There seems to be certain economic factors you can’t openly discuss without significant retribution. For example, there’s a manufacturing plant in my town. It has entry level jobs and technical jobs. The technical jobs I’m referring to only require natural aptitude and on-the-job training. The typical course is for a person to be hired in at an entry level/low-skilled job and to progress to a technical position as it becomes available. One such position is referred to as, Fixer 2nd Class. This job requires you to take a mechanical aptitude test and to complete an on-the-job training course. I would guess that, even though it’s available to all employees, 99% of those that apply are male. However, the human resources department doesn’t seem to take this into account. They seem to simply hire people as needed, rather than considering the long-term. This company is now in a quandry.
As you know, the more candidates a business has to choose from, the better off that business will be. Used to, it’d typically have 6-10 Fixer candidates to choose from. However, now almost all the entry-level positions are filled with voluntarily, upwardly immobile females. The company likes to have an idea about a Fixer candidate’s work ethic and aptitude by observing their work at entry-level positions. The like to be able to choose from among as many current employees as possible. But they’re now in the unenviable position of having to fill the Fixer position with brand new hires. It’s a specialty position and a good resume rarely equates to the accurate information they can glean from those already employed. This has been proven time and again in the last couple of years.
How can one address the issue of females and it’s cost in the manufacturing business? Whether my thesis is correct or not, can it be addressed in today’s environment? I know there are various venues more conducive to this type of discussion, but the president of this company is female. Her relatives are in leading positions and are mostly male. They’re looking for answers to this problem. Remember, I’m not asking whether you agree that in the above scenario women are a liability, I’m asking you about the discussion of such issues in a constructive manner and in an effective venue, e.g., board meetings, emails, informal meetings, anonymous letters(?) etc.