It pays not to work in Biden's America

[ArtieChokePhin]

Could somebody update me on this?  Are people not going bac to work because they earn more on unemployment?

That's exactly what is happening.   Companies are offering higher wages and sign-on bonuses and people are still not biting.

[Spider-Dan]

Companies are offering higher wages and sign-on bonuses and people are still not biting.

Not necessarily.  Many of the companies complaining about a lack of labor have mentioned nothing whatsoever about increasing wages.  They think their existing wage structure is good enough, and are whining about unemployment checks being too big.

[ArtieChokePhin]

Not necessarily.  Many of the companies complaining about a lack of labor have mentioned nothing whatsoever about increasing wages.  They think their existing wage structure is good enough, and are whining about unemployment checks being too big.

Not necessarily higher than unemployment but higher than they used to.  The Wawa down the street from my house is offering $13 an hour to start plus a $500 sign on bonus.  Plus they offer full benefits and a free sandwich every shift.  My 17 year old son just landed his first job there.  He starts Saturday.

[Fau Teixeira]

Not necessarily higher than unemployment but higher than they used to.  The Wawa down the street from my house is offering $13 an hour to start plus a $500 sign on bonus.  Plus they offer full benefits and a free sandwich every shift.  My 17 year old son just landed his first job there.  He starts Saturday.

so they can find employees just fine, you see that first hand

[pondwater]

so they can find employees just fine, you see that first hand

Only the smart ones. The other ones are trading their future for a few extra dollars in "free" money. Nothing free in life, it will catch up with them eventually. They'll be the ones really complaining down the road when they'll be living on that "free" SS check money with little to no retirement, no savings, and a spotty job record that will afford them the option of being a Walmart greeter for their final decade above ground.

[Spider-Dan]

If only conservatives actually believed in the kind of karma you describe.

In reality, the response of Republican governors has been to prematurely cancel these extra federally funded unemployment benefits, all in an effort to force these stupid and lazy workers back into the jobforce ASAP.

[ArtieChokePhin]

If only conservatives actually believed in the kind of karma you describe.

In reality, the response of Republican governors has been to prematurely cancel these extra federally funded unemployment benefits, all in an effort to force these stupid and lazy workers back into the jobforce ASAP.

Because the job force is where they belong rather than living off money taken out of my earnings.  The cancellations were not premature.  They were long overdue.  There's been a year of shutdowns and cancellations galore but the party is over.  Time to get back to normal.

[Spider-Dan]

I don't think "These people are stupid and lazy, and also our economy will collapse if they stay home and receive income that they will immediately spend" is a convincing argument.

If these people are actually making less money going to work than they would staying home, and the money that they would receive by staying home comes largely from the federal government, then the net outcome of forcing them back to work is... less income to the community.  Lose-lose.

If someone, somewhere, is not as miserable as they should be, there will be a raucous crowd in this country shouting to make sure they are... even if it means hurting themselves in the process.

[Spider-Dan]

Nope ... my criteria is you get paid a living wage for doing a job that pays a living wage and if you are fighting high schoolers for a job then that ain't the one. You can play semantics just to argue all you like but you know I'm right.

And what about 18-year-old high school dropouts working in construction?  Unskilled labor is unskilled labor.

The irony is that in countries where fast food employees get paid a decent wage, you don't just have "high schoolers" working there.  That is obviously not a coincidence:

Fast food workers earn $20 per hour in Denmark

An excerpt:

"In Denmark, unions dominate and fast food companies aren’t nearly as popular as their U.S. counterparts. Despite smaller profits, the fast food industry as a whole offers their employees five weeks of paid vacation, paternity and maternity leave and a pension plan. Employees also report higher rates of satisfaction and stay with their jobs longer. McDonald’s employee retention rate in the U.S. averaged to less than eight months.

In the U.S. where Denmark’s social safety net is reserved for leftists’ fantasies, paying fast food workers $20 hourly may seem impossible. Currently, unionization is difficult because fast food employees are technically employed by franchise owners, not the corporations as a whole.

Seeking to sell the cheapest product, fast food companies say they can’t afford the 65 percent wage increase that many activists and protesters asked for. McDonald’s, for example, would have to raise prices 25 percent if they were to double their wages – from minimum $7.25 to $15 – costing customers up to a dollar more on popular items like the Big Mac, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. In Denmark, the Big Mac costs $5.60 to America’s $4.80, but consumer’s say it’s worth it."

