Poles hard working or just born lazy.

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Dec 22, 11, 00:37 #1

The Polish have built up a reputation for pulling their weight in the UK, but back home it is a different story.Ever since hundreds of thousands of Poles abandoned the motherland following EU accession in 2004, the Polish diaspora has forged a reputation in the UK for being hardworking and reliable. This was largely because your average Polish plumber or builder took the revolutionary approach of turning up when he said he would, and doing whatever the work agreed within the allotted timeframe – rather than knocking a hole in the lounge wall, then disappearing for weeks to take up a more enticing offer.

But at home, Poles do not consider themselves hardworking. Some even suggest that communism has created a nation of lazy bones.When the Soviets were in charge, there was (officially, at least) no unemployment, with everybody working for the state. With little possibility of being sacked or promoted – and with many of the goods manufactured heading east to the hated Russians – there was virtually no incentive to work hard. Some say that attitude prevails today.

What is your opinion?

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Dec 22, 11, 01:01 #2

If I could earn £150 000 a year for cleaning floors or serving coffee in a foreign country, instead of working there in my current profession, then I would be straight over there.

Even if 80% went on tax and living costs, it would still leave me enough to put down a huge deposit on a house over here, after just two years of work. Sounds familiar? ;)

It's hardly surprising that Polish immigrants "work hard" and tolerate poor living conditions, if they can earn 4-5x what they earn in Poland, simply by doing minimum wage jobs over here. I've worked for over a quarter of a century, and I would not single out any particular ethnicity or nationality as being the most hard working or laziest. There are plenty of lazy Poles, and plenty of hard-working English.

blackadderThreads: 4 Posts: 403 Joined: Jun 28, 07 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 01:05 #3
Maybe they are paid better abroad and have better chances to be promoted?Personally I worked harder if I was fair paid. I don't know,maybe it's just envy of people back home,because same is said for Croat diaspora.''Oh-look at him,he was literally hungry,now he come from Austria for Christmas in brand new VW Passat...He got to be a criminal''

MEMBER ♀

Dec 22, 11, 01:11 #4

most of the poles i know work very hard, and are just trying to make better lives for themselves here. where i live is an average size seaside town, and most work is seasonal. hence most poles work hard in order to make sure they keep their jobs. am sure it may be different in the cities. i only know of one person who was completely bone idle and she is back in poland now. her boyfriend brought her over here, and she managed to get herself fired from 3 jobs in 8 months.she was too lazy and expected her polish boyfriend to support her ( he has a good job ). just a generalisation, but on the whole i think the polish do tend to work harder than the english, at least amongst my polish friends. sure many people will disagree thogh...:)

irishguy11Threads: 14 Posts: 173 Joined: Sep 3, 11 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 01:14 #5
My Polish father in law has taken up jobs outside of Poland for the last 25 years so he could provide for his family and send the kids to uni. As a bonus, he managed to build a second house in the mountains by hand, it took 4 years but what a house

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Dec 22, 11, 01:14 #6

Sidliste_Chodov:

There are plenty of lazy Poles, and plenty of hard-working English.

if your theory is true, you forgot the other way around... ;)

Wedle:

What is your opinion?

capitalism shapes people and makes them chase for the newest gadges which are available. esp. visible now around christmas.
i think there is no specific ethnicity being preferably lazy or overfleissig. thats just again playing with stereotypes imo.

pamThreads: 22 Posts: 463 Joined: Oct 11, 11 MEMBER ♀	Dec 22, 11, 01:29 #7
and why would that be? i am entitled to my opinion as much as you are to yours. please elaborate...:)

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Edited by: Midas Dec 22, 11, 01:37 #8

This was largely because your average Polish plumber or builder took the revolutionary approach of turning up when he said he would, and doing whatever the work agreed within the allotted timeframe – rather than knocking a hole in the lounge wall, then disappearing for weeks to take up a more enticing offer.

Couldn't have phrased it better.

And all that for a decent price, if I might add.

