Attitude to work has been singled out as the major stumbling block towards improved performance on the job and a change in mindset, together with cultural reform are crucial if change is to be realized.
Executive Director of the Dominica Employers Federation (DEF), Archille Joseph, told Dominica News Online that his views on that matter are based on a study done in Jamaica by the late, Professor Carl Stone, which he saids “fits perfectly” in the Dominican context.
“Our productivity level in Dominica is greatly influenced by our attitude to work,” he said, adding that low rate of technology is also a contributor.
“But our attitude to work is the major stumbling block towards productivity improvement,” he stated.
Joseph said citizens are not producing enough and before any productivity improvement drive is done, one has to understand the reasons for the non-productivity.
“There’s a reason for that, you have to address the reason,” he stated.
He stated that the Dominican society is “supportive” hence there is no motivation to work in order to survive.
“That is a problem for us…the society is supportive, so the motivation to work to survive is not there,” he explained. “Now those same lazy fellas, you put them in the United States, they working 16 hours a day. No complain, because you know why, if you don’t work, you cannot eat. So that support system is not in the States. That I believe is one of the reasons for our bad productivity.”
Joseph stated that the “beautiful Dominica and family support system we love” is not always good.
“It has a negative side and that is where we are right now trying to see how we can deal with those issues so it can impact on productivity,” Joseph stated. “But those issues cannot be handled overnight.”
He believes that it requires “a whole nation to decide” on changing the mindset on work attitude “and we are not ready for that in this country.”
“So maybe the next generation will come up with a better way to deal with it,” Joseph said.
Please the problem is employers treating their employees like crap and paying them what they want and still expecting demotivated and angry staff to perform, its like squeezing blood out of stone. Advice learn to mange and treat people how you want to be treated and problems solved.
In the USA, when you work, you get paid.
You get paid . Most Dominicans in the diaspora
make enough to provide for themselves
and their families.
The more they work is the more they earned.
In Dominica it is the total opposite.
We don’t like to pay.
Productivity will always be at a all time low.
We have too many square pegs in the wrong hole.
The employers and not the employee that is the true
reasons for low productivity.
We need to be honest with each other
They hit the nail on the head with this one. The work ethic, attitude and quality of work is what keeps DA down and will continue to keep DA down. How to change that? It all begins with the parents and what they instill in the children. Too many children are left with no guidance due to parents who should never have been parents in the first place. Mpst pf these children are from single parent homes.
There are too many people here that have a high opinion of themselves when they should be a lot more humble. Everyone can be replaced.
The problem in dominica is the level of professionalism. I came to da and i could pick out only one young lady and a guy at the roseau credit who was very polite to me. Every where u go people mouth long and acting like an animal towards you. I am speaking from my experience. Dominicans need to stop the grumpiness. I don’t even want to discuss the level if disrespect i received on my way to the registry. Nasty, nasty attitude. Wake up people…
Meant Level of disrespect.
I agree with Mr. Joseph 100% when he said that people go overseas and work 16 hrs. a day without any complaint. There are instances where people live their good jobs in DA and go to greener pastures, find themselves work ,but less than the standard of work they left in DA and when their friends would pass on their jobs where they are working,they would stop work, as though they are visiting.
Mr/Miss BEB, Archille is always talking nonsense okay! People go overseas, and work for sixteen hours per day, that is not mandatory by any labor laws in the country where people work 16 hours per day. There is something called overtime. In America, Canada, England and other parts of Europe where I’ve lived and worked, after working for eight ours on any job; people are paid time and a half. If the over time exceeds a certain period, which extend to sixteen 16 hours, the workers are paid double time!
So if someone makes fifteen dollars per hour, once you are on over time your hourly pay becomes $22.50 per hour. If one is going into a sixteen hour shift your hourly pay becomes $45.00 dollars per hour. If you are called on Sunday or a holiday your first hour starts at $45.00 period, and if you exceed eight hours, you are heading into triple time. The easiest thing to happen is believe any crap we hear when we do not know better! Note: my argument is based on overtime. On a regular…
On a regular Saturday, and Sunday Job, such as working in a grocery store or clothing in a mall; you are paid only your base salary for eight ours anything over eight hours it is mandatory to be paid over time even if the worker only worked 15 minutes overtime, and the way the law is set up employer would have to pay the worker no less than ( .5; 1/2 or for your understanding half an hour).
Left to Archille Joseph or whatever his name, workers in Dominica would have rights, he is the same one who wanted Sunday to be a regular work day in Dominica. The only purpose people like him serve in Dominica, is crushing the head of the working class. I do not know where in Dominica that guy hales from, his first name is the same village Skerrit came from. His surname could be from Wesley, I hope I am wrong, cause, cause if he is part of Wesley I might be in hot water!
You know, many who migrated, including refugees, thought the grass was greener and not only D/cans. They also rank among doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants and teachers, etc. The stories are many and some filled with heartaches and disappointments.
People make all sorts of mistakes. The saying, “If only they knew.” For some who decide to stay, it is also too late for regrets. They adapt and make the most of it. Another saying: “Don’t worry. Be happy.” God knows best.
And BEB I forgot to tell you in regards to how the overtime rate is structured, that is not based on what goes on in North America, and Europe alone. Check out the Caribbean island of Antigua, that is precisely how it works there also!
Let us hear from Parry Bellot!
