About thirty years ago, I worked for a summer as an elevator operator and doorman, subbing for people who ordinarily did those jobs so they could take their vacations. I often worked the night shift, and I got a lot of reading done. And I wondered why on earth it was worth it to pay me as much as I was paid (a very handsome sum, thank you union negotiators).

By the end of the summer, I knew the answer. Nominally a door opener and button pusher, I was in fact nothing of the sort. I was a comforter, a security blanket, a helper. This was Chicago, and at 11:00 at night, an otherwise unoccupied elevator might seem a bit unfriendly to a single woman. A dad trying to get a baby and stroller and dog through two locked doors, whether to go in or out, undoubtedly appreciated the help. Being able to leave a package to be collected by a friend, knowing that it was in safe hands provided relief and made life easier. Hailing a cab for what looked (then) like the oldest couple in the universe as they dealt with their walkers and helping them into is and stuffing their folded equipment into the trunk turned us for a few moments into grandparents and a helpful grandson.

Yes, there were long patches of waiting, which I had no trouble filling with thousands of pages of what can't quite be called literature (Saul Bellow, Joseph Heller, Douglas Wallop, Peter De Vries) but when called upon to do the tasks for which I was paid, I did them cheerfully and without resentment. Certainly this is not the sort of work that will result in a place in the history books, but like so many other tasks of the sort-- garbage removal, street light maintenance, bridge inspection, and hundreds more-- it improves the quality of life. It's like art-- you don't need art to live, but it's very pleasant to have around.

I have heard about the japanese "social jobs", or whatever you may call them. You are exactly right about the (limited) benefit these jobs provide. I have lived in three countries (Germany, France, US) and seen many more travelling; I can tell you that the US has way more social/comfort jobs than there are in Western Europe.... it's often bare bones staffing there. Go into a larger German store (not a small family owned), and try to find a salesperson. Go into a German hospital at night and count how many people you find working there (you will almost never find security personel, phlebotomists, transport people, housekeeping, ward secretaries ... all is run by nurses, a few nursing aides and doctors). In the US, you have greeters (not only at walmart), doormen, security guards etc. I think this is a good thing as long as it is not excessive and the additional people are friendly. Certainly better than having them sit at home ... although there might be more important stuff they could be doing.

Yeah I don't think there's any "value" judgement to be had here. That is, is the Japanese model of having lots of service personnel hanging around doing things by hand "better" or "worse" than ours? I think, clearly, neither. Society will pay for what it values, and if that's personal service, that's fine. I don't think it necessarily implies that things are more or less "efficient."

Thanks for that insight, Duckworkemike. I suppose it is a quality of life issue. Here in the US we sped countless millions on pet dogs that aren't required to guard sheep, retrieve game, watch the door, or fill the dinner plate. Not all decisions are for economic efficiencies.

traugott:

... I can tell you that the US has way more social/comfort jobs than there are in Western Europe.... In the US, you have greeters (not only at walmart), doormen, security guards etc. I think this is a good thing as long as it is not excessive and the additional people are friendly. Certainly better than having them sit at home ... although there might be more important stuff they could be doing.

I think the greeters are Walmart are to distinguish between people bringing in merchandise to return from those intending to _pretend_ to return merchandise (who would try to sell Walmart their own merchandise which had never been bought in the first place). Doormen, security guards -- all of this is to try to deter crime. America simply has a much higher percentage of people who would rob and steal if they could get away with it (though the difference between the U.S. and Europe is narrowing), just as we have a much higher percentage of people willing to murder (though much of the difference vanishes when you correlate by cultural background).

As for Japan, it would be interesting to further investigate the hiring of unnecessary workers. Do government benefits indeed make it feasible for employers of professionals to also hire extremely low-paid workers? (In the U.S., an employer that provides benefits would try to avoid this.) Could these be a kind of apprenticeship that gives employers a chance to verify a person's reliability and sociability before promoting them to real jobs? (This could be very important in an environment where firing people is a bigger deal.)

Many years ago when I was stationed in Germany, I recieved word that both of my grandfathers we not expected to live much longer. Sadly to say; I wasn't able to make it home before my grandfather on my fathers side passed however I was able to make it home before my grandfather on my mothers side did.

He chose to die at home so that is where I went to visit him at.

As I sat there in my dress greens; he and I were looking out at my two cousins who were outside in the blowing cold and snow trying to get an old pickup running.

I remember the words my grandfather said to me till this very day. He said " Butch, I never thought I would see the day that I couldn't get out and do what those two kids are doing ".

At that very second my grandfather taught me the most important thing I would ever learn in my life. He taught me that no matter what the job is that you are doing; whether it's digging a ditch, cleaning out a septic tank, scrubbing an oven or the worse possible job in the world, you should smile and do the best you can do because someday you may be sitting in a wheel chair wishing you could do that job just one more time.

I really wasn't sure what to say to to my grandfather so I replied with " Don't worry grandpa, you'll be tinkering again someday " and I'm pretty sure he is.

I know for a fact that I've never been properly compensated for the loyalty and dedication I've given some of my employers but thats just the way things are.

fsilber, crime is probably a large part of the difference.

Another one might be that hiring in Germany/western Europe is probably more difficult, with regards to more mandatory benefits, harder firing ... but still, I often noted a bare bones efficiency especially in Germany, where people are often doing tasks that are not really in the job description, and take more responsibilities .... could be wrong about that.

to "don't_jones_for _nothing: This is possibly the best post I've read anywhere. Thanks

Seconded..

You're very welcome.

I don't jones for nothing because I have everything, I just learned a long time ago that you're better off going without some things rather than want your whole life for them.