Okay, time for a deep breath.
Let's clear the air a little.
First, there are all kinds of people who decide at some point to become HP techs. Some are uneducated, but hard workers. Some are ambitious. some are content with what they have. Some are young and impressionable. Some are old and set in their ways.
Second, to arrive at the answer, one must ask the question. So, if you are not happy with the quality of work coming from your fellow techs, ask yourself what you can do to get better than what you are getting.
Third, (this one is going to make some people unhappy) there ARE some lazy, stupid, stubborn, untrained, untrainable, and totally useless HP techs out there. If you are reading this, you may or may not be one of them.
If you are a house tech, and the roadies are not performing to the level you need them to, you need to get that info to your management. Let them know. They will in turn provide the necessary feedback to the vendor company who supplied these unsatisfactory people. They will do what they have to do, or they will lose business.
If you are a roadie, and your co-workers are letting you down, you do your work the best way you can. You put out your best effort, and forget about what everyone else is doing. If you can't take that (because you don't have to) then quit and do something else. Lots of us have done that. Lots of us got disgusted with the fact that we are working while someone else is slacking for the same pay. We just left. You can to.
Having "paid your dues" in this business counts for nothing unless you are going to keep up your end.
The fact that you may have been a hard-working, super smart, master of the craft at one point in time does not give you the right to drag your ass now. If you are earning the same pay, you need to be doing the same work at the same level of competency as everyone else - regardless of what you used to do. Your outstanding performance of the past has earned you the right to come out and take on the job of the present. But, today's paycheck is for today's work - not a reward for yesterday's work. You already got paid for that. What are you going to do today?
Leaders need to take the lead. Set the example for the newer techs that competent, motivated, energetic techs are their role models -NOT the break-room commandos. This is not a hard job. It is not hard to get good at it.
If you can cover the job, then cover the job. If you can't, then learn how to do it. If you are physically unable to do the work, then don't burden your crew by leaving it all for them. Find a job that you can do and leave the one that you can't for someone else. Everyone is asked at the time of assignment if they are physically able to do the work. If you said yes to that question, then don't show up with a bunch of excuses. The job requires the ability to climb ladders, enter confined spaces, work in high heat areas, wear respirators and plastic suits. You need to be able to do those things. If you can't, you are a burden to those who can. Get off their crew and get on a job you can actually get done without depending on everyone else to do all the hard part.
Likewise, if you are weak in math, learn the math. If you don't understand the instruments, or the systems, or the regulations; you are not a senior tech. PERIOD. Learn that stuff or stop calling yourself qualified.
If your motto is "never sweat on their time, never s**t on your time" CHECK YOURSELF!!!! If you know someone like that, do not emulate him. Don't let the new techs coming in model themselves after that attitude. Teach one thing to someone every single day that you are at work - no matter who you are. LEARN at least one new thing every single day you are at work - regardless of how long you have been doing the job.
If you are showing up and bringing the best you have to give every day, don't get offended by what others are saying - because it doesn't apply to you. If these comments are making you angry, understand that it is frustrating for some people to work with the incomptent, the lazy, the lame, and the untrained for the same poor pay and bad treatment that they are getting. Maybe you just got used to it, but not everyone can. If you are getting injured and sick from the job (like blisters on your feet from too much walking) you really ought to wonder why nobody was willing to help you out and keep that from happening. This job shouldn't require anyone to get bruised, blistered, sick, or even sweaty a lot of the time. If you are getting beat up, and you are soaked every day - and everyone else isn't - speak up and get them off their asses to help out. Don't insult them; teach them.
There is no reason for anyone to get offensive or defensive here. RadBastard is totally right. If the plant, the coworkers, and the pay all suck, then why did you go there? If you go again, you have only yourself to blame.
