When everybody gets the $15 per hour in the US - how long do you think it will take for people to say
"I'm not working all that hard, I'm only getting paid minimum wage"
Ontheroad · M
It's a long overdue increase. When the cost of driving to and home from work equals a hours wage, it's criminal to expect someone, anyone, to work for $7.25 an hour.
I know there is the whole idea that working at a fast food joint was meant for teenagers, not as a full-time job, but the reality is different. You work where you can, and in a country with a huge number of people are working in unskilled service jobs, we can't expect them to work for nothing.
If it costs more to buy a burger, I'm okay with that. It's my choice and I certainly dont need one.
I know there is the whole idea that working at a fast food joint was meant for teenagers, not as a full-time job, but the reality is different. You work where you can, and in a country with a huge number of people are working in unskilled service jobs, we can't expect them to work for nothing.
If it costs more to buy a burger, I'm okay with that. It's my choice and I certainly dont need one.
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Ynotisay · M
@Pretzel But does it HAVE to be? We'll take McDonald's as an example because it's usually the gauge because they're the biggest.
Most of their restaurant crews around the world are working at minimum wage. In Mexico they get paid a dollar an hour. A Big Mac costs about three bucks. In China it's a $1.80. A Big Mac is almost 3.
McDonald's gross profit was about $14.5 BILLION in '23. Up about 10 percent from '22. That's B as in Billion. You know how much a billion is right? A thousand million.
So my question is, why support the corporation making billions and billions in PROFIT, on the backs of workers who may not have a choice but take whatever job they can. And if you think minimum wage is enough to live any kind of decent life you're wrong.
History shows that when the minimum wage is increased the economy does better overall. Because those workers BUY things too. And while these means nothing to the 'real Americans," others lives are made better for it.
Unfortunately, too many have been trained the kiss the hand that beats them. They fight for and protect those keeping others down and struggling. Even when it's against their own best interest.
So if you can tell me why that is I'd be really curious to know.
Most of their restaurant crews around the world are working at minimum wage. In Mexico they get paid a dollar an hour. A Big Mac costs about three bucks. In China it's a $1.80. A Big Mac is almost 3.
McDonald's gross profit was about $14.5 BILLION in '23. Up about 10 percent from '22. That's B as in Billion. You know how much a billion is right? A thousand million.
So my question is, why support the corporation making billions and billions in PROFIT, on the backs of workers who may not have a choice but take whatever job they can. And if you think minimum wage is enough to live any kind of decent life you're wrong.
History shows that when the minimum wage is increased the economy does better overall. Because those workers BUY things too. And while these means nothing to the 'real Americans," others lives are made better for it.
Unfortunately, too many have been trained the kiss the hand that beats them. They fight for and protect those keeping others down and struggling. Even when it's against their own best interest.
So if you can tell me why that is I'd be really curious to know.
2ndtimeguy · 61-69, M
There are jobs in our area that start at $18 an hour and you are making $20 an hour in 6 months with benefits and a lot are making $25 per hour and its in the midwest whers cost of living isnt outrageous. The reason they are hiring is people dont want to work for it or dont show up on time .
NativePortlander1970 · 51-55
@2ndtimeguy Phil Knight, founder of Nike in Beaverton, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, said the same thing to Michael Moore in one of his earlier documentaries, he was one of the first to outsource in the 90's.
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2ndtimeguy · 61-69, M
@TheOneyouwerewarnedabout
Check CA and their $20 fast food minimum wage and see what prices are now, some of the low income neighborhoods cant afford McDonalds
Check CA and their $20 fast food minimum wage and see what prices are now, some of the low income neighborhoods cant afford McDonalds
HoeBag · 51-55, F
Regardless of the number on a paycheck, if it isn't even enough to survive on, there isn't much motivation to work harder at that job.
Besides that, recent generations (including mine) have been conditioned that low wage jobs are not worth a... even before school was finished.
So low wage jobs cannot really expect highly motivated people. Why bust your backside for a company that would just assume replace you in a second with any 18 year old kid who wandered in off the street?
Besides that, recent generations (including mine) have been conditioned that low wage jobs are not worth a... even before school was finished.
So low wage jobs cannot really expect highly motivated people. Why bust your backside for a company that would just assume replace you in a second with any 18 year old kid who wandered in off the street?
