SAME WORK SAME PAY

[CSchultz]

FIRST!! I am new here, I love this forum, I am hear to learn, share views and debate.
Man am I gonna get nailed for this one!! http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Here is what I have to say. Women have always demanded equal rights, "Same job Same pay" etc. O.K fair enough.
I work in a bank. Office environment. I have been here 6 years as a network administrator. I'm not an officer, nor am I management. But I do have senority over many of the female employees making far more than I do. So here is my beef. Who gets called to change the florescent light bulbs when they burn out? (guess) Even the ones in a higher income, female occupied, less tenior office. Who has to go get a reem of paper when a lady runs out?
I open the door for a lady, no complaints, it is how I was raised, some women are OFFENDED by that!!! http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif I just don't get it. But some of the same women, offended by my shivalry, will not go up on a ladder and change their own light buld, or walk across the street and get a box of paper for themselves. I am expected to do it because of my gender. So there...I said it...I feel better....what do you all think? http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Terri]

Hey! I'll make the coffee and if you change the light bulb I might even bring you a http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

Welcome to the forum! Stop by the Precinct thread and get acquainted. http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[efildrah]

Hi CSchultz, glad to have you here.

What I think about your post is this, you sound like a gentleman, which is a rare thing in some places. Getting paper for others who need it, changing light bulbs for those who can't or don't feel comfortable doing it. And you even open doors for the ladies, I thought I was the only one in still doing that.

About the equal pay for equal work thing, that only works when every one is exactly the same - I don't think I would like that kind of world.

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif

[CSchultz]

I love the replies so far...One of the gals in the bank even has a plate of cookies for me when she needs a favor. (Coffee works too!) I just get a little frustrated when I get the "I'll get my own door "THANK YOU" attitude. but don't get a cookie when I change a lightbulb,
All I'm saying is I WANT MY COOKIE!! * http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
P.S. Everyone exactly the same!!http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Why get out of bed?
Ichhh!

[righton]

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
CS - Welcome to the forum.
To those who say "I'll get my own door", I'd reply to them next time to get their own paper and change their own bulbs. This is what I'd call selective equality.
Next time you get such a request, I'd recommend you contact the janitor or the "gofer".
I love having doors opened, chairs positioned, etc. Makes me feel special. However, changing bulbs is not in my job description - can't stand heights.

L & L

[Froufrou]

Schultzie - Welcome, thanks for posting! I love this topic. It really has more to do with courtesy than anything, and women should be just as capable of this as men! I need to tell you, I have been given the eye-darts for opening a door for a man at the post office! And he could barely see over the boxes he was carrying, mind you; what was I supposed to do, let him drop it all and possibly hurt himself?

I will gladly reward your courtesy with COOKIES, anytime, anywhere - are you a chocolate chip man, or oatmeal? http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[McMahon]

If it can help you, the front desk/switchboard person in our company is a woman. She reports to HR.

It may be the same at the bank where you work. A person like this (frontdesk/switchboard) may be in the best position to inform the hierarchy that you are a gentleman. Good deeds sometimes get noticed! Keep the good works!

[jackbenimble]

Hi,

My wife also works in a bank. After 25 years there she has worked her way from teller to VP and Commericial Loan Officer. I am pretty proud of her as she has done very well with only a highschool education.

She will tell you that in her bank system that equal pay for equal work is not even close to a reality. Women in identical jobs as men with the same responsibilities and same years of service are paid 5 to 15% less. There is a pay range for each employee grade. Women find themselves in the bottom or the middle and men find themselves in the middle or the top. For years, it was openly justified because men needed to support families while women were either single or a second income. Now, while the differential persists, it is not officially sanctioned. A certain way to get the bank CEO to go apoleptic is to mention it. He will not even tolerate the discussion.

I am not sure about changing light bulbs and who changes them at her bank. But I do attend a lot of the bank's social functions. Almost universally it is the women that are organizing the bank's Christmas party and planning and shopping for door prizes and putting together the name tags and manning (irony intended) the greeting tables where the name tags get handed out. My wife frequently gets delegated to attend small honary functions (after hours) where the bank is recognized by charities for supporting this or that civic cause. All of this extra work comes with no extra pay.

I tend to think that things like light bulb changing gets balanced out by other areas where females tend to have the necessary and superior abilities or skills.

Regards,
Jack

[CSchultz]

Good point Jack,
Heck, for all I know, I might even get on someone elses nurves once in awhile. http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif If there is any truth to the universe, it is balance, one way or another.
Regarding your wife, I think she is well deserving of your pride. As a GED guy, I know only too well the barriers she must have overcome to get where she is. It's alot harder when you dont have that diploma hanging on the wall.

Hey Froufrou! Oatmeal....Love them oatmeal cookies http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[papajaxxx]

C Shultz:

My wife started out in a bank as a drive-in bank teller in 1965.

She became a vice president, with a large salary, with her own office on the 50th floor of a 72 story building. She had a large office, with couch and furniture, and a beautiful view of the Dallas skyline.

In 1995, she lost her job. She went to work for the same bank as a drive-in teller for $11 per hour. This was when she was the most happiest.

I guess, what I am trying to say is:

1. Life is not where you are now, but where you will be.
2. To those who are given more, more is expected.
3. Don't judge life at any point along the road because, some days it's feathers, some days chicken.
4. Don't try to make sense out of life, it's impossible.
5. There are many questions, but few answers.
6. Life is a feeling, an attitude, a getting out of, of what you put into it.
7. It's in giving, that we receive.
8. Etc., Etc.

In other words, life is so complicated that no one human is able to know all the answers. You will be lucky if you just figure out a few.

[Froufrou]

Hello Papa - I have missed you! You have given us some wonderful insights here. I would like to add, as quoted from Mark Knofler:

"Some days you're the windshield, some days you're the bug"

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[ChristianBuckeyeMan]

A few years ago I worked in a bank. Not a branch but a huge facility. Fortunately there was an official light bulb changer although we had to fend for ourselves when it came to paper. But it was never far from the copiers and printer.

My boss (a woman) had a very progressive attitude but did not hesitate to ask me to lift or carry something too heavy for her. *But our relationship was in stark contrast to the one between her and her boss who was rather chauvanistic. He definitaly treated her differently than he did his male subordinates. She often felt he was not allowing her to head projects because she was a woman (She certainly had the technical qualifications.) How she was paid compared to her peers is unknown to me, that wasn't a topic we could discuss.