Jobs... the US Post Office is deparate to fill 400 openings in San Francisco

[mjarrels]

When I retired from the Navy back in 1997, I tuck the Postal test to become a mail carrier and the test was really hard. I had a practice package but I didn't study it. Passed the exam but didn't make the cut. Yes, got the vet discount points.

mark

 

[EddieWalker]

I wonder how $16 an hour for a job compares to the amount of money people receive in welfare? All my Union buddies back in the East Bay want the minimum wage raised to $15 an hour because they feel that will provide them with an argument to increase their pay, but if nobody wants to work for $16 an hour, that kind of defeats the minimum wage argument.

 

[4570Man]

Is it $16 an hour and use your own vehicle and pay for fuel?

 

[ultrarunner]

I wonder how $16 an hour for a job compares to the amount of money people receive in welfare? All my Union buddies back in the East Bay want the minimum wage raised to $15 an hour because they feel that will provide them with an argument to increase their pay, but if nobody wants to work for $16 an hour, that kind of defeats the minimum wage argument.

San Leandro just went to $13 minimum July 1 with $1 increases every 12 months to come... some other Bay Area cities are higher...

 

[mark02tj]

My sis and BIL have lived in the Livermore/Pleasanton area for 40 years or so. My BIL was an industrial painter (bridges, towers, etc.). Back in '81 I went out to visit them. I went on a job in a shipyard in SF with him for a few days and was making $20/hr cash. He offered me a job with his company to direct traffic on job sites for the same money, but not cash. It looked good compared to the $4.25/hr I was making in OH. But, traffic, cost of living, commute times, etc. kept me here.

Wages have been stagnant for 20 years pretty much everywhere. Around '97 or '98 I was looking to hire an office admin person with pay of $10/hr. I can fill that same position today for not much more.

 

[ultrarunner]

Wages are mixed here in the SF Bay Area...

What I have seen in medical is a huge turnover of late... staff not getting the raises they want and have no problems finding a job that pays better or has better benefits...

One young lady was making $21 but no benefits... the company medical plan for her and her son cost $700... she approached the Doc and said she liked her job very much but medical was killing her... Doc said it is what it is.

Within 3 weeks she landed a job paying $23 but with full medical and a employer 401k match...

A little off topic but it seems like everyone retiring... almost without exception around here has or is planning to leave California...

It is almost simply what is done... retire, sell you home and move out of State with your windfall... sometimes to be closer to kids, but often simply to cash out...

The popular Bay Area destinations are Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Washington...

The last time I witness this was just before the Real Estate Crash a little over 10 years ago.

Almost everyone I know has had to leave to get better... and it really has been just about everyone...

Minimum Wage is heading to $15 by ordinance... and just about every city has a different implementation schedule...

A young single Mom I know was celebrating her pay raise until she found out the day care she takes her child too had to raise rates because the staff also got raises...

 

[TractorGuy]

I didn't know the Post Office ever REQUIRED an applicant to be a veteran, although they did get a 10 point preference on the written exam in my days.

It may have been controlled by the branch manager but I was refused an application at the main branch in Tallahassee FL. They had jobs advertised in the local paper. I went in to apply and was asked if I was a veteran. When I answered no the lady flat told me I could not apply. I don't' remember the exact year but it was between 72-78.

Probably as a white male, there wasn't a chance of making it in unless you had the added points of being a veteran.
As such, you could apply, but it was wasting your time unless you were a veteran.

Aaron Z

I had forgotten the painful memories of Affirmative Action. That was another incidence I felt wronged by. I applied for a mechanic position for the city garage once. Was interviewed by a black woman that told me I wasn't qualified. I asked if she was qualified to make that determination and was the position being designated minority preference? She admitted to both assumptions. I had a black friend at the garage that told me the person they hired didn't know which end of the wrench to use.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Wages are mixed here in the SF Bay Area...

What I have seen in medical is a huge turnover of late... staff not getting the raises they want and have no problems finding a job that pays better or has better benefits...

One young lady was making $21 but no benefits... the company medical plan for her and her son cost $700... she approached the Doc and said she liked her job very much but medical was killing her... Doc said it is what it is.

Within 3 weeks she landed a job paying $23 but with full medical and a employer 401k match...

A little off topic but it seems like everyone retiring... almost without exception around here has or is planning to leave California...

It is almost simply what is done... retire, sell you home and move out of State with your windfall... sometimes to be closer to kids, but often simply to cash out...

The popular Bay Area destinations are Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Washington...

The last time I witness this was just before the Real Estate Crash a little over 10 years ago.

Almost everyone I know has had to leave to get better... and it really has been just about everyone...

Minimum Wage is heading to $15 by ordinance... and just about every city has a different implementation schedule...

