Happy Labor Day! If you’re like a lot of our readers, it sounds like you really earned that day off to reflect on the contributions you are making to the workforce.
This week in Life Inc., we reported on a study showing that many workers in the United States and other countries complain that they are being asked to work extra hours but aren’t necessarily getting paid for it.
More than half of our readers said they, too, are working more hours than five years ago but aren’t getting paid any extra for it. Another 20 percent said they’re working more but getting paid for the extra hours.
Many lamented that working harder is just the norm now if you want to stay employed.
“What's one to do when employment opportunities are horrible. It beats unemployment. Companies are horrible nowadays. Greed is their god,” one reader wrote.
Millions of Americans would like the opportunity to work at all these days, but figuring out how to get in the door can be harder than ever.
Another Life Inc. post this week noted that even among the nation’s top companies, applying for a job can be a hassle. A study consulting firm CareerXRoads found that many of those ubiquitous online job tools ask irrelevant questions, are time-consuming and hard to navigate and give the applicant little sense of whether a resume was seen or ignored.
Many readers complained about overly intrusive questions, counterintuitive processes and other hazards of trying to apply for a job in the 21st century. Even those who had some sympathy for the human resource department admitted it can be frustrating.
“There are also tons of people applying for each opening. I bet it’s hard for hiring managers/HR to keep up. But they are trying to weed out people, and it would be nice if they at least let you know when they receive your app or if the position is already filled. That waiting limbo sucks.”
On a lighter note, this week we also asked readers to start voting for the winner of our wackiest road signs contest. If you’re looking for a break from your job, or applying for your next one, check out the signs and vote for your favorite. The winner will be announced Sept. 10.