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guidance on preparing workplaces
HUMAN RESOURCE ASSOCIATES

HR Consultants to Management
HR NOTEBOOK

For Your Most Important Resource

OUR AMERICAN WORKFORCE

For over 100 years The United States has been the During the Great Depression of the 1930s, ‘being
most productive nation in the world. Although we on- line’ was how you were picked for the few jobs
were well along our way during the late 1800s, it that were available and how you lined up on the
was the mass production of American industry bread lines if you were not.
during World War I, that launched us fully onto the
world stage as the hardest working, most productive Lack of work is the number one cause of poverty.
nation in history. That work ethic is the essence of That time without work for 10 years, is still
the American culture. considered the longest period of most misery in the
th
20 century for us. This was the time of the highest
The people who immigrated here, the people who unemployment for the longest period of time in the
populated this country, did not come here looking country, before or since. The number of marriages
for a leisure life, they came here wanting the plummeted, the birth rates dropped to the lowest in
opportunity to work. They brought their inherent our history before or since. The average body weight
work ethic with them and pounded that into the went lower, the average life span was shortened. The
foundation of the American culture. number of homeless people grew to millions.
That culture, that work ethic made America the most Most of those on the road then were not called
productive country in the world. That productivity is homeless, they were ‘Hoboes’. The hoboes were
why we have the highest standard of living for the almost all men and most of them still held tight to
largest number of people, ever. It has made America that culture of work ethic. Their standard approach
the most desired destination in the world. Everyone was to ask if they could clean your yard, shovel in
wants to come here. your coal, fix your fence or do your chores for a

24 Alabama Propane Gas Association | September / October 2020