An inexperienced worker at a lower salary’ and an experienced worker at a higher salary’I believe that an experienced worker at a high salary is preferable to an inexperienced worker at a lower salary. An inexperienced worker at lower pay is unpredictable and has more chance of not taking his job seriously. An inexperienced worker at a higher pay, on the other hand, is reliable, more conscientious, and is willing to work extra hard for the company. This is reflected in his/her work ethic and the quality of his work. The statement made by the author of the statement above incorrectly assumes that the only reasons to hire a new employee is ‘reliable’ and ‘willing to work extra hard’. Surely, in addition to these general traits, there are other factors which must be considered such as skills, experience, and tools. The statement that inexperienced workers take their jobs less seriously is disproved by statistics. In 2011, the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) found that 85% of employees surveyed were found to feel excited about their jobs. This statistic reflects that most employees do not view their jobs as drudgery, but rather as an opportunity for growth. In addition, the statistic reinforces the fact that when employees feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves, they will perform better. The experience of working for a large corporation, where employees are treated as nothing more than cogs in a machine, is likely a contributing factor to workers feeling as though they have little control over their lives. This lack of control could be a contributing factor to why some workers take their jobs less seriously. As a result, it is unrealistic to assume that all workers will be motivated to put forth their best effort in an inexperienced worker.

The statement that more experienced employees work harder than inexperienced employees is also false. Worker productivity depends on a multitude of factors, including the work environment and the workers themselves. A study conducted by the University of Melbourne in 2008 found that workers who were deprived of sleep or food were 19% less productive. The study also found that workers who were away from their families for 20 hours or more were 14% less productive. Clearly, these factors play a large role in determining productivity. When workers feel that they are under constant stress, they may be inclined to slack off. Thus, it is not reasonable to assume that an inexperienced worker is incapable of performing his job to the best of his ability. In fact, the inexperienced worker may feel pressured to prove himself worthy of his salary, which may increase his/her motivation. The statement that an experienced worker is ‘more conscientious’ is probably true, in that more experienced workers are likely to be more disciplined and dedicated to their work. However, the productivity of the more experienced worker may be due in part to the fact that he/she has years of experience. Therefore, it is not necessarily the case that more experienced workers work harder. To invoke statistics, the ASTD found that employees with 20 or more years of experience most likely feel satisfied in their jobs. The satisfaction that many employees feel in their jobs may lead some to work harder.

Surely, experienced workers may have the skills to do their jobs more efficiently than inexperienced workers. However, this is not always the case. Indeed, many employers prefer to hire workers who are inexperienced because inexperienced workers tend to ask for additional training when they encounter problems. The inexperienced workers are thus willing to accept additional training, whereas more experienced workers are more likely to view additional training as a waste of company resources. In addition, inexperienced workers may lack the necessary skills to do their jobs effectively. Thus, employers would be justified in paying experienced workers more if the additional pay were justified by the increased productivity. The statement that an experienced worker is ‘more willing to work extra hard’ is also debatable. Though it is true that experienced workers tend to be more productive than inexperienced workers, this does not mean that they will work longer hours. In fact, according to the ASTD, younger workers (those 18 to 29 years of age) were found to work longer hours than their older colleagues. This may be due to the illusion of job security that older workers tend to have. Thus, it is not reasonable to assume that experienced workers are willing to work harder.

The author’s statement is flawed in yet another regard. The fact that more experienced workers have more experience does not necessarily make them more valuable. An inexperienced worker with superior skills may be preferred by an employer to a more experienced worker with less desirable skills. In addition, the average worker’s skills often improve over time, and it is possible that the more experienced worker may have stagnated. Thus, employers would be justified in hiring the experienced worker because he has intangible qualities such as reliability, discipline, and organization, which are desired rather than measured by years of experience.