I keep hearing this when I tell people I can't find employees "just pay more". This week I tried to Hire a contract tree climber, he told me $100 hour for the first 3 hours and $75 a hour after 3 hours. I promised him 4 days this week, it's expensive but I really need the help. He no called no showed, I did all the climbing and we fell further behind.

Paying more means today's young men just work less. If I say anymore about today's work force I'll catch a ban. It's just disgusting. Anyone else seeing these issues still? Covid or rather the response to it seems to have ruined an entire generation.

It's not limited to one generation, I see slackers of all ages!

Been pretty lucky where I work, I guess. Most of our new hires have been pretty good.

yes

Do Guatemalans climb trees?

They do about everything else around here....

Boomers are by far the worst I have dealt with. I would much rather a young new hire than a lazy know it all boomer.

I guess their smarter than me. They figured it out. I work to many hours, show up every day and early rather than on time. Anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Lol

Sad part is most Americans are slap lazy it’s ridiculous. There is a reason why mostly hispanics are working on construction jobsites.

Well, apparently, you're not working for Donnersurvivor. I wish I hadn't beat myself up so much as a young feller, I could be making bank now!

Just had this conversation today with a guy, and yes it’s all ages.

To be fair, who really wants to work 8 hours a day 5 days a week? Not the life I want to live.

You wouldn't make a very good trapper.

It just comes down to the way you were raised. Its across all generations.

Unfortunately, now there are just more kids out there that did not grow up having chores, having discipline, or having to have/keep jobs in Highschool and/or college.

A good work ethic is taught, I don't think anyone is born with it.

People are changing their paradigms and priorities when it comes to work, I don't see anything changing it outside of major upheaval.

I don't know, I've got one lazy one.
Have seen it in a number of families.

Being semi-retired from the same occupation as the OP, I feel his pain. I have a $15,000 oak trimming job that I will most likely have to pass on. I have 2 different climbers that have worked for me in the past, but this time of year they get very independent. If I could hold off until early spring, they would both be knocking on my door when their bellies were growling, and their glasses were empty. Unfortunately, the homeowner wants the job done as soon as possible.

WS

Not just young people. I changed jobs last year to about the best paying place around here. They can't find much help either. I won't mention the name but I made 30k more in my first year there than my best year at my previous job. That's mostly do to ot and yes I make quite a bit more an hour too. I'm not forced on most of the ot but take it anyway. Just baffles me how many young and middle age people don't want to work any ot. The older ones I can understand if they don't need it or want it.
The latest hire started last Thursday, took a personal day on Friday, called in sick Monday and Tuesday, worked Wednesday and Thursday and left after 4 hours last night and said she was sick. Outstanding. Maybe she'll work out but it doesn't look good.
I'll be quiet now, I get a bit grumpy and tend to not be the most popular guy because I guess I just don't understand.
It does tend to make me want to join in but I havent been able to do it yet. Stupid work ethic gets in the way.

Funny thing, current job situation DOES create opportunity for those willing to hustle.

One of my kids would grab an extra 12 hour shift a month when they were offering double time PLUS $85/ hour.
Said it covered his rent and car note for the month. ( so JUST PAY MORE does work, lol)

Another changed careers but still grabs the occasional weekend or holiday at her old job, rainy day fund, plus she maintains her certs.

No doubt there are a lot of people who simply don't want to work but there is also a growing number of people who have heard all their life that you'll never get rich working for someone else. Therefore, many people with just a year or two of experience in the trades run right out and start working for themselves. I don't blame them, I did it myself. No sense in making peanuts when you can get the walnuts. I'll admit, I didn't know as much as I thought I did and ended up going back to work for a company. A while later I was out on my own again and haven't had a boss in over twenty years.

LOL, guy I hired about 10 years ago once said,
" This is the only place I ever worked where I'm 10 minutes early and feel.like I'm late!"