Food Processing - June 2009
COV E R S TO RY
1
5,000 or more people; another 15 percent had at least 1,000 coworkers. <\$15,000 1.2% And they represent all \$16,000-25,000 1.4% segments of the food indus\$26,000-35,000 3.0% try. Only the meat, poultry & seafood (18 percent) and \$36,000-50,000 11% generic “further-processed \$51,000-65,000 16% & packaged foods” (16 \$66,000-85,000 21% percent) categories were in double gures. \$86,000-100,000 15% Sixty-nine percent su\$101,000-200,000 26% pervise at least somebody. \$201,000-300,000 3.8% Across all the job categories, salaries cre\$301,000-400,000 0.7% ate a pretty typical bell \$401,000-500,000 0.4% curve. ey start angling >\$500,000 0.3% upward at the \$36,00050,000 category, dip 2 3 4 slightly at \$86,000-100,000 then peak, in number of respondents, at \$101,000-200,000 (26 percent of all responses). Salaries drop o precipitously then, with only 65 people making more than \$200K … although four of you make somewhere above \$501,000. It’s when you start cross-tabulating one question, one demographic, with another that interesting facts emerge. • The most dissatisfied group was the 50-64-year-olds: 7.5 percent were very dissatisfied and 14 percent were somewhat dissatisfied, far more than any other age group. • Not surprising: Job satisfaction increased with pay. • Men (\$108,713) out-earn women (\$80,598). • Salary increases with age, even past age 65. Those under 29 average \$55,277; 30-39-year-olds make \$87,240; 40-49-year-olds earn \$101,991; 50-64-year-olds average \$108,020; and the 65plus crowd makes \$113,861 (although that one old guy earning over \$501,000 may throw o this measure).
2
But how do you feel?
3
HOW MANY, HOW MUCH?
Hours on the job are up. Fifty-five percent of you work 41-50 hours a week, and 22 percent put in 51-60. Another 5.4 percent log more than 61 hours a week. But only 10 percent of our respondents are paid overtime. So it’s pretty apparent job stress is up … although we don’t ask that question directly or quantitatively. We did ask how has the economy a ected your company. We expected the negative stories, and there were many: • “The banks have frozen credit, which has literally halted customer purchase orders,” wrote one. “[It’s] like taking a Marine’s weapon away and sending him into battle.” • “Employees furloughed; spending freeze; no raises.” • “Our company is closing one of its plants to consolidate overhead. It makes economic sense to stay competitive, but many of us are losing our jobs unless we relocate to the other side of the country.” • “They’ve asked our group to take a 10 percent salary cut.” • “A lot of the benefits have been reduced. No more 401(k) match. Raises have been suspended inde nitely. Cost of living adjustments also been suspended indefinitely. No hiring can take place, even 5 6 when a line is only 43 percent staffed. We can barely run the plant because of cost cutting initiatives. We don’t have a water jug anymore or plastic cutlery in the breakroom.” • “Salaries on hold. Crash and burn projects & business objectives. Much tighter scrutiny.” • “There’s more work for the consultants.” But about every 10th one was a positive comment: • “More people staying at home and eating, so our business is up signi cantly.” • “Increased demand for peanut butter, so our sales are up.” • “Selling more candy than we can make, so adding shifts.” Although the quotes are fascinating, the numbers don’t paint so gloomy a picture. We asked these questions consecutively: “If you’re dissatis ed, list your speci c gripes”; and “If satis ed, list your speci c praises.” In all, 201 answered the dissatis ed question, 451 the satisfied one.
WHAT’S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION YOU COMPLETED? 5
Elementary 7
\$152,333* \$136,061
6
school 0.2%
Doctorate
\$130,538
5.1%
High School/GED
\$62,993
HOW MANY HOUR PER WEEK DO YOU WORK? <35 8 61+ 3.0%
5.4% 51-60
7.6%
MBA
11% 11%
14% 8.6% 44%
Junior College/ Vocational
\$66,399
15% 22%
36-40
Master’s (not MBA)
\$114,784
College
\$95,481
55%
Post-graduate/ certification
\$95,105
41-50
*There were only three respondents and one reported a salary of \$301,000-350,000
18 •
FOOD PROCESSING JUNE 2009
FOODPROCESSING.COM
<1>
<2>
<3>
<4>
<5>
<6>
<7>
<8>
<9>
<10>
<11>
<12>
<13>
<14>
<15>
<16>
<17>
<18>
<19>
<20>
<21>
<22>
<23>
<24>
<25>
<26>
<27>
<28>
<29>
<30>
<31>
<32>
<33>
<34>
<35>
<36>
<37>
<38>
<39>
<40>
<41>
<42>
<43>
<44>
<45>
<46>
<47>
<48>
<49>
<50>
<51>
<52>