I certainly can’t presume that everyone shares my enthusiasm to be challenged, knowledgeable and excited about their work.  I do however, think it’s fair to expect that employees, at the very least, perform their minimum job requirements…that’s an acceptable expectation right?  Well, perhaps not…

A couple days ago I went to our local city college with my daughter to meet with the “Student Aid Specialist” to inquire about Obama’s education stimulus for the unemployed.  The “specialist” said “our office has never heard of anything like that”.  Well, unless you’re a troll.  Living under a rock.  On an ashram.  It’s beyond me how you could not have heard about the Obama initiatives.  And, if you’re a “specialist” wouldn’t it be in your best interest to be current in the area of which you specialize?  Ya think?

Another head shaker happened when I walked into a store, asked if they had a certain item in stock and the “customer service” (I put that in quotes to emphasize the irony) person said “no, I don’t think we carry that”.  To which I respond “you don’t think you carry it or you know you don’t carry it?”…they didn’t know.

Now, there have been very few people I’ve had the pleasure to work with that have a “do whatever needs to be done” attitude regardless of their job description.  They thrive on a challenge, take pride in their achievements and believe in the moral benefit of work…something crazy I like to call, work ethic.  So what happened to the rest of our American workers?  Are we breeding generations of lazy people who think the minimum is enough?  Do these people they feel that if they do more they’re changing the curve, disturbing the natural order of hierarchy?  Or, are we as employers repressing our employees from flourishing professionally because we fear they will do our jobs better than we can?   Is it just me, or is it them, I really wonder?

I used to work for a large corporation that gave annual company wide reviews and pay raises.  My first review will forever be forged in my mind; my supervisor sat me down and explained that performances were rated on a scale of 1-5 however they’re discouraged from going over a 3 since everyone gets the same 4% pay raise.  Wait…what?  Oh yeah, that’s right, we’ve got a whole new take on it, no more rewarding people for working hard, abolish meritocracy I say, slackers shall rule the world!

Regardless of why workers are lazy and uninspired, there are over 14 million people in America out of work, you would think that just maybe, these minimalist workers would step up to the plate to ensure they have a job tomorrow.   They might notice the company that pays them bi-weekly is struggling just to stay in business and more than ever they need a dedicated hard working staff.  The unfortunate reality is that the majority of workers just don’t get it. Instead of being thankful they have a job they seem resentful because they no longer have Friday barbecues or they have to take an unpaid day off every month.  Well guess what, one day a month with no pay is a whole lot better than 20 and I’m bettin’ there are quite a few people out there willing to trade with you.