Spoiledbrat · F
That's when you get a different job. @HoeBag
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
factanonverba · 56-60, M
Roughly four decades ago, you couldn't a decent paying job without a high school diploma. Then it got upped to a B. S. degree. Now it's to the point where you need at least a master's degree to get a decent job, and even then, it's not a 100%guarantee. Certainly sectors of the job market are just flooded with qualified applicants and there are only so many positions that can be filled.
Pretzel · 70-79, M
@eMortal nope, I'm asking how long the euphoria will last...
let me give you an example of what I'm talking about: I live in the hurricane prone area call the gulf coast - and we get multi-day power outages when the storms hit us directly. it's hot and humid and we are looking forward to the time we get our power back and can get some a/c and ice.
then we get our power and we are dancing for joy. and 2 weeks later it's like we've always had power - and we go back to complaining about the power bill.
let me give you an example of what I'm talking about: I live in the hurricane prone area call the gulf coast - and we get multi-day power outages when the storms hit us directly. it's hot and humid and we are looking forward to the time we get our power back and can get some a/c and ice.
then we get our power and we are dancing for joy. and 2 weeks later it's like we've always had power - and we go back to complaining about the power bill.
Ontheroad · M
I never did answer your question... immediately, if not before. It's not the money, or only the money, it's the culture and atmosphere created by the business owners/management that ensures an unhappy, not reliable workforce.
I know this because I worked for a few of these owners/businesses.
I know this because I worked for a few of these owners/businesses.
AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M
Employers pay barely enough for people to show up. Employees work barely enough not to be fired .its the American way .
Pretzel · 70-79, M
oh and this isn't a post about whether the wage is fair or not - it's about human nature.
fun4us2b · M
It's really up to the individual
Some people are givers, other are takers.
Some people are givers, other are takers.
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DDonde · 31-35, M
Well, you can't do solo rent with that here.
I think part of the reason people have such differing opinions on $15/hr is that it really doesn't go far depending on where you live. In some places it might be a larger increase, but in many places it's just setting it to what is close to the defacto min wage anyway. McDonald's, Store Cashiers, etc, here, for instance, start at around $15/hr.
I think part of the reason people have such differing opinions on $15/hr is that it really doesn't go far depending on where you live. In some places it might be a larger increase, but in many places it's just setting it to what is close to the defacto min wage anyway. McDonald's, Store Cashiers, etc, here, for instance, start at around $15/hr.
HoeBag · 51-55, F
@DDonde
Off subject a bit but even if someone has a room mate, any one of us who has ever had a room mate knows that one person usually carries most of the burden while the other one IS the burden.
One works, sells plasma, gets loans, has to ask family for help, etc just to make ends meet.
The other one sits around crying because their crush on Tinder dumped them again.
But for the room mate who contributes NOTHING, somehow they are able to buy stuff from Amazon, several times a week.
Well, you can't do solo rent with that here.
Off subject a bit but even if someone has a room mate, any one of us who has ever had a room mate knows that one person usually carries most of the burden while the other one IS the burden.
One works, sells plasma, gets loans, has to ask family for help, etc just to make ends meet.
The other one sits around crying because their crush on Tinder dumped them again.
But for the room mate who contributes NOTHING, somehow they are able to buy stuff from Amazon, several times a week.
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HoeBag · 51-55, F
@ThirstenHowl Yeah if they keep eliminating more and more jobs, people won't be able to afford much of anything so there won't be any point in producing it.
Maybe it wouldn't matter, they keep reducing the quality and quantity (where possible) of products anyways.
Of course companies, especially the bosses on top, are horrified of the shareholders. Keep screwing over the customers just to squeeze out a couple more dollars.
I am unclear as to when or why companies started selling stocks, but it seems like it creates nothing but problems.
Thing is, when those at the top get lazy, reduce their output, etc, people just accept it. But then when those at the bottom get lazy, it is somehow a big catastrophe.
Maybe it wouldn't matter, they keep reducing the quality and quantity (where possible) of products anyways.
Of course companies, especially the bosses on top, are horrified of the shareholders. Keep screwing over the customers just to squeeze out a couple more dollars.
I am unclear as to when or why companies started selling stocks, but it seems like it creates nothing but problems.
Thing is, when those at the top get lazy, reduce their output, etc, people just accept it. But then when those at the bottom get lazy, it is somehow a big catastrophe.
NativePortlander1970 · 51-55
It's already happening where I currently live in the middle of nowhere north central cornbilly iowa, several of the local fast food joints now pay $15 to start, they raised it during the plandemic to keep workers on, kept the wages after BinBiden declared it over, and they're slower than slugs.