But at home, Poles do not consider themselves hardworking. Some even suggest that communism has created a nation of lazy bones.When the Soviets were in charge, there was (officially, at least) no unemployment, with everybody working for the state. With little possibility of being sacked or promoted – and with many of the goods manufactured heading east to the hated Russians – there was virtually no incentive to work hard. Some say that attitude prevails today.

What is your opinion?

I'll try to unravel this puzzle.

Last time I checked, the minimum wage in the UK hovered around 6 quid.

Polish minimum wage is officially around 1.500 zloty/monthly, which comes down to 8 or 9 zloty per hour ( 1.7 bob ) if one works a 40 hour week. And a lot of people get paid less or work illegally or other shenanigans.

A lot of Polish people in the construction industry in the UK work very hard because for the first time in their life they're seeing adequate money for their work.

Seriously, if someone offered me 1.500 zloty per month for working a construction site I'd take every chance in the world to slack off.

Sidliste_ChodovThreads: 2 Posts: 683 Joined: Jul 27, 11 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 01:50 #9
pam: i only know of one person who was completely bone idle and she is back in poland now. her boyfriend brought her over here, and she managed to get herself fired from 3 jobs in 8 months.she was too lazy and expected her polish boyfriend to support her ( he has a good job ). I think you've met my ex :D

pamThreads: 22 Posts: 463 Joined: Oct 11, 11 MEMBER ♀	Dec 22, 11, 02:01 #10
irishguy11: it took 4 years but what a house obviously a good example of a hard worker.would love to see pics of house!!

pamThreads: 22 Posts: 463 Joined: Oct 11, 11 MEMBER ♀	Dec 22, 11, 02:11 #11
Sidliste_Chodov: I think you've met my ex :D english or polish...lmao

WedleThreads: 24 Posts: 786 Joined: Sep 27, 11 ♂	Edited by: Wedle Dec 22, 11, 08:01 #12
irishguy11: send the kids to uni Uni is free in Poland. Midas: Seriously, if someone offered me 1.500 zloty per month for working a construction site I'd take every chance in the world to slack off. If you were not happy with the package,why take the job in the first place.

IronsideThreads: 59 Posts: 6,787 Joined: Feb 26, 09 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 12:07 #13
Just born lazy - are you Polish?

MagdalenaThreads: 5 Posts: 1,389 Joined: Aug 15, 07 ♀	Dec 22, 11, 12:09 #14
Yeah... I'm lazy, all right. Born and bred to loaf around. I could hardly motivate myself to type this.

MidasThreads: 2 Posts: 788 Joined: Jul 19, 10 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 12:28 #15
If you were not happy with the package,why take the job in the first place. It all boils down to options. No other options = everyone will take the package to put food on the table. It doesn't mean these people will work efficiently, because in their own minds they'll just be screwing back the employer who is screwing them. You pay peanuts, you get monkeys, nothing new here.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 13:24 #16
Some work hard and some are lazy. I do see a lot of aimless bumbling on the streets tbh.

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Edited by: Wedle Dec 22, 11, 13:29 #17

Midas:

No other options = everyone will take the package to put food on the table. It doesn't mean these people will work efficiently, because in their own minds they'll just be screwing back the employer who is screwing them.

Don't quite agree with this, I have taken low paying jobs in the past, looking for something else in the meantime, while doing the job I have worked very hard and diligently, because at the end I want a glowing reference.

Midas:

You pay peanuts, you get monkeys, nothing new here.

Nah, once a monkey always a monkey " Monkey see, Monkey do "

Magdalena:

Yeah... I'm lazy, all right. Born and bred to loaf around. I could hardly motivate myself to type this.

Blame it on your communist past.

MagdalenaThreads: 5 Posts: 1,389 Joined: Aug 15, 07 ♀	Dec 22, 11, 13:30 #18
Seanus: I do see a lot of aimless bumbling on the streets tbh. ...and you would define aimless bumbling as...? Your comment kinda cut me to the quick because I mainly work at night, and so I probably do a fair share of "aimless bumbling" during the day myself ;-p

southernThreads: 116 Posts: 10,959 Joined: May 17, 07 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 13:54 #19
Seanus: I do see a lot of aimless bumbling on the streets tbh. They just stare at Polki and enjoy their Zywiec.

