Going out to eat post COVID

[Dave Gray]

I have noticed on Facebook a series of anti-self-checkout "memes" asking to boycott companies that use them or refuse to use them to keep other people employed.  It's mostly old people posting it.

I just think this is a losing strategy.  Creating jobs for the sake of jobs is a loser of an idea.  Technology will rule and whatever is cheaper and more efficient will take over.  Cars put buggy whip makers out of a job -- but new things spring from that.

I think it's inevitable that as we move to more automation + more money being in the hands of fewer companies that (may be generations down the line), some form of Universal Basic Income is going to be at play and people who work at Dunkin are going to do so to supplement their life or for the social aspects of it.  We're moving towards Star Trek.

[ArtieChokePhin]

I have noticed on Facebook a series of anti-self-checkout "memes" asking to boycott companies that use them or refuse to use them to keep other people employed.  It's mostly old people posting it.

I just think this is a losing strategy.  Creating jobs for the sake of jobs is a loser of an idea.  Technology will rule and whatever is cheaper and more efficient will take over.  Cars put buggy whip makers out of a job -- but new things spring from that.

I think it's inevitable that as we move to more automation + more money being in the hands of fewer companies that (may be generations down the line), some form of Universal Basic Income is going to be at play and people who work at Dunkin are going to do so to supplement their life or for the social aspects of it.  We're moving towards Star Trek.

I see self checkout as a way companies consolidate their labor.  Kind of like a fast food joint handing you a cup and you go and get your drink.  When I was a little kid, I remember the soda fountains being behind the counter in the lobby and the Burger King or McDonalds employees actually filiing up your cup for you.

[Spider-Dan]

My store is having trouble finding people which has upped my weekend hours.  This is confusing though because grocery store workers do not get unemployment

maybe your store needs to offer more money

[Fau Teixeira]

This is confusing though because grocery store workers do not get unemployment

Oh? Confusing indeed.

[Fau Teixeira]

maybe your store needs to offer more money

they won't offer HIM more money tho .. new employees get the big money .. old employees get paid less .. that's the case in every single industry (that isn't unionized)

[masterfins]

Who in the world drinks iced coffee at 5 pm??   

Yeah, I don't get it either.  There's a hospital on the other side of my office and a school down the street, and when these workers start getting out at 3:30 there is a long line at that DD that keeps going to 6 or 7 at night.

[dolphins4life]

maybe your store needs to offer more money

.

Not in this case.  Minimum wage in Massachusetts is 13.50.  Our store has paid time and a half for Sundays throughout the wage increases in our state. I make over twenty dollars per hour on Sundays there. 

[dolphins4life]

We have instituted self check outs so maybe that was in response

[Phishfan]

I can't believe no one has asked so here it goes,  what reasoning is there that grocery store workers don't qualify for unemployment?

[dolphins4life]

I can't believe no one has asked so here it goes,  what reasoning is there that grocery store workers don't qualify for unemployment?

They are not full time.  At least baggers and cashiers are not

[dolphins4life]

“Watching people who largely make less than $40,000 a year talk about how raising the minimum wage would destroy the economy is one f the most impressive examples of Stockholm Syndrome I’ve ever seen.”

This little gem came from a liberal friend of mine.  In Massachusetts we are raising the minimum wage until it hits fifteen and I am predicting by then all our stores will be automated and no more baggers and checkers   I have a healthcare job but I wonder how many of my coworkers will be affected

[Spider-Dan]

In Massachusetts we are raising the minimum wage until it hits fifteen and I am predicting by then all our stores will be automated and no more baggers and checkers

How low do you think the minimum wage would need to be in order to permanently prevent those jobs from being replaced by automated kiosks?

[dolphins4life]

How low do you think the minimum wage would need to be in order to permanently prevent those jobs from being replaced by automated kiosks?

It is 13.50 now, so maybe 12.50.  Even that is generous.  It all comes back to the entitlement mentality

[Phishfan]

They are not full time.  At least baggers and cashiers are not

Ok, so it technically isn't industry specific but is hours based. I get that.

[Spider-Dan]

It is 13.50 now, so maybe 12.50.  Even that is generous.  It all comes back to the entitlement mentality

Automated kiosks still exist in stores that pay less than 12.50/hr.

The real answer is that kiosks are coming for those jobs regardless.  Even the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr is too much to stop businesses from automating every single job they can get away with.