A young single Mom I know was celebrating her pay raise until she found out the day care she takes her child too had to raise rates because the staff also got raises...

The inflation spiral is underway. Problem is it is slow to trickle down. My daughter and her husband have a deli in Seattle. They are caught up in the spiral with their $15 minimum wage ordinance. They had to raise prices 20% to cover the spiral; now their patronage and income is down 20%. Their only little bit they could recover is requiring the employees to declare all their tips, share equally regardless of their efficiency and apply the tips to the wage as allowed by the law. That has blowback as it has increased their SS, workers comp, and unemployment. That business has naturally a high employee turnover but that has increased also with them hopping around to find a better deal. Soon they have them crawling back asking for their job back. They are strongly considering closing it up; the market to sell that type business doesn't exist.

A lot of occupations have a long way to go to just recover what they have lost since the re/depression of a few years ago. A job I had paying $130K/year dropped to $70-80 virtually overnight (I had retired just prior). Companies used the recession as an excuse to lower wages, take it or leave it and bid the next jobs using that rate. Many didn't want that job at that price for quite a few years; so, I was able to start a consulting firm doing the same occupation at $80/hr. That way the client got rid of payroll expense and still got the job done by contracting to me.

Now that the economy has improved businesses have found the experienced labor pool has dried up as folks found alternative employment and new workers aren't arriving fast enough to replace the big hump that is now retiring. SS annuitants and other retirees are flocking back to the work place and employers are working hard to keep their older employees as there are no replacements. Overtime is at an all time high to get the hours need to perform tasks. When are the politicians (of all stripes) going to wake up on immigration policy and its potential to relieve the situation. I am 82 and a contractor I know wants me to come back into the work pool. I am not interested at all.

Ron

 

[ultrarunner]

Ron... great insight from the trenches...

Those that have the knowledge/skill and willing to be mobile are doing very well...

I have 30 something couples making close to 300k and know others at minimum wage that are getting pushed out as they are replaced by automation...

The flip side for the moment are those in the trades... as much work as you can handle as long as you are dependable, deliver and have no drug or alcohol issues...

I do think we are going to a stratified labor force... with less in the middle.

The job benefits the smart 20 somethings are getting that I know working for the Googles are beyond anything their parents could imagine... one of my tenants switched 140k jobs simply because he new employer is pet friendly... she actually changed so she can bring her dog to work... and the employer has dedicated doggy day care... I kid you know... plus almost a gourmet lunch selection for $3 in house and Friday Beer and Pizza...

Those that tend to be at the very bottom are those with no to limited English... it is a huge hurdle that most simply never get over... BUT... their kids to have great opportunities.

Rosa is a minimum wage Housekeeper I have known for 23 years... single Mom whose husband died... she has 3 kids and speaks no English... she would have to call her kids to translate... she is very hard working... never misses a day... but lack of English and even reading and writing Spanish is a problem...

Her daughter just got on with the Sheriff's department at 23... compensation package 130k... 2 year Admin of Justice degree... and she was snapped up for being fluent in Spanish, a Minority Female and great work ethic...

 

[mark02tj]

Wages are mixed here in the SF Bay Area...

A little off topic but it seems like everyone retiring... almost without exception around here has or is planning to leave California...

It is almost simply what is done... retire, sell you home and move out of State with your windfall... sometimes to be closer to kids, but often simply to cash out...

My sis and BIL in the Bay Area were planning on doing that. His plan was to move to Vegas - he loves the shows and he loves to play golf. Then those grandkids came along and there's no way you're getting my sister away from them!! BUT... and this just boggles my mind - the ENTIRE FAMILY is considering picking up and leaving to another state.

BIL told me a couple of weeks ago that the house next door to them just sold for a bit over $1.1M. Sis & BIL's house is a bit bigger, and I'm sure a bit nicer. He said that the Asians come in with cash and drive the prices up.

A young single Mom I know was celebrating her pay raise until she found out the day care she takes her child too had to raise rates because the staff also got raises...

That's what no one that's crying for more money understands - raise wages and the things (sandwiches, daycare, janitorial, etc.) that are created by those making those wages also increase in price. Ron's post illustrates that very well!

Rosa is a minimum wage Housekeeper I have known for 23 years... single Mom whose husband died... she has 3 kids and speaks no English... she would have to call her kids to translate... she is very hard working... never misses a day... but lack of English and even reading and writing Spanish is a problem...

I'm presuming that Rosa has been in the country for at least 23 years. Kind of sad that she never learned English. Even at my age, I think I'd be able to pick up enough Spanish after a few years that I could get by. That's part of the problem with immigrants now - they want to come here, but they don't really want to assimilate. Yeah, I know that some of that went on in the last century as well, but now I think it's the rule rather than the exception.