> Rob wrote-
> http://www.orange-today.co.uk/news/story/sm_678535.html
>
> Dutch policemen will be taken off the beat unless they can prove they can
> fight in new tests.
>
> Rank and file police officers fear up to 20% of the country's 33,000-strong
> force could fail the combat tests.
>
> They have been introduced after repeated criticisms of police officers for
> backing down from violent criminals.
>
> Previously, officers had to prove only that they were competent with
> firearms to show they were up to the job.
>
> But now they have to show they are also skilled at hand-to-hand combat and
> at arresting violent offenders. They are being given special training to
> help them.
>
> Hans van Duijn, secretary general of the Dutch police trade union, told De
> Telegraaf: "We know that from the 33,000 policemen in Holland, a lot will
> fail.
>
> "If they do not succeed in their exam, they have to return their weapons
and
> perform a desk-task. Nevertheless I think it will be a very good thing to
> have this training. It will improve their self confidence."
This is actually not as odd as you may think at first glance. In the US many
"high risk" jobs are being targeted for "prework" screens, where at the
simplest potential workers demonstrate they have the physical abilities
to perform a job. (Warning- this is grossly oversimplified) The job is
first quantified and the description/subsequent testing validated on
current workers performing the job. (Testing in the US can only test
to the level of the job versus testing to higher levels than are required).
The hard to quantify jobs are those such as nurses/EMS/fire fighters, etc
where they actually have job descriptions that even the regular workers
would be hard pressed to perform (independently lifting 200-300#).
It is often more functional to test the actual job demand (ie- I have
employers bring an ambulance and have the worker perform
job simulation with a special dummy-Rescue Randy- or the fire fighter
hauls Randy around, etc). For police I generally request they go back
to the academy for hand to hand testing (those of you who have met
me know a scuffle with me would be a laughable test).
I think the confidence thing and realities of an aging workforce
are real world issues that will require that we change our philosophies
of how people are trained, supported with resources, and compensated
over the next 20 years. IMHO companies/organizations that see these
changes now will be those that survive better in the future.
Dee
resubmerging to an administrative paperwork nightmare
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