From Blanchester OH — 05/06/2008
Man there is a lot of people complaining on here. I for one am happy i have a job, and am glad that i can supply insurance, that is FREE by the way, to my family. Sure, i dont get to see them as often as i would like working 6-7 days a week, but i try my best, because i know its not forever. And i only have one thing to say about people complaining about the pay...because they will be the first people on here when the OT is cut back and they aren't making the money they were making before. Oh, and i would like to be the first to thank everyone for complaining about people "abusing" FMLA. First of all, most of the people "abusing" it, is someone talking about them behind their back, for one reason or another. These people dont even LIKE this "abuser", obviously dont hang out with them or know ANYTHING about them, yet when it comes to their FMLA, they seem to have intimate knowledge; make your own conclusions. Can anyone spell JEALOUSY?
I personally feel that all this complaining has spurned a re-visitation into all FMLA to see if anyone has in fact abused it. But from most of what i hear, these people are being told that their FMLA was not approved, yet they never received anything telling them they didnt get approved. Granted, most of it is hearsay, but, when people are saying the same story, you start to wonder. Anyone who has worked at American Showa for at least 6 months knows you cannot trust hearsay, but usually it changes from person to person. Now, everyone is afraid to use FMLA for fear of losing their job. Thanks alot. And by the way, since when is it ok to punish the people who apply for anything? You trust that the office personnel are doing THEIR jobs when you ask or do anything that requires their "expertise" (i use that word liberally), and yet YOUR the one losing your job because of it. Its like going to McDonalds and them messing up your order, and when you go back to complain, they call the cops and throw you in jail because "you" didnt catch it. Do your job! Is it really that hard? If so, come do mine, and i'll gladly do yours.
The pay is really good for the area; i doubt you'll find a job in a 30 mile radius that pays you over $17 and hour after 2 1/2 years without some college degree. People without families have it really well, they can potentially make $60-$70K a year with all the OT they want. Almost every line will take anyone on the weekend, all you have to do is ask. I placed respect at zero because i have no respect for management when they dont respect me. Yeah, i dont have a college degree, but they act like your a piece of aluminum shaving stuck to their shoe when you talk to them. I know that there are exceptions, but not many. Assuming that someone doesnt know anything because they have never been a manager or have a college education is a gross misuse of valuable talent. Most of us could run circles around any manager and engineer when it comes to our specific job; we do it EVERYDAY.
Benefits are really good, you cant beat free. i mean, you do have a $10 copay, but paying nothing a month is great. I wish they would bring back the montly attendace bonus, but they are attempting to improve the plant to reduce OT so i guess that's good. I cant see how anyone is complaining about job security (until the recent FMLA investigations), almost everyone has a car! We will be in business for a long time, as long as someone in management doesnt screw up, which is a real possibility, but so far so good.
Work/Life Balance: As i said before, unless you are in management or the office, your pretty much working 6-7 days a week, but we have already begun to see a slow down in OT. Many of the lines that worked 6-7 days have had many of the past weekends off. Career potential and growth is ok, if people worked the system a little better you wouldnt hear as much complaining. American Showa pays for any college education that is related to your job field, or any POTENTIAL job field. I know many would complain that they have no time to take advantage of this, but one class a week is a something. If you really want it, you can make it happen.
As far as in-house advancement, its odd when someone that didnt have their name on a job posting, or no job posting was made, and BAM they have the job. That aspect needs some attention, but im sure it has something to do with qualifications. You really dont want someone that is not qualified to do a job, doing it. Some would argue that there are people doing jobs they arent qualified to do, and i feel this is so, but at least they try. You can argue the point both ways.
Location is great, its easily accessible and a short distance from where i live. Co-worker compentence: im kind of iffy on. On one hand, you work with a lot of people that HAVE the knowledge, they just choose not to USE it. Working many years along side of friends and co-workers doing the same thing has that affect on you. And when you feel like management doesnt care, its hard for you to care either. I hear "what's the point, no one cares, why should i?" alot. Its only human to try to make things easier on yourself, especially if you dont like what your doing, and anything you can do to make your day go by faster, most people are going to do it.
Work Environment: as far as conditions go, i wish people would get on track when it comes to health concerns, these issues need to be address faster, before people suffer health conditions. I gave it a low rating because i believe the way people act also affects your environment. Too many people talking about things they have no idea about, just to be hurtful, is out of control sometimes. When you stand there, doing the same job over and over again everyday, i guess you have to have something to do.
