College as a work-life issue

dude, those at the lower education level have jobs that won't work on flex time. the guy at the factory needs to be on the line at a certain time so the rest of the line runs. A hotel worker must be around when the guest are out to clean the rooms. What is perverse is you don't realize this and think anyone can show up at any time and get their job done because you can.

I was wondering if there was someone in the world more naive about the real world than Ezra, but I think this post puts that to rest.

gotta disagree to some extend w obrier2- almost any job can work with flex time. An employer may be able to design a schedule where you work very long hours some days and have a day or two off in the middle of the week to take care of your kid.

The issue here is that lower wage employees often get treated like garbage by their employers, and they aren't offered flexible schedules. The "here is the job, take it or leave it" mindset is the problem, and often there's no need for it.

Ezra,

I don't have data to point to, but I suspect that jobs amenable to those with higher education degrees (undergrad+), like yours, are actually exempt positions. Most of the exempt employees are working far more than the 40 hour standard workweek and don't receive overtime pay under FLSA. 'Management' labor rights are a growing concern as employers think they'll just cut back on their hourly employees because they don't have to pay their exempt employees any overtime.

When a supervisor is juggling 18+ hours per day of service 6-7 days per week, scheduling becomes a big part of that person's workload. It's easier to have a set standard schedule the workers fit themselves into than spending a large number of hours working the entire operations around the needs of a single worker.

There's also challenges when trying to fit flexible non-exempt schedules into requirements in FLSA... not impossible, but it just adds another layer of legal considerations into the mix.

REPLY TO OBRIER: He wrote
dude, those at the lower education level have jobs that won't work on flex time. the guy at the factory needs to be on the line at a certain time so the rest of the line runs. A hotel worker must be around when the guest are out to clean the rooms. What is perverse is you don't realize this and think anyone can show up at any time and get their job done because you can.

Posted by: obrier2 | April 1, 2010 1:51
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REPLY:
DUDE!
You obviously didn't think about this before you commented. There are numerous people who are highly qualified for positions that don't get hired because they don't have a degree for one reason or another. Others have jobs that contribute to the companies they work for in very important ways and some CAN be offered flex hours.

My son never went to college but is self-taught. He has written computer programs and is part of a core group of young intellects in NYC that have transitioned their science talents into the art world. He is recognized around the world, has been invited to lecture at major colleges and shows his work by invitation in major art/science museums here in the US as well as Europe South America; Paris, Rio and Spain. He can't even get a decent job because he has no degree....but there are many talented, contributing people in our workforce who are as bright or brighter than many with degrees who hold those precious jobs with all the perks.You may not want to believe this but I swear it's true.
This country has put so much emphasis on a college degree that many of it's most talented people are being waysided and their gifts are being under appreciated.

So...still think those without degrees only do clean-up jobs and menial tasks? They often take entry level positions even tho they are much higher qualified. Sometimes that means taking security jobs, janitors and sometimes just the guy who works the store sales floor and closes.

Guess you never knew the geek next door or heard of the girl who was valedictorian in high school that ran away after graduation and got married.

Tho they don't all get college degrees, their amazing intellect doesn't disappear. Our society just labels them differently and discards them.No college? Not good enough.

As for the flex work...it should be evaluated by the task and the flexibility that can be offered,and the number of employees that can cover the work that needs to be done, not by a degree. You suggest the jobs given flex time are tied to the level of intelligence it takes to perform it when in actuality, it really needs to consider if the job can be effectively done in either less time than the normal 9-5 or if part can be done away from the office. Seems that it matters more on work ethic and intelligence, not a degree.
It's unfortunate you assume that those with menial jobs are less apt to have either of these traits. Shame on you.

Ezra, interesting stats, but predictable as well. The bigger problem is just the issue of the correlation between youth and failure in raising a family. Meaning, WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG -- normally when you get married and start a family -- you have the least amount of experience and income and tolerance for compromise -- right when the demands for these needs are the greatest. It's a statistic that reflects all the forces working against successful child-rearing when you are young. That's most families!