IronsideThreads: 59 Posts: 6,787 Joined: Feb 26, 09 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 15:12 #20
Wedle: Blame it on your communist past. nay Poles are just born lazy ! southern: They just stare at Polki and enjoy their Zywiec. that what life is all about

Wroclaw BoyThreads: 57 Posts: 5,478 Joined: Jul 3, 09 MEMBER ♂	Dec 22, 11, 18:40 #21
Sidliste_Chodov: If I could earn £150 000 a year for cleaning floors or serving coffee in a foreign country, instead of working there in my current profession, then I would be straight over there. Thats basically it isnt it, i'd shovel shite at £40 / hour for a few years.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 22:11 #22
Why was my post swept off? It was right on topic. Anyway, some have to work hard and some just dig ;)

BarneyThreads: 16 Posts: 1,630 Joined: May 26, 08 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 22:22 #23
Wedle: Midas: You pay peanuts, you get monkeys, nothing new here. Nah, once a monkey always a monkey " Monkey see, Monkey do " Would you be employing people by any chance?

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,415 Joined: May 30, 08 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 22:43 #24
Wedle: This was largely because your average Polish plumber or builder took the revolutionary approach of turning up when he said he would, and doing whatever the work agreed within the allotted timeframe Yes, it is my work ethos. And I am a Pole.

WedleThreads: 24 Posts: 786 Joined: Sep 27, 11 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 23:15 #25
Barney: Would you be employing people by any chance? Yes, no monkeys only tigers and dolphins.

BarneyThreads: 16 Posts: 1,630 Joined: May 26, 08 ♂	Dec 22, 11, 23:38 #26
There’s no bad pay just bad workers. Great!! I look forward to this new policy being rolled out across the boardrooms of the world.

WedleThreads: 24 Posts: 786 Joined: Sep 27, 11 ♂	Dec 23, 11, 00:37 #27
Barney: There’s no bad pay just bad workers. Great!! I look forward to this new policy being rolled out across the boardrooms of the world. Democracy = choice "Take it or leave it" time to wise up, it is normal for Poles here in Poland to work two jobs, there is no social system circa 2011. The USA and UK need to put the long term unemployed to work or cut their support.

BarneyThreads: 16 Posts: 1,630 Joined: May 26, 08 ♂	Dec 23, 11, 08:32 #28
Wedle: Democracy = choice "Take it or leave it" time to wise up, Democracy is not Hobsons choice.

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Edited by: Midas Dec 26, 11, 19:32 #29

Would you be employing people by any chance?

I've given employment to quite a few people in my lifetime.

And coming from that, if you're going to pay the absolute minimum don't expect people ( in Central or Eastern Europe of all places, where it was common in the commie days to just sit around all day drinking tea while "at work" ) to work their asses off for you.

People will not apply themselves when they are getting minimum wage, period.

I have taken low paying jobs in the past, looking for something else in the meantime, while doing the job I have worked very hard and diligently, because at the end I want a glowing reference.

I'm afraid you're not quite aware how the reference system "works" in Poland.

Simply put, it is a sham. People will get glowing references on account of being their bosses current squeeze/cousin/whatever and at the same time hard working people will get no references at all because their boss simply doesn't have to write them for them.

While looking for professionals in Poland I go by word of mouth and recommendation, not any kind of references.

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Edited by: Wedle Dec 26, 11, 21:36 #30

Midas:

I'm afraid you're not quite aware how the reference system "works" in Poland.

Simply put, it is a sham. People will get glowing references on account of being their bosses current squeeze/cousin/whatever and at the same time hard working people will get no references at all because their boss simply doesn't have to write them for them.

You have taken my quote out of context, I was NOT specifically referring to working in Poland, I was focusing on the point, I would have taken any job if the need occurred to put bread on the table and worked the job well, no matter the level of salary:

1. Because I took the job, that means working it to the best of my abilities.
2. When I have left a job it has always on best terms, I have never been fired in my working life.
3. I always had a vision I would be an employer in the future, therefore I treat others the way I would like to be treated.
4. If you are going to do something, do it well, or don't bother getting involved.

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