the GM in her 40's, a customer service manager late 30's and some salesmen.

That's a multi million dollar per year company run predominantly by about 30 people in their mid 20's.

Better profit margins when you can pay less wages (which is why I left) and have very competent managers and staff.

Youth doesn't mean incompetence. Just easier to justify exploiting skill for lower wages.

[Oakie]

Youth doesn't mean incompetence. Just easier to justify exploiting skill for lower wages.

You are right. It doesn't mean incompetance. It can mean a variety of life skills shortages, lack of maturity and attitide issues. (Not all yunguns of course. Our latest hire is a 24 year old and he is a star. Probably better already than some of our 50 year olds who have been with us 10 years)
It's not even their fault often. There's that thing about the frontal lobe (?) which doesn't fully develop until you're about 25. That's the bit of the brain that helps with decisions ... discretion vs valour and that sort of thing.

Re Bunnings: my impression is that our local has a good mix of older ex-tradies who really know thier stuff and younger people who try hard to do a good job.

[Woodman]

Youth doesn't mean incompetence. Just easier to justify exploiting skill for lower wages.

Agreed, in fact 6 months or so before I left I took on two young guys, basically to do donkey work and they both stepped up, were reliable, asked for and got more responsibility, and used their initiative. Sadly though the corporate retailers rarely reward good performance.

[R650R]

I always found Bunnings better than Mega 10, waiting for the new branch to open when they find a site....

Where I work I was the youngest at 40+ by a good margin of a group employed. Believe me age is no indicator of work ethic or ability not to damage stuff in spectacular fashion.... There's a bell curve like every other group where ever you are with a mix of actual ability. Yes there's some young munters out there but a decent employment screening process should pick that up. I'm sure we all went to high school with plenty of dropouts that we'd never hire ourselves, nothing new there.