As most of you know South Africa has the highest unemployment rate in the world so you would imagine finding reliable staff would be straight forward. Over 60 % of the age group between 16 and 34 are unemployed.
Over the last 3 months we have started a new business and not one staff member has survived since day one. Currently we are under the pump with so many orders to get through we are having to pay overtime which should be seen as a good thing if you are employed. The staff we hired have all been on probation and have just not lasted due to many reasons like being on their phone all the time at work, being under the influence and today just not appearing. There is no work ethic.
This morning we opened up and 1 out of the five crew members bothered pitching up. One had excused himself yesterday which is 100% fine, but the other 3 were a no show. I guess they do not value the idea of working and keeping a job when jobs are scarce. The being on the phone issue gets me each time because every time you walk into the work area they re putting their phones away. The cameras highlight what they are doing and think everyone is stupid. This is why I hate having staff and would jump at robots if they were available.
The work is not difficult and the conditions are fine along with the salary they are earning. This is good honest work and in the future if they shine we could move them into the warehouse doing some other type of work. This is an entry level job but it is still a job that pays a decent living wage so why do they think they can skip work and then arrive back thinking their job is safe. On Monday they will see they have already been replaced and that is the reality they need to come to terms with.
Monday morning they will be paid any monies owing and sent on their way as I cannot run a business with staff delaying orders. Basically an entire production day has been lost when we have orders booked for collection on Monday. Those orders cannot wait and still need to be completed or we risk upsetting our clients.
I cannot employ foreigners as I have 1 Zimbabwean who is a good apple from having previously employed in another company more than 100 who were all fired for theft. Sorry to say this, but hiring a foreigner is at your own risk and not worth the effort.
South Africans are generally lazy and lack the education a foreigner offers with a higher work ethic, but would rather employee a person you can trust over a scheming foreigner.
The only options I have left at this point is to ask the staff members who work in our logistics business if they have family members unemployed at home looking for work. The response was good, but also alarming as now we have 6 people starting tomorrow.
Work is work and once employed it is easer to find another job manly as you are not under pressure due to earning a salary. A couple of those coming in I know already so we already have a working relationship which helps.
I could pick a crew from the street corners which have hundreds of hopefuls sitting around waiting for an opportunity. The problem is you are taking a chance and have no idea what you are inviting into your business and why the family member option is far safer. Our current employees who are like a big family we have known for many years will keep their family in check. We have set standards we all adhere to and why we all work so well together as one big team.
I think this whole process has been one of disappointment more than anything else as helping others get back on their feet was the intention. You can only help so much and they have to help themselves and cannot be all from you side.