[CF DolFan]

Could somebody update me on this?  Are people not going bac to work because they earn more on unemployment?

Yes ... close to what they are making or in some cases more. It’s going to get worse if we keep giving away seemingly “free”money.

 President Joe Biden received further negative news Wednesday about the economic environment in the U.S. under his leadership as newly released numbers show that the economy is overheating and inflation is growing at an even higher rate than anticipated.

“Inflation accelerated at its fastest pace in more than 12 years for April as the U.S. economic recovery kicked into gear and energy prices jumped higher,” CNBC reported. “The Consumer Price Index, which measures a basket of goods as well as energy and housing costs, rose 4.2% from a year ago, compared to the Dow Jones estimate for a 3.6% increase. The monthly gain was 0.8%, against the expected 0.2%.”

[CF DolFan]

Not necessarily.  Many of the companies complaining about a lack of labor have mentioned nothing whatsoever about increasing wages.  They think their existing wage structure is good enough, and are whining about unemployment checks being too big.

Starbucks is as liberal as you get and pays $15 an hour. What’s your excuse for them struggling to find people to work? Let me guess ... $15 is not enough money to serve coffee?

[Spider-Dan]

Maybe their higher wages are why Starbucks says they aren't struggling to find workers.

In fact, among the other big corporations that have already announced a $15 starting wage (e.g. Target, Amazon), I don't see any complaints about worker shortages.  You know who is complaining?  Fast food restaurants.

[Spider-Dan]

Wanna know why fast food restaurants are having trouble finding and retaining workers during a pandemic?  The answer is as predictable as it is obvious:

April Marit worked at a Jimmy John’s location in Florida for five years before she recently quit due to the working conditions she experienced throughout the pandemic, and the low pay.

As an assistant manager, Marit worked throughout 2020 making just $9.50 an hour, and received a pay increase to $11 an hour in March 2021, she said, after several employees quit.

A few months into the pandemic, Marit noted demand started to increase and understaffing became the norm. Some customers were aggressive in ignoring COVID-19 safety protocols.

“I stayed because the store had no other staff. New employees would come in, work for a day or two, and then never show back up—and I don’t blame them,” said Marit. “Nobody deserves to be treated the way that customer service staff is these days. Not even for a $15 an hour minimum wage. I sure as heck wouldn’t go back to Jimmy John’s for that, and I loved my job before this.”

---

Unsurprisingly, when workers in red states are exposed daily to COVIDiots who don't give a damn about following safety protocols, and every shift is a never-ending fight to get people to put your goddamned mask on like it says on the front door, people don't want to work there.  Reap what you sow.

You guys think that eliminating unemployment benefits will be enough to solve this problem, but that's far from clear.

[CF DolFan]

Maybe their higher wages are why Starbucks says they aren't struggling to find workers.

In fact, among the other big corporations that have already announced a $15 starting wage (e.g. Target, Amazon), I don't see any complaints about worker shortages.  You know who is complaining?  Fast food restaurants.

I don’t care what they say or aren’t saying ... here in the Orlando area they are struggling. You don’t just switch to drive thru only and shortened hours because you wanted to.

[CF DolFan]

Wanna know why fast food restaurants are having trouble finding and retaining workers during a pandemic?  The answer is as predictable as it is obvious:

April Marit worked at a Jimmy John’s location in Florida for five years before she recently quit due to the working conditions she experienced throughout the pandemic, and the low pay.

As an assistant manager, Marit worked throughout 2020 making just $9.50 an hour, and received a pay increase to $11 an hour in March 2021, she said, after several employees quit.

A few months into the pandemic, Marit noted demand started to increase and understaffing became the norm. Some customers were aggressive in ignoring COVID-19 safety protocols.

“I stayed because the store had no other staff. New employees would come in, work for a day or two, and then never show back up—and I don’t blame them,” said Marit. “Nobody deserves to be treated the way that customer service staff is these days. Not even for a $15 an hour minimum wage. I sure as heck wouldn’t go back to Jimmy John’s for that, and I loved my job before this.”

---

Unsurprisingly, when workers in red states are exposed daily to COVIDiots who don't give a damn about following safety protocols, and every shift is a never-ending fight to get people to put your goddamned mask on like it says on the front door, people don't want to work there.  Reap what you sow.

You guys think that eliminating unemployment benefits will be enough to solve this problem, but that's far from clear.

Glad you brought red states into this. People are moving in droves to red states but are leaving blue states. Can’t wait to hear your excuse as to why Republican failures are causing this too! 😂