“Our productivity level in Dominica is greatly influenced by our attitude to work,” he said, adding that low rate of technology is also a contributor.”
Here we go again blaming the lack of productivity on the workers attitude. One need to understand lax work habit will be the same as long as the worker is under paid, and treated as second class citizens, without any incentives which could incite the actions of the worker, this so altitude which apparently does exist will be the same. We get just what we pay for as far as quality is concerned.
If there are two pairs of shoe on a rack, one pair cost $200.00, and the other cost $75.00 one would anticipate there must be something different between the two, they may look the same however, if we look closely we may find one is made from pure leather, whereas the other is made from imitation leather! Some undeserving people increase their monthly pay by 50%, and those are people working for thousands of dollars per month, but, what…
What about the people who takes home less than ten thousand dollars in a twelve month period. Do we expect such workers not to be discouraged?
Assuming someone takes home $400.00 dollars per month, honest money; in twelve months the total amount of money earned for the whole year amounts to approximately $4,800.00; and that would be if no taxes are paid. It will be less when taxes are withheld; if the amount withheld is 10% of their earnings they will only take home: $4,320.00 for the year, meaning their take home pay per month simply total $360.00 per month, how can someone work on any job displaying a positive attitude whiles they receive a starvation salary?
Of course gullible folks will by the expensive pair, reality is a fool and his money is soon parted; more expensive does not necessarily mean better. Sneakers made in cChina or Taiwan are made from cheap labor, unfortunately they cost over a month salary something the workers can’t afford. Your reasoning does not stand.
The big problem is that there is no pride in workmanship or doing a good job. They only work for the MO-NEY. People will pay for good workmanship, however, when you have workers that cost you money, they are usually the ones that didn’t want to work in the first place but feel that they should be highly paid for anything that they do. This is the attitude problem.
Anonymous 2
I couldn’t agree with you more. A lot of people are just not committed and have rotten attitudes and it doesn’t help that when some attempt is made to require some accountability, the media and some members of the public who have now become professional commentators on every subject are quick to make them believe that they alone have rights.
People just have to begin to value their jobs and stop this culture of entitlement. I don’t buy the general argument either about pay because the self-employed like plumbers, electricians, building contractors and others with their exhorbitant fees are even more guilty. Taking clients money giving them a perpetual run around!
I heard the builders and contractors association talking about certification but I hope that they also focus on an ethical code of conduct for their members.
Somehow, I don’t think the supportive family dynamic is at fault. More study ought to be done. There are so few options for young people, if we could identify their passions and talents and give them direction to grow in those areas, in such a way that it would contribute to personal and national growth, that would motivate them.
They also need to be educated in customer service and taught why it benefits them.
Mr. Joseph we cannot pass that problem to the next generation. We have to tackle it now and by the time the next generation comes of age they will build on it. This is a generational curse we have to break. We cannot and must not pass this problem to the next generation. It has been costing us big time over the years. I know a friend who once worked at a “restaurant” back home (Dominica) who migrated to the USVI via the back door. Upon arrival in the USVI she realized one thing. She had to work to eat and keep a roof over her head. Her favorite question, ” If I don’t hustle, who will give me?” “They hustling me so much on the job but I haven’t got a choice”. I quoted my friend just to impress upon our readers the importance of drastically changing and improving our work ethics. It’s not a political thing it’s a survival thing.
Its up to managers and seniors to set standards. It must come with proper treatment and incentives. Stop hiring friends and family. Hire on merit and qualifications. This will help. Its a culture.
There are a few factors which cause them to have such an attitude.
They should be properly trained. They are in need of personnel/customer service training.
Management must also treat their employees with respect and dignity.
Two factors which could also contribute to their attitude are, low wages with no salary increase.
T-Dot hit it on the Nail Customer service does not exist . There is a young lady in Depex she is wonderful a few other places but the Nasty ones out weight the good ones. We need to wake up my people and smell the coffee.
Whatever happened to the performance appraisal system?. Too many employees just go through the motion in their jobs. They do not innovate because there is no incentive or dis-incentive. Maybe what needs to be done is to have employees all sign employment agreements which are performance based and have them sign contracts whose renewal are dependent upon their meeting the performance targets. Without targets people tend to stagnate.
The other reason for this lax in productivity especially within the public service, is that many persons get into jobs without merit; no competition for the position, no interviews. Once you know someone or someone knows you, you stand a chance of getting a job even when there are other persons who are more qualified and suited for the position. How often do you seem or hear of jobs in the public service being advertised? Why do you think there is more productivity in the private sector? Everyone has to work for his pay.
Right on Q, pardner; right on Q!!
We need to rewiew our minimum wage .
That alone will not bring about a change in our work ethics. However I agree with you, a review is long over due. An increase in productivity is also long over due.
Some food for thought. We need a national discussion on this issue. Lack of motivation and easy money also come in the way of productivity levels. Effective management strategies need to be adopted. Low performance must be disciplined…
This is so true. Plus talk about no customer service skills. The last couple times I visited it’s like you’d walk into a business place and they think you’re begging them. From the approach, to the assistance, to the attitude on the job it just sucks big time. It’s a shame!
We “over commit and under deliver”. We are ALL held hostage by the “trades” in Dominica. I am tired of waiting for mechanics, plumbers, bank tellers, hospital staff, civil servants, and the list goes on, to do the jobs they are committed to do!