So, they've put me behind this computer at work.
I work in a warehouse for lighting products four hours a day while trying to find a job for which I've actually trained for (ah, the joys of under-employment in Australia). And in the logistics universe, if you wear glasses, look semi-intelligent and actually don't mind working half the time you're there, they put you behind the computer.
This is where I noticed this remarkable behavioural phenomenon. See, I've been there five minutes trying to figure out the counter-intuitive range of commands to navigate their invoicing and stock-tracking software, when all these burly, sweaty, 45-year-old types start asking me questions. In a broad brogue with words you don't hear very often (they do speak a different language in the outer suburbs from that we inner-city wimps use.)
'Hey mate, this amway (??) in frem Yallumabra goan off to Launceston next arvo', where d'ya want me to put it?' Or ' Oi mate, there's this shiela on the horn after the MX4081K thingie for the Elysian FR324D, wheredja put it?'
(I don't know, I just work here....) So I give these blokes blank stares, mumble under my breath and focus on the monitor. And they lumber off to the other computer dude and present him with the same questions; he gives them prescise answers in a sharp, staccatto while typing 75,000 words a minute.
Then at about an hour later, they return. One cosies up and goes, "Look mate, if there's some cuttin up of papers ya' need done, or ya' need me to getcha something, just give me a holler'. And another one, 'Yeah mate, I pick over there in L8, anythin' u need from those parts, yew look for me.' Then the third, 'I'm goan off on me smoko mate, yew wanna coffee or somethin?'
Gee, that's awfully nice of them. Almost respectful even. Then they stand around shifting about nervously as I input some data into the invoicing package. 'Yer awfully quick on that compooter, maybe yew ken show me how to find the stock of the floor sometime." Ah, that unmistakable smell - technophobia.
It's sad but its true - in a roomful of middle-aged, blue-collar types, the monkey behind the computer is the Boss.
No wonder the government is trying to get all these men and women in this age-group to retrain and upskill. Most of these blokes - straight-up, fair-dinkum fellas - have been doing this all their lives, and had a grip on things until some middle-management type computerised the processes to up productivity. And when things slow down, and there's not that much picking on the floor to be done, many of these same blokes will be out of a job.
So when I'm free, I show some of them a couple of processes to make their work easier. It takes a while, but most of them get a hang of it and are looking up their own picklists soon enough.
In the meantime, 'Yeah, I'll have that coffee, thanks. And make it quick, I'm busy here....'
why wy?
Tuesday, March 29, 2005 at 7:19 AM
wyjunkie said...
hmm. i've looked at the template and it seems the same fir both of us. i can't see why it would be small for you and normal for me...
help anyone?
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tygertyger said...
maybe that monkey behind the comp that spoke with sharp stacatto tones while typing at 75000 words a min can help... Hey puck, u're the only other person i know that says "feck"! Cool :)
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