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Are people bad at their jobs or are the jobs just bad?

(annehelen.substack.com)
287 points moonka | 6 comments | 02 Apr 25 21:54 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source | bottom
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Uzmanali ◴[02 Apr 25 22:52 UTC] No.43562704[source]▶
I’ve had similar frustrations with gig economy services. A while ago, i hired someone from TaskRabbit to set up a standing desk. i thought it would be an easy process, but the assembler showed up late. then he had a hard time following basic instructions, and he also left halfway through, saying he had another job to go to. I finished the assembly myself at the end.

then i realize these platforms don’t support skilled, well-paid workers. they focus on cheap convenience, which often results in poor quality. the issue isn't just that people struggle with their jobs. it's that the system makes it hard for them to do good work.

Now I hire local professionals, even if they cost more. Their experience and trustworthiness save me time and frustration.

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1. potato3732842 ◴[02 Apr 25 23:15 UTC] No.43562895[source]▶
>Now I hire local professionals, even if they cost more. Their experience and trustworthiness save me time and frustration.

I've found the exact opposite. The deeper the moat the bigger the jerks. I can pick up a guy at home depot who'll bust ass as hard as I will at a very reasonable price. Can't say that (especially the first part) about most professionals. Anything with a license or high capital investment keeping upstarts out is like pulling teeth to work with. Even for brick and mortar this holds. My local upholsterer is a pleasure to work with compared to any tire and alignment shop.

That said, I'm also not hiring people to put together Ikea beds for me or bringing piles of gravy work to any given professional.

Edit: I will add, I have consistently been amazed with what concrete truck drivers will do above and beyond the bare minimum and the consistent "get it done or tear shit up trying" attitude they bring. But this might be a regional thing.

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2. kupopuffs ◴[02 Apr 25 23:43 UTC] No.43563122[source]▶
there are probably other factors than "how much are they"
3. ryandrake ◴[03 Apr 25 00:02 UTC] No.43563266[source]▶
We have to learn how to DIY more things. I pretty much don't hire anyone to do anything anymore, because I always end up having to supervise them, they do the work incorrectly, and I have to double check the quality and insist they come back to do it right. So, I'm not really saving any time. At some point, you might as well just do the work yourself because you know it will be done correctly.
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4. pavel_lishin ◴[03 Apr 25 01:45 UTC] No.43563813[source]▶
> > Now I hire local professionals, even if they cost more. Their experience and trustworthiness save me time and frustration.

> I've found the exact opposite. ... My local upholsterer is a pleasure to work with compared to any tire and alignment shop.

I'm confused, isn't your local upholsterer exactly an example of a local professional?

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5. pests ◴[03 Apr 25 03:25 UTC] No.43564352[source]▶
Yes but its not one with "with a license or high capital investment" needed.
6. angmarsbane ◴[03 Apr 25 03:33 UTC] No.43564406[source]▶
Bringing back woodshop, metalshop etc to schools could help with that.