But the Bell Rang: Hourly Pay Vs. Salary

“But the bell rang!”, Ralphie told his friend whose tongue was stuck to frozen pole in A Christmas Story.  He then shrugged his shoulders and hurried off to class.

This seems to be the mentality of hourly workers.  Hourly wages have made a slave to the clock, quality and a job well-done have taken a backdoor to “It is 4 o’clock, where is my paycheck?”  I don’t know how many times I have been behind a commercial truck driver who is obviously paid hourly to drive as he is usually creeping along at 10 miles per hour under the posted speed limit.

Hourly workers usually “milk” the time on the clock like cow and make a simple 5 minute project last at least an hour, half the day if no one is supervising.  I don’t know how many times I had seen a bagger in a grocery store go out the get carts and they can be found anywhere but in the lot smoking or sitting in the car their parents bought for them.  They, too,  are paid hourly and want to make sure they do the least amount of work they possibly can.  Unions workers on an assembly line are taught to work at the same slow pace, anyone who works at a “normal” pace is quicky corrected by fellow workers.  Usually, this is in the form of hazing or bullying.  This work ethic, or lack thereof, seems to be a product of the public school classroom where the slowest student sets the pace for his or her peers, the class clown is a good example. 

It is ironic that most drop-outs quit school because they are bored.  Instead of catering to the lowest common denomenator, perhaps the bar should be raised and more should be expected from students. 

Perhaps this trend begins at home where no parents can be found as both parents are working or divorced.  Most of the time a custodial parent wants to be a child’s friend because it is easier than being their authority figure.  Sarcastically, there is nothing worse than a child hating a parent. 

In order the insure a child’s love bribery usually works.  Just give the child what he or she wants and he or she will remain quiet.  Buying little Suzy the doll she does not deserve simply because she was good creates a pattern.  Rewards for expected behavior is like giving an unearned raise for mediocre work. 

Perhaps the alternative to an hourly wage is a per task wage.  Police officers are given a quota to keep them in line.  Teachers are expected to make sure their pupils keep up a certain average.  Some sales people are paid commision.  This is all to make sure workers work during their scheduled time.  It measures their quality of work and guarantees a little pride taken from workers.  They earn their money and are not paid simply for showing up and taking the place of someone who really needs a job and wants to work.