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24th August 2004, 11:27 AM
Don't really agree with the idea that people work as hard as they think they ought given their level of pay. People have to prove their worthiness in the field before advancing upwards to better payed and more responsible positions. Most jobs pay pretty poorly at the lowest level and archaeology is no different. It's up to the individual to prove that hey can learn at the lower level and show themselves worthy of promotion. "Pay me more and I'll work harder" - crap. People just don't.
I don't think people enter in to field archaeology with their eyes closed. They are mostly fuly aware that pay scales are poor at excavator level. In fact they are poor up to management level. Our 40-somethings at our place who run our unit are all on 21-22.5k. Compare that with average wage earners of the same age. It ain't good. You could argue that managers shouldn't try either, along with everyone in between them and the diggers.
[:o)]
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24th August 2004, 08:34 PM
B) I now suggest taking them round the portacabin and ki**ing the ... oh...hold on... that won't work.
The suggestion that cash does not work as an incentive is a sad truism .... what might work is a good exciting site... too many dull empty watching briefs or the hundreth JCB watching session can take its toll.... but if a person is a real slacker... they are basically taking money from those who would better do the job (and the keen person would be the person who moves up the career ladder (er... yes??))
So the question is.... what would motivate people to excavate archaeology as opposed to digging holes.????
BAJR
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24th August 2004, 08:36 PM
stop mucking about and sack the buggers. perhaps we could get away with layabouts 10-20years ago but not anymore.
problem is, and i was once guilty of this to an extent, people do archaeology cos they like it - and this involves leaning on shovels in the sunshine, practising flint knapping skills, dropping tools for half an hour to look at someone elses posthole/finds and, in the days before health and safety, 3 pints and a quiet smoke at lunchtime. and for this leisurely lifestyle the low pay was a fair exchange.
who here can honestly say they joined up because they wanted to do a hard days work, for weeks on end, digging a big hole?
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24th August 2004, 09:37 PM
As touched on above, the phenomenon of the slacker is not peculiar to archaeology. These creatures can be found in all walks of life and all professions.
They should be spotted by the first level of management (god, did I really use that expression??) which is part of what they're there for - in archaeology this would be the supervisor. It should not be necessary for colleagues to have to take action or grass them up, but a word with them, probably softened with humour, would usually be the best first step.
After that, if nothing happens or they're not spotted, it's down to you - you can either cover up for them or have a quiet with whoever's in charge.
There is of course the occasional workaholic lunatic that stays in the office till all hours of the night and weekends.... fine by me (been there, done that, saw the light) but I don't like the ones that start to proclaim that everyone should do it.
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25th August 2004, 08:00 PM
Interesting responses. Truly inspiring!! I went for a combination of the above and now I'm working on my own and the lazy so 'n' so is now far away on the other side of site annoying someone else (under supervision I might add). Yes, this means I have a huge hole to dig all on my lonesome, but to be honest, I'm enjoying the stress free peace and quiet. I've shifted more in the last two days alone, than in week with him who must not be named.
Success!!
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26th August 2004, 01:14 AM
Once again the combined brain power, humour, brutality and general wierdness has won the day... glad to hear you are back enjoying your big hole dippyd.... We all salute you and a beeeeg raspberry to the lazy miscrient!
BAJR
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17th September 2005, 02:42 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host
If any of these idelers are on the CVs Online board I would be grateful if information was passed on... 3 separate confirmations of this would lead to removal... or perhaps the first warning might prod action..... comments
Need to be very careful. After all one person in unit may not get on with rest... Doesn't make them a bad archaeologist.... Vigilantism is a dangerous thing.... Whatever happen to innocent until proven guilty??
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17th September 2005, 03:15 PM
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18th September 2005, 04:01 PM
Well, any decent supervisor should be able to spot the lazy people and move them to work under more direct supervision, with plenty of butt-kicking.
Having spotted them, it's hard to get rid of them as far as that particular site is concerned; however, short contracts in archaeology do have that one advantage, as long as you make the problem known further up the chain.
On motivation - anyone motivated by money wouldn't be working in archaeology in the first place. Even the consultants (like me) usually made the switch from fieldwork more for reasons of job security rather than cash. We do it because we like it. Lazy people will be lazy whatever job they are in, and however well paid they are.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
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18th September 2005, 11:42 PM
There`s nowt worse than carrying someone who could`nt give a sh8t on site. I suggest vigorous use of simple brute force- clang a shovel off the crania of said muppet- either the injury will result in instant removal or, the jolt may persuade the neurons to re-fire.
