As you can probably tell by the time of this e-mail I am a night shift supervisor. I hold this position at a world leading boat manufacturing facility. I have been raised and believe in a good work ethics. I gained some new insight to some things that had been on my mind as I read your article.

I have been with this company now 15 years. There are more newcomers at this facility than old-timers. I ‘ll get to the point. Absenteeism is a major problem in a production situation. When someone is out it kills you. I have spoken of incentives, but all that is offered by the company is few quarters on the hour for night shift workers and perfect attendance checks which are taxed by the government--Some $120.00 every six months. As you know night shift work by percentages is mostly going to draw only shall I say the younger work force. Not to many with a family are going to jump at this assignment.

The quality of worker we get to fill these positions tend to miss work a lot. I have heard everything from this is a regional problem to no one wants to work any more. I don’t believe it’s regional. I am from the same area. My thoughts are as follows; I believe it’s a society type of problem. Tell me if I am wrong here.

Most of the younger work force has seen Mom & Dad hustle off to work and the kids’ find themselves left behind to sit or fend for themselves. We as parents have gotten a little side tracked by giving our kids everything, which has had a lot to do with establishing poor work ethics. We have no one to blame but our selves as a society.

The long and the short of it I guess is to offer rewards for good attendance practices. The old school part of me doesn’t like the fact that I have to do something extra for what they are being paid for to start with--To come to work.