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Why Do Low-Paying Jobs Have Such Elaborate Hiring Processes?

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A reader writes in: “I have read your entries on wacky hiring practices, and it is good stuff. But one thing I would like to know is why companies put you through all these hoops just to offer a low-wage job?” It is a fair question. We have somehow reached a place where a company can offer $45,000 a year (just over half the current median household income) while requiring multiple interviews, assessments, personality tests, panel interviews, presentations, references, and perhaps an audience with the regional vice president. The hiring process says elite opportunity . The paycheck says we hope you already have a roommate . So why does this happen? Employer Self-Importance Companies frequently confuse the prestige of the organization with the value of the position. A large, successful, or well-known company may genuinely be a desirable place to work. But that does not automatically make every job within that organization desirable. Nevertheless, the hiring process often reflects the...
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Rainy Day

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My friend, "Lefty," has discontinued his blog. This is sad. Rainy Day. Unless I am mistaken, he had that blog for 20+ years. 
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False Accusations Deserve Consequences

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  No. They should go to PRISON.  And, in case you do not understand the difference: Jails generally hold people awaiting trial or serving misdemeanor and other short sentences, while prisons generally hold people convicted of felonies and serving longer sentences. If the accusation would expose an innocent man to felony prosecution, then knowingly making a false accusation should itself be treated as a felony.
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The Dukes of Scam

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A few days ago, your author was minding his own business when the phone rang. Since I have a side business where phone calls from unfamiliar numbers occasionally turn into actual customers, I answered it. The caller launched into a fascinating story about how I had "signed for a jury summons and failed to appear." He claimed to be with my local Sheriff's Department. Having heard of this scam before, I started asking questions. "What's your name?" He gave me one. "Badge number?" He gave me one. Then I asked, "Which county Sheriff's Department is this? I forgot." Without hesitation, he replied: "Hazzard County." Yes. Really. For those who grew up watching The Dukes of Hazzard , you'll appreciate the irony. Hazzard County was a fictional county in Georgia. It doesn't exist. (There is a town named Hazard, Kentucky, but it's located in Perry County. There is no Hazzard County there, either.) I told the ca...
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New Laws, New Opinions

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The Tennessee Legislature most often creates laws that go into effect on July 1. This is procedural, so there is time to have both the house and the senate vote, then the governor sign, then the governor signs, and the legislature has time to override the veto, if the governor vetoes the bill, and still have the law go into effect as soon as possible after all these things.  This post on social media highlights some of the laws that took effect earlier this week (Wednesday). Of course, my thoughts on the journalist's opinion or the law will be below each one in italics.  This stack of papers? All of the new laws (more than 200!) that went into effect today in Tennessee. Here are some highlights: A new immigration-related law will force cooperation between some local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities. Good Getting a Tennessee driver's license will eventually require passing the written test in English. For the next three years, drivers can still take...
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The Most Overlooked Instrument in Your Car

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Most drivers know what the speedometer does. Most drivers know what the fuel gauge does. But one of the most useful instruments in your vehicle is often ignored entirely: the trip odometer. For those unfamiliar, the trip odometer is the mileage counter that can be reset to zero at any time. Unlike the main odometer, which records the vehicle's total lifetime mileage, the trip odometer allows you to measure mileage over a specific distance or period of time. Many vehicles have two trip odometers, in addition to the primary odometer.  While simple, it has a surprising number of practical uses. Measuring Distance The most obvious use is measuring the distance between two points. Want to know how far it is from your house to work? Reset the trip odometer when you leave and check it when you arrive. Want to know how far it is from your home to church, the grocery store, the gun range, or your favorite restaurant? The trip odometer will tell you. Calculating Fuel Economy Long before vehi...
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Your Fuel Gauge Has a Secret

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Most drivers know that the fuel gauge tells you how much fuel is in the tank. What many drivers don't realize is that the fuel gauge usually tells you something else as well: Which side of the vehicle the fuel door is on. Take a look at your fuel gauge the next time you're in your vehicle. Chances are you'll see a small triangle or arrow near the fuel pump icon. That arrow points to the side of the vehicle where the fuel filler door is located. If the arrow points left, the fuel door is on the left side of the vehicle. If the arrow points right, like the one pictured above, the fuel door is on the right side of the vehicle. Simple. This feature is particularly useful when driving a rental car, a company vehicle, a recently purchased vehicle, or simply a vehicle you don't drive very often. I first learned this while working in the car rental industry. It saved time, prevented guesswork, and eliminated the awkward moment of pulling up to a fuel pump only to discover the f...
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