#teachers #PoliceOfficers #nurses #NobleProfessions
Police officers, nurses, teachers and other noble professions are facing chronic staff shortages in many locations.
Some are resorting to going on strike. In fact, a strike was recently averted among railroads and its workers, which would have devastated the economy.
These jobs are the go-to professions for those seeking security – or, at least it used to be that way.
Now, they are having trouble filling these jobs.
There are many factors here. Among them: relatively low pay with relatively high responsibility; unnecessary scrutiny – some might say abuse – from politicians and others; a general labor shortage, meaning workers are able to find better security in other professions.
Often, those in these jobs are asked to do more with less. But when they are asked to do more than one person’s job because of staff shortages, that can be the last straw for many.
The onus is on the employers to make working in these situations more palatable. Remember, no one who takes these jobs expects to get rich. They do these jobs for security, and other, non-financial reasons.
A certain amount of dedication is expected of these professionals. But, they are also keenly aware of the limits to that dedication.
In the case of the rail workers, the dispute largely centered on time off – when they could take it, whether they will get paid etc. Reports said their time off for illness, medical appointments etc. had been restricted. When you have hard-to-get appointments that are necessary, restrictions can wreak havoc with one’s health and well-being.
The lessons here are numerous, and relatively easy to understand. They are much harder to put into practice when there are not enough people wanting to do the jobs.
The first lesson is to treat professionals with the respect they deserve. Certainly, some will abuse that respect, but the vast majority do not.
Secondly, they need to be paid at a level that does not insult the education, knowledge and sacrifice they bring to their jobs. They may not expect to get rich, but they should be able to have a decent life for what they give to a community.
Teachers certainly want parental, administrative and Board of Education involvement in the schools, but they don’t want to be micromanaged for reasons that have no academic merit.
Police officers want all the tools that make their life-risking job as safe as possible.
Nurses want to feel safe in their work environment, and have the necessary equipment to treat patients.
Certainly, not everyone wants to be, or should be, a police officer, nurse, teacher or any other professional.
But there are many who do, and should. But unless they are treated properly, and get the proper support, they will stay away.
As every employer in every industry and profession faces shortages of labor, the security that may have lured people into teaching, nursing and police work is increasingly available in other less risky, perhaps more lucrative jobs.
Regardless of the type of work one does, he or she needs to feel appreciated. When he or she no longer feels appreciated, he or she will look at other options.
Peter