I don't really know whathas happened over the last couple of years to the working environment but the consequence is that there is a tremendous shortage on people who are actually creating something in their work.
It's not only about hospital and healthcare staff (although that was painfully visible in the previous year) but nearly in every sector this is starting toturn out into a bigger issue. So where are all of these people working now then?
Middle management
Middle management....The spot which is nice to be hanging around in because it will not cost you the physical labour, but on the other hand it is also the position where you literally will not get anything done in.
You see it with every merging of companies. The working staff stays, the middle management is too much and get layed off. But on the other hand, shouldn't we invest a bit more in having a decent middle management that knows what is going on, versus having the semi upgraded but ambitious people with good intentions but with no backing from the higher levels to actually have this layer come to its full capacity?
The thing ofcourse is when I look at my own sector there is a middle manager who has to take care of in general a whole department which is often in between 100 and 200 people of staff. That is a lot actually. That is 100 to 200 people with family issues, with sickness, with promotions, with ambition, and with everyday stuff which they run into in their department.
Realistically it is just impossible for 1 person to manage all of these things. Sure, they can be there for their staff when the going gets tough at home, but I guess one of the biggest issues in a department is understaffing and the consequences which come with that.
Not getting vacation days, not having enough time for people coffee breaks, and not having enough budget to make any chances. Because those decisions are often made a level higher and it is just the job of that middle person to excecute and sell it to the level lower
And that just sucks....
Construction
I was walking past this construction site the other day and a lot was going on. Now I don't know how the situation currently is in your country, but here in Holland we have a gigantic shortage in housing and not enough is being built fast enough.
Pixabay
Now the funny thing is when you look at one of those construction sites, there are hardly any young people working there. It is almost all guys in their end 50s who are doing the physical labour and working the machines. So where are all the youngsters then? Because these dudes in their end 50s will not be building a lot more over the next couple of years. They have done their part.
The fact ofcourse is that in both of these sector (as well as also in hospitality industry) it is medium attractive to work in. Salary is decent but not good. Working hours are long and strenuous and physical labour in the end is just no joke. Reward at the end of the day (or career) is medium high and the price to pay for working weird hours and breaking the back over it is also quite severe.
So I get it that a lot of people want to get out and choose a next step in their career that lets them work different type of hours and less on the physics. But it doesn't automatically mean they are a good manager.
It would be too bad if the people who are directing those groups actually had some more background in there. And most of all it wouldn't be all that bad if the work on the floor is rewarded a bit better. And I don't only mean salarywise but also in working less crazy shifts.
Otherwise...who will build our houses in the future and take care of the sick? The people managing that there isn't enough staff? Well, they have to watch out there is still enough staff to manage at all.