Hill-Rom - Are you looking for work?

This blog is in no way to defame Hill-Rom, their products or employees.  They make high quality hospital beds and equipment.  If you are going through a temporary agency and may be looking for work with Hill-Rom, read this first.

An agency tested me and I "hit it out of the ballpark" (their words) on my scores.  They were sending me to Hill-Rom in Charleston, SC.  I was excited.  Their products are top-notch and their showroom, beautiful.  They are located off of the interstate near my condo.  I was anxious to begin training.

The first day of training was a joke.  We were told more than a dozen times in the first hour, if we were late we would be fired.  Excessive tardiness would not be tolerated.  That made sense but I didn't understand why it became such a crucial part of training, especially since we were all temporary employees for Hill-Rom.  Here is a list of other things we were told during the first day.

• We could not wear perfume
• We could not use any fragranced hand cream
• We could never use an aerosol can within the building
• Hill-Rom owned the street and there was no smoking anywhere on the street or around the building  (actually, the City owned the street and maintained it)
• All smokers must walk to the "docks" to smoke (a 7 to 8 minute walk)
• You could not light up a cigarette even in your car while exiting the parking lot
• Several people were recently fired (so there would be permanent openings)
• The Hill-Rom CEO was let go or resigned the week before (perhaps he came in late)
• We could not cook anything "smelly" in the Hill-Rom microwave
• We could not look at products in the showroom (for customers only)
• We could not be seen with a cell phone in the lobby or out front
• The best schedules would be given to the students that instructors felt were doing well
• We must never forget to punch the time clock
• We must never punch in more than 5 minutes ahead of scheduled work time
• We would not only punch the time clock but would fill out time sheets also
• If we donated $5 to a good cause we could wear blue jeans to work
• A person on the floor, a long time employee, was fired just days before.  Why?  They came in late.

Most Hill-Rom new hires didn't mind the list of things that could not be done; I was appalled.

The instructor had each of us tell a little about ourselves.  After I was finished she asked, "What are you doing HERE" at Hill-Rom.  I was beginning to wonder myself.  During training the instructor didn't teach, yet had each new hire read paragraphs from the overhead monitor.  It went around the room, around and around and around again.  I was wondering if she didn't know how to read, more importantly, did she know how to teach?

During class the two instructors were at the back of the room, within ear shot of new employees, complaining about their work schedules.  One was angry because she had to "work the floor" during two days that week.  The other made a comment that if the supervisors could not communicate perhaps they should have discussed it with them first.  I thought, "management at it's finest."

When the Hill-Rom instructor told us about herself, we heard of her second marriage, blended family and her wonderful bridal shower.  I had no idea what her credentials were but I knew about her home life.

While giving us a tour of the building, the instructor stopped to unwrap a Christmas present from another employee.  We just stood there and some of us rolled our eyes.

What a nightmare.  After about sixteen hours during the first two days, I knew this was no place I needed to be.  I expressed my frustrations to a supervisor so we agreed to part ways.  I can't remember the last time I felt as happy while pulling out of a business.  Oh yeah, I lit a cigarette even before I started the car -- right there in the Hill-Rom parking lot.  OMG!