It's such a ridiculous notion that I almost wonder if the whole "Fight for $15" movement wasn't started by companies that make the automation equipment.
For some it is indeed just that, a stepping stone. For some, it may lead to bigger and better things, and that is a matter of being good at what you do, no matter how menial, and luck at being recognized for that and working that way consistently. You also have to be bold and go outside the boundaries, even in the context of that menial job. But that is an exceptional person who does that. And it takes perseverance. We probably share the same thought process.
But you and I, and many here, are not the people who need a living wage, or depend on climbing the corporate ladder that never ends. Many "not us" are doing everything they can to just make ends, the bills, that ladder never ends.
So when you say it is not a career, no it is not.
It is a living.
And before you tar and feather me as some bleeding heart liberal, I am far from that.
Many "not us" are doing everything they can to just make ends, the bills, that ladder never ends.
Okay, fair enough. Do me a favor though, explain to me why- as a business owner, that's my problem.
If an adult finds themselves in a situation where the only job they're capable of getting, and holding, is a minimum wage job at my fast food restaurant then that's unfortunate, but it's not my problem. I'm not responsible for the choices they've made that have led them to that point, nor am I responsible for the circumstances of their life that led them to make those particular choices. So why is it my responsibility as a business owner to subsidize either their poor choices or their bad luck?
And I think if you ever hired them, you would fell a responsibility
Yes, I do feel a sense of responsibility for my employees, all of them.
I've got a few hundred people who are relying on me to keep my business running, not only because they need to make ends meet, but because they want to buy houses, and start families, and take vacations, and send their kids to college, and retire someday. All of that is predicated on me being able to keep the business open and profitable. "That's my responsibility to my employees.
It’s not up to you whether people have too little education or kids too soon or are at loose ends. I see what you mean. But let’s say by the time you’re stealing from them and simultaneously bloodsucking taxpayers, it’s going to be your problem when resistance to that gets organized. How’s McDonald’s business going to be when every one of us is making as much of $7.25 an hour as we can realistically keep from getting stolen by our employers? As a customer of McDonald’s and a participant in American society, how is their CEO’s incentive bonus for the year my problem?
Maybe it strikes you as funny to see labor organizing. Maybe automation firms are the unseen hand behind it, somehow I doubt that though. Maybe a business’s responsibilities are broader than their executive compensation plan.
Oh Adelle, that's what I love about you: you never let facts get in the way of a narrative.
First off, McDonald's Corporate (MCD), which is who you're complaining about and who the people in the article are protesting, isn't in the restaurant business anymore. They haven't been for a long time. MCD is in the franchising and licensing business. Worldwide over 80% of McDonald's restaurants are franchises (meaning they're owned by a private owner, not MCD), and in the US that number is over 90%. Of those franchises, the vast majority are small business owners who own 1 - 3 locations and who are, themselves, just trying to get by. So the notion that MCD isn't paying workers enough is absurd because those people don't work for MCD!
Second, it's absolutely up to me to decide who is, or is not, qualified to work for me. As for having kids too soon, or having loose ends, that is, again, they're problem. I'm not responsible for the life choices of the people who work for me, nor am I responsible for the circumstances of their life. If you had bothered to actually read the "stealing" article you linked you would've noticed that it wasn't MCD that got in trouble it was a private franchise owner who got busted (and deservedly so), but hey who needs facts, right?
My personal favorite is the "bloodsucking" argument. It takes a special kind of delusional arrogance to consider the Government being required to support Government programs "bloodsucking". If the Walmarts in your article were suddenly replaced by a collection of small businesses, what do think would be any different? The economic realities of those communities are what they are independent of Walmart, so those Governments would still be paying for all of those same programs if it was 10 smaller stores instead of 1 large one. You think if there was some Mom & Pop grocery store in there people would be making $20 hr stocking shelves? Are you high?
On a technical note, none of the videos you linked would play here on Snapzu. I had to open them in separate tabs. I'm not sure if that's by design or not, but I just thought it was worth mentioning.
So you’re happy to proceed with the statement that McDonald’s isn’t in the restaurant business? At some point, the courts aren’t going to keep from cracking up at that whopper.
To your second point, I never told you who could work for you so that’s between you and whatever misanthropy that’s about. Although I do think it’s telling you’ll parse McDonald’s to mean whoever it needs to mean for nobody to bear any responsibility at all for actually being McDonald’s.
Thirdly, no, I’m not high. If you haven’t got the mettle to recognize profits raked off underpaid employee’s social safety net benefits as a government subsidy and corporate welfare, well, I may have to consider there may be some glitch in your understanding of economics.
No biggy. It’s probably more telling that you genuinely seem to mind employees of this wage-thieving company organizing. It’s not a plot by automation concerns. If McDonald’s thought they’d make one thin dime more with automation they’d’ve done it already. Yet, at the same time you’ll split hairs whether anyone actually is McDonald’s in the first place so’s there’s nobody left to take responsibility. I’ve gotta think you consider it true that their employees are prey.
By the by, videos aren’t playing properly at Snapzu generally just lately. Thanks for going to the trouble.
Edit: Franchisees aren’t struggling. Fast food franchises make tons of money, apart and aside from their sheer money laundering capacity.
I know you and I disagree on ideology most of the time but this isn't even ideological, it's basic fact.
If you can't understand the difference between the McDonald's Corporation (MCD), and the individual franchise owners (franchising being one of the most common business models on the planet), as distinctly separate entities, then none of the rest matters. And the fact that you would say something as ridiculously absurd as: "Franchisees aren’t struggling. Fast food franchises make tons of money, apart and aside from their sheer money laundering capacity" is pretty indicative that you're well out of your depth here.
That must be it. It’s not that McDonald’s is in the restaurant business, it’s that the legal theory it’s not is so far beyond my ken that I’m just not capable of understanding it. Thank you so much for explaining what franchising is for me. You know how the world of business simply dazzles me. I can see how you would want to save your time for people that defer to your tremendous depth of knowledge in dubious legal interpretations. As for franchisees, on that point you can just suck it they’re high cashflow businesses whose owner-operators tend to be the most affluent local business people in their communities.
The beauty of franchising is just that. Deniability. Holds up every time. Though I do not think you would have built you business around that, nor do many, at least that is my hope.
It's such a ridiculous notion that I almost wonder if the whole "Fight for $15" movement wasn't started by companies that make the automation equipment.
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