Paula Bennett – Minister for Lots of Stuff
Paula Bennett is definitely a kiwi chick, with a strong accent. She came from humble beginnings – leaving school at 17, pregnant, and with no qualifications. Paula found her way from Taupo to Auckland, she was in and out of trouble and seemingly going no where until she started working at a rest home and finally got to mingle with some strong women who encouraged (or pushed) her to go to University.
Now Paula leads some of the most important and controversial Ministries in New Zealand’s Government. The Hon Paula Bennett is Minster for Social Development and Employment, Minister for Disability Issues, and Minister of Youth Affairs. Despite being a National Party member she seems personable and has come a long way through her own hard work, all while raising her daughter single handedly. Paula also has a killer sense of style, all of her pictures demonstrate an ability to dress well for her age and shape. The shoes she wore tonight had me pretty distracted.
One thing that really stuck out in Paula’s talk was the differences in our attitudes towards workers, hardly surprising as I’m left wing and she’s a right wing politician (note for the Americans – New Zealand’s right wing is probably equivalent to your left, there isn’t a huge amount of difference between our two main parties). Paula referred to the current economic recession as something that is likely to change the way people look at work as a whole. That it is going to make people more protective of their jobs, and that finally people will start working hard instead of thinking they can get everything handed to them on a plate. She referred to a young client she had while working as a recruitment agent. He had just finished university with top marks and she thought he sounded great and asked him to come in for an interview. His response was something along the lines of I don’t do interviews. She thought this was hilarious, and seemed to think that kids these days wouldn’t know hard work if it smacked them in the face.
I’m all for hard work, but you can’t expect your employees to be interested in making your business amazing if you treat them like shit. A salary is not enough anymore, people are not willing to be worker bees doing their 40 hours loyally for 40 years. If you really want great staff, you need to work with them and offer a stimulating environment. If, however you’re fine with hiring machines carry on with the I pay you so now you’re my bitch attitude.
Paula’s a Westie, but she’s still a National Party member. Actually the more I read about her and think about her, the less I like her.
6 Responses to “Paula Bennett – Minister for Lots of Stuff”
Oops – I accidentaly deleted this delightful comment from Sam:
“The author is spoiled. Having a job that you are valued at and love doing is the culmination of years of hard work, crappy jobs and lots of experience. It is something that is worked towards and earned not a right, and not an employer’s responsibility.
I think the author needs to get real and get with the program.”
My reply: Sam, if wanting to be treated like an adult makes me spoiled then pretty much every person I’ve talked to about this topic is equally as spoilt as me. I don’t expect to be the CEO when I’ve only got a few years experience, but I do expect to be talked to like an adult. And I expect the experience I do have to count for something.
Also, I’m not likely to take advice from a National Party member. You know how I can tell you’re working for them? Well I have experience in using this software and can see that your comment came from a Parliament IP address.
Generation Y is very different to Generation X and the Baby Boomers and the sooner people realise that the better. The world is changing and not one size fits all. You can’t squish us to fit your mould.
Maybe that should be my new tagline. ‘I will not be squished’.
Love the tag line!
I also thoroughly agree with you … the world *is* changing and ideally if people could relax a little on their expectations & ‘the rules’ that they have (often in their heads, which they don’t share & then if you break one you didn’t even know!!) then there may be a slim chance that we could all get along a bit better! However I understand that people are attached to their ways of thinking about the world & it’s me that needs to get flexible in how I work with them.
I am a Gen X’er and I work with Gen Y teens & I adore them! I love their attitude b/c it is sooo refreshing! I’m sure I was born a bit too early (by 10 or 15 years haha!)
Oh & I commend your efforts with the 365 – I tried and lasted about 2 months…
Sam obviously doesn’t work at the same work place as we do.
You *don’t* have to spend years working through crappy jobs and being treated like scum before you can enjoy your job. But yes, you need to do your job well to be valued (no one likes a slacker). However, being treated fairly and with decency is something that shouldn’t need to be earned.
If you do something you enjoy (it could be your first job, or your tenth), and are good at it, then your employer should value you. Otherwise, they are likely to lose a good employee and that’s their loss.
Wow you really did dislike her first. Did you see her leopard print coat in The Listener? That’s what nightmares are made of. PS. I love my job – it’s at the second place I ever got a job, and the first was a homewares store… Suck on that Sam!
OMG I hadn’t seen that photo but I went to look for it. http://www.listener.co.nz/gallerydetail.do?productId=150609NZLBENN07.JPG
Gross!
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