New Employment Trend

[billski]

Notice how certain areas are off-shore sourcing their help? WV has a bunch of people from South Africa. I spoke with one woman who said she came with a bunch of friends.

Seems I recall Loon also had a bunch from somewhere else in Africa.

Gotta be weird for these folks, having never seen snow before in their lives, and probably can't ski to boot!

I hope they are being treated and paid well (not) and put up in something a bit better than a snowshack...

 

[Phildozer]

This is not a new trend. Wachusett has been doing it for years.

 

[thetrailboss]

Not a new trend at all. Sugarbush, Killington, and many areas can't get workers, so they hire migrant workers. Many come from the southern hemisphere. On a larger scale, it is a reflection about our society in that the service positions go unfilled because of pay, etc.

 

[Talisman]

While the trend of using foriegn workers at ski areas isn't new, the per centage of positions filled varies significantly by resort. At Sugarbush the people scanning lift tickets seem to be from South America but most lift operations positions are filled with people from VT, NH or NY. At ASC it seems every position is filled by foriegn workers with the occaisional Vermonter repairing a lift or driving a snow cat. I doubt Killington or Mt Sneaux could operate with out guest workers but I suspect lifts would still turn at other places like Sugarbush, Magic, Okemo, Burke and Jay.

 

[Rushski]

At WV last year, we actually talked to a girl (hottie) from S. Africa.

Attitash and Stratton seem to do the cheap pay/free lodging deal for green card workers as well...

 

[riverc0il]

part of the problem is the seasonal natural of the positions. hard to attract people to jobs that can only guarantee employment for four or five months at best, especially at that low wage. i am blown away that it is cheaper to fly in folks from other countries and put them up rather than offer $9-10 to locals who might be swayed by more money.

 

[Marc]

Snow has all foreigners too. A lot of Australians, some easter Europeans and some Africans.


A lot of them think the wage they are getting is quite high based on the standard and cost of living from their country of origin plus the exchange rate that normally works in their favor.

 

[ozskier]

Endless Winter... Many of the seasonal help are actually from resorts in the southern hemisphere. Not too bad if you like winter to last the entire year.

Speaking of employment within the industry...
http://www.ozskier.com/blog/2006/01/it-is-official-im-moving-to-colorado.html

 

[Marc]

Endless Winter... Many of the seasonal help are actually from resorts in the southern hemisphere. Not too bad if you like winter to last the entire year.

Speaking of employment within the industry...
http://www.ozskier.com/blog/2006/01/it-is-official-im-moving-to-colorado.html

Holy chit man! That's freakin cool! This is quite deserving of it's own thread!



I'm insanely jealous! And maybe I'll even get a subscription to that rag and support your effort. :beer:

 

[Marc]

And congradulations, of course!

:dunce:

 

[ozskier]

Ok, I'll make it a thread.

Admins, can you nuke away the posts that I made and the following ones?

 

[andyzee]

Some great looking Polish girls at Killington this year