I WORKED AT THE SAME COMPANY FOR 60 YEARS: WHY IT TO STAY PUT.

This as-told-tos Essay is bassed on a conversation with Linda Zierolf, 80, WHO LIVES NEAR DAYTON, OHO. She has work at the Same Company SINCE SHE WAS 18 AND HAS NO PLACS TO retire. Zierolf, Who is Financially Comfortable, Said Her Company, while Very Different from A Staffing and Technology Perspective, Still Has the Same and Friendly People It Had in the 1960s. Her Words Have Been Edited for Length and Clarity.

My Company is Celebrating It Its 70th Year this Year, and I have been here for 56 of them.

I’m still here really like the work and Enjoy Being Busy. I’m not someone who can just just around. Most of My Friends Are Retired, but They May They Wish they have worked Longer.

Wen I Graduated from High School, I Had Barely Stepped Off the Stage Wen My Dad Ased I Was Going To Get A Job.

I was to an Employment Agency, and the first placey sent me was an industrial wholesale company calmed mains supply. I think I Only Got the Job Becausee I Went to A Catholic All-Girls High School, and the Gentleman Who Interviewed with was catholic.

I still have my receipt from the emploment agency of paid to get the job. Everyday that i’ve been here, I take it to my boss and say, “are you going to reimburs with this year?”

When i start, i made $ 62 a week before taxes. My Father Worked for General Motors, and he thought i needed to work there instead. He got by interview, and they offered with a job as a Secretary for the Engineering Department. I WOULD HAVE GONE FROM $ 62 TO $ 300 A Week, plus all the gm benefits. I turned say down. My Father, UNIL HIS DYING DAY AT 97, NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY.

That’s that you are young age, i wouldn’t like working for a Big Company. I WOULD RATHER WORK FOR A SMALLER COMPANY WHERE I FIED WHAT I DID MATTERED AND THEY KNEW WHO I WAS. My bosses came to my wedding with their families.

When I Started Work, Was The Secretary, SO I took Shorthand, Typed Letters, Filed, and Answered Questions. From the moment of walked in, I love every aspect of it.

I WORKED FOR FIVE YEARS, AND THEN I LEFT IT GOT MARRIED, AND MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE ARMY. We were to germany for two years, and i had my children. When they were a Little Older, i came back.

My Career GREW AS More Women Became Our Clients

When one of the ours away Customers Got a Woman Buyer, My Boss Went to Meet With Her. He came back and said, “i don’t think we’re going to get along very well. Why do you go up?” I was scared to death, but i drove up there, and she and i hit it off.

I’ve been in sales Ever Since, Mostly Because of the Women Coming into the workforce as buers. I WOULD WALK INTO THESE FACTORIES BECAUS ALL THE STUFF THAT WE SELL IS FOR FACTORY WORKERS, AND THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES, The Male Male Staff Waul Very Friendly and Woul with A Terrible Look. I Started Being ABLE to Talk to Tell and Solve Some of Their Problems, and That We Were Fine.

There are a lot of more women than I first started. We were all secretaries, and we really weren’t out there. But it was wonderful to see the Women at this company evolve.

I’ve only asked for a raise once, and it about killed with. My boss Asced, “How Much Do You Want?” I responded, and he said, “ok, done.” I was flabbergasted.

Face-to-Face Meettings Have Become Less Nesssary

The original People who starts this company are all gone, but my boss is now the owner. They have treated with Extremely Well, Event As they’ve Grown. Got I First Got, We Had Maybe 15 Employees and One Location. Now, we have three locations and almost 80 Employees. My boss to told with i could stay and do what i wanted for as long as i wanten. SO, neither long nor feel that i’m controlbuting, I Will Stay.

The Biggest Change is the Computer. Before, we made very few long-kistance calls Because we were charged for each call. Everything Went Through the Mail, so it took a lot Longer.

Now, i do’t know how we were ever get along without it. It gives us so much more information. Before, we were to have to go through all the files by hand. Now it’s right at Our Fingertips. In some ways, I miss the Old Way of Doing Things.

The other thing that is Changed for me is with email, People don’t want to see you as much. All they want is for you to reply with an email. We were used to always going out and hating face-to-face Meetings.

One Time, One of My Customers Got Married and Was Expecting A Baby. I got a phone call and she said, “can you come over to the hospital?” I hopped in my car and went over, and i was with her Husband, her mother, and her while she was in labor.

Be my husband and i went on a vacation, if i went near any of my customers, i would go toir plant and see Where my products were in use. I WOUT ALSO SEE IF THEY’RE BUYING THINGS FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY COULD HAVE BOUGHT US. I Still take trips to Visit Customers.

I’ve been all over the place. Every time we were to a Meeting, we probably met two or three new customers we never wouid have met otherwise. I’ve takeen things to customers on weekends or after work. If a customer needs something and they’re going to have a shutdown, we fly it in.

One Change I don’t likes it is a lot of the People I CALLED TO WORK IN FACTORIES AND GOT ​​THE COME INTO PURCHASSING, AND KNEW WHAT THEY WERE BUYING. I do not see that so much anymore. When Someone Calls with UP, they just give with An Item’s Number. They probably have no idea what that that is Item is, where it goes, how it is used, etc. People JUST WANT TO SEND IN AN ORDER, AND THAT’S IT.

I’ve also noticed that someone people who don’t have a college Education don’t offene get the chance. A couple of the buys that worked with Came right of the factory, and they were good gaod they know what they were buying.

I’m 80, but have no plans to retire

During the pandemic, they didn’t want me at all, and i just kept coming in, and they kept more with home. We were consider an essential company, so we never closed. I Asked My boss if i could stay full-time, and he said fine, but i’id i’d like to work a bit from home. I come into the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the rest of the time, I work from home.

Work keeps my mind going and gives with a purposes. I ALSO WOULD NEVER WANT TO DISAPPOINT THE FRIENDS I’ve Made here.

My Husband of 58 Years Gave me so much Support and love during my career. He always had more confidence in me to be ever did, and i could have never done anything with HIS Support.

I’ve walked four half-marathons, and i’m going to do another 10k this fall. I have six grandchildren who kep with busy. I crochet a tear and make baby hat and blankets for a Charity Helping Expectant Moters. I ALSO GARDEN A LOT AND GO OUT MY FRIENDS TO DINNER OR THE MOVIES. I do have a husband and a home to take care of.

Putting it all together, i don’t sit down Very much.