Unthankful Workers Petition Against Jobs

Wow! Where has the work ethic of this Nation gone? On this upcoming Thursday's national day of prayer and thanksgiving, the employed seem neither prayerful nor thankful for their plight.

From just watching and reading the national news we see petition drives against employers for opening their stores on the dates and at the times buyers are most ready to spend. One such report, from the Associated Press, and printed in the Idaho Statesman tells the story, with incredible quotes from "working" people. See (http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/11/16/1881376/workers-push-back-against-earlier.html)

Evidently a non-thankful part-time Target employee, Anthony Hardwick, slated to work at 11:00 p.m. on Thursday started a poor me petition on the Internet railing against Target's late night work plans, and has been gaining signatures. He simply cannot get enough turkey and family time, and his beauty rest, and be ready for the heady work of corralling carts with the vicious schedule put forth by Target.

While Black Friday shopping is not a new tradition, retailers are listening to customers and continually tweaking their hours for buyer convenience. And "earth to Hardwick," buyer convenience is one of the keys to successful retail operations.

In fact, according to Target, customers have said they would rather have their big meal, and then head out and shop late at night, rather than get up at 3:00 a.m. to fight the good shopping fight. It also stands to reason that for those needing babysitting services the late night time frame is far more friendly than early a.m.

Yet the argument is there - Target is big business and big business is evil. A signer of Hardwick's petition, fellow Target employee John Stankus complains about missing the day with family in order to "get enough sleep before starting work around 11 p.m." Continuing that "I'll just get the crumbs (his family) leaves behind...I won't get any turkey at all."

I feel his pain. Yet from the outside it almost seems Stankus has a "stinkus" family that would eat all of the good stuff and no one would think nor care to set aside a plate for poor John. Maybe employment is just not for him.

Others get it, though. Twenty-one year veteran Walmart employee Mary Huskey says hey, "Retail is retail." And if you want people to shop "we have to be there for them. I'm just thankful that I have a place to work..." Yes. And I am thankful this year for Ms. Huskey and her work ethic. Thank you.

My fear is that there is a generation problem leading to all this. Note that Huskey is a 21-year worker, while Stankus is 22 years-old. Not exactly scientific research - but noted just the same.

2011 has been a hard year on my family and our income has taken hits. Yet we soldier on. It is what we do in America. As a young boy I saw my dad always working two jobs. He had a regular 8-5 job, and then several nights a week and most weekends and holidays he hopped on a bus and rode to his part-time job. We planned dinners and holiday activities around when dad could be home from work. None of us dared complain about his work. Jobs were good.

I know many Americans still embrace that ethic, but stories like the one cited above are troubling. We just celebrated Veterans Day, and Hardwick, Stankus, and their ilk might think about troops in war zones not getting their sleep either, or time with family. And just maybe be thankful for their employment and families. I know my family and I will be.

God bless.