Myth / Legend ?

pete_mcs

Have spent the past month working in an enviroment with 80% Eastern European Employees. It is a new experience for me as I spent the past ten years in my previous job with all Irish workers.
I have enjoyed the experience, and found my new fellow workers to be good company and very friendly.
Before I started here I was under the impression that Eastern Europeans to be "great workers", but have to say that I have not noticed any difference between them and the Irish workers.
Is this a myth that they are better employees, or is it that the Irish workers have finally got of their arses and are matching their European rivals?
(:oDont mean this as a racist post, ie, "we are better than them" type stuff.:o)

Martron

Myth.

Mr. Loverman

In my experience they are harder workers, but they have a totally different attitude to work than we have. For example, they see work as 9 - 5 on the button (out the door 1 second past 5), whereas most of my Irish colleagues probably work a little later than 5.

The work culture in (for example) Poland is a lot more strict as well. You are not treated as nicely as you are in Ireland. So there is a bit more fear about losing your job or getting in trouble.

That's my experience anyway.

wylo

from my own experience anyway , its nothing to do with them being Eastern European, just to do with them being abroad, which is not even the case anymore because they are here long enough that they have adapted to a more normal relaxed attitude to work, and adapted to local culture, i.e. they'll have no problem going on break early, but will have no problem staying back if theres something to be done. That mightn't have been the case back home (like mentioned above),

When I was abroad I noticed all the foreigners working harder (Irish included). Once you get comfortable you tend to relax a bit.

So I dont think its a myth, just more of an outdated reputation.

eire2009

Most of them didnt have any families or proper friends over here so they had nothing else better to do than work also they needed money to send home .. Thats all really the Irsih have the same reputation abroad for the same reasons its not a work ethic its a what else can I do ethic .. Now they have families settled here and have proper friends its a natural progression they have the same social life as irish people and their country is booming ATM so they dont need to send home money ... They are economically and socially the same so their work ethics have changed similarly

Mr. Loverman

I don't know if it's just that. I work with an office in Poland and they are a lot more efficient/hard working than the Irish office. Again, could just be my own experience...

tenchi-fan

I've heard a lot of foreign workers work their asses off until they are made permanent, then pretend not to understand basic commands.

The thing is a lot of eastern European workers are not entitled to benefits, therefore they tend to look for jobs and work, unlike many of their Irish counterparts who are happier to subsist on the dole.

Berty

Well I have seen many more Irish people hanging out the windows in drive thru's which does not quite slam the myth about Irish not doing certain jobs but shows times are changing and so are attitudes.

Maybe the O'Irish way is rubbing off on our adopted Eastern European friends and they have become less enthusiastic.

If you were an Eastern European and were a great worker, came here, found a job dealing with the public on daily basis then you would eventually be ground down until you didn't care.

See R*R Forum and "Cries of Retail" Thread.

tenchi-fan

Berty wrote: »

Well I have seen many more Irish people hanging out the windows in drive thru's which does not quite slam the myth about Irish not doing certain jobs but shows times are changing and so are attitudes.

Maybe the O'Irish way is rubbing off on our adopted Eastern European friends and they have become less enthusiastic.

If you were an Eastern European and were a great worker, came here, found a job dealing with the public on daily basis then you would eventually be ground down until you didn't care.

See R*R Forum and "Cries of Retail" Thread.

I don't think this is fair! They are eager when they arrive here to hit the ground running, knowing if they don't get a job or get a job and lose it they will arrive back home penniless having missed the opportunity of a lifetime.

Berty

tenchi-fan wrote: »

I don't think this is fair! They are eager when they arrive here to hit the ground running, knowing if they don't get a job or get a job and lose it they will arrive back home penniless having missed the opportunity of a lifetime.

Jeez its a joke. :rolleyes:

tenchi-fan

Berty wrote: »

Jeez its a joke. :rolleyes:

how so?

Look, I've heard of a polish couple coming over here in a van and joining the gym. They lived in the van and used the gym for a pasttime, as well using the showers in the gym! Then when they got jobs they used the van for work and transport. That's dedication.

pete_mcs

Of my limited experience, I have noticed that the Eastern europeans do not have as much distractions outside the working enviroment. While the Irish workers may have outside distractions such as family illnesses, funerals to attend etc. etc., the Eastern europeans just have work, and their work friends. So therefore they dont miss any time due to outside distractions.

On the downside they have no interest in seeing the work place thrive, they see it as just a job, and loyalty does not enter the factor. A "local" worker has a vested interest in seeing the workplace do well, their family and local economy may be dependant on the success of this company.

65bl

A few years ago i had three Polish guys working in my dept out of total of 21. One was brilliant - would go out of his way to get the job done - was flexible, not well qualified but made up with ability and enthusium. One was average - did a good job but no more no less. One broke my heart - if there was a way to skive off, he found it. He knew the employment law like the back of his hand and exploited to the max. Incidently his biggest critics were the other two Polish guys.

That last paragraph, whilst true about the Polish guys could equally be written about the Irish guys - some great, some okay, some wasters. Its all down the individual not thier nationality

wmpdd3

I work with over 70 Polish and Eastern European people, over 35 have been here more than 3 years and are in the same job, most are supervisors, 4 are managers. The fact that they weren't entitled to any benefits in the first year did weed out the weaker ones as they only lasted 3 weeks max without a job.

I personally have 6 Polish and 1 Check staff and they're attitude to work is similar to my 60 yr old fathers. Mortified if they got into trouble and wouldn't dream of skiving off, just get in and get it done, end of story.

Most have gotten married and had families here and mortgages so, like the rest of us you have to keep your head down and 'pay the banks'!

Only big difference I have seen was twice a polish man has rang in sick because they got dumped by their girlfriend or finance. Never had anyone else try do this. Thought this was hilarious, get over it and get into work NOW!

mikemac

I worked in a small hotel of 18 staff plus one manager.
Only three of us were Irish

And across all nationalities some were legends for work and some were wasters.

I can't say I found any nationality including the Irish staff to be better or worse then each other

What did happen I can say is the Irish staff were always the best paid.
I did the same work as some and got more money as I argued and negotiated for it.
Said I wouldn't work for what I was offered and meant it, I could have gotten work elsewhere

While the other non Irish staff filed their CV's with some agency. They were hired directly and full time but they took the wages they were offered.

Of course this became known as the manager went around saying it. :rolleyes:
People doing the same job but gettting different wages is a sure way to cause tension

pete_mcs

So its pretty much down to each individual and not to their nationality? Kind of reckoned that myself.
Seen 2 polish lads today in on OT hiding from the supervisor, so these 2 are well capable of dossing as much as paddy of mick!!

caroiline

Myth .. Like irish people it just depends on the individual ..