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So, how is it that people employed in essential businesses have not become rich in this pandemic? After all they are in high, crucial demand and could/should co

So, how is it that people employed in essential businesses have not become rich in this pandemic? After all they are in high, crucial demand and could/should command better wages than programmers at this time. Sure, some of those raises would increase the price of goods, but that would be offset by hefty UBI checks to everyone. How is it that people who endanger their lives working in supermarkets don't get raises, but developers (whose contribution to the pandemic was "lets make another surveillance toy") get to work from home and still get their full paychecks? I'm sure someone will find a great excuse why it's wrong to think that and some other economicky argument. But something feels wrong about it. Hope better days for you man, but those other jobs in leisure sector will not recover for a long time unfortunately. Do you think that they can somehow use the itnernet to keep businesses alive?

esotericn 6y ago
Because they have no money. Having money is a feedback loop. You can't negotiate if you're skint.
CydeWeys 6y ago
Lack of strong unions is one contributing factor. Companies have all the power, and this situation is giving them even more power. No one dares risking losing their job in these conditions when so many others are already out of work and would take any paying job without complaint.
93po 6y ago
Because they can be easily replaced by the 26 million newly unemployed and have no union.
replicant182 6y ago
Because essential doesn't mean hard to replace or highly skilled. It sucks and I wouldn't want to do their job but enough people are willing to at that wage.
rtkwe 6y ago
That would only really happen where workers are actually getting compensation commensurate with the value of their work. That hasn't been true for years (if ever) in the US. Also essential doesn't really mean their more in demand now than before in all industries. Mechanics for example are essential and still at work but cars if anything will be needing less maintenance now than before because so many people are out of work and not driving anywhere for vacations. Additionally the places where there is simply an increased demand and need are a lot of 2 types of job 1) warehouse workers or 2) manufacturing. Warehouse workers don't have that strong of a bargaining position because places like Amazon are already used to constant turnover, surge by up to 200k a year already, and only really need warm relatively able bodied people of which there are loads right now that'd love a job. Manufacturing people are in a slightly better position as it's harder to just throw bodies at it but factories have limited ability to ramp up. Grocery store workers are kind of (1) employees where it's very easy to replace workers so it's tough for ununioned employees to demand hazard pay or raises because it's very easy to find replacements, especially so now when there's so many other service industry jobs that are out of work right now.
- Nasrudith 6y ago
  Not to mention that even if demand rises the ability to pay doesn't necessarily rise as well. Value and price are not the same.
Der_Einzige 6y ago
Essential doesn't imply "Not replaceable". With 22 million out of work, it's easily to replace an "essential" meat packer. It's far harder to replace an engineer or doctor even if they aren't essential That's why white collar workers make so much money in the first place...

esotericn 6y ago

Because they have no money. Having money is a feedback loop. You can't negotiate if you're skint.

CydeWeys 6y ago

Lack of strong unions is one contributing factor. Companies have all the power, and this situation is giving them even more power. No one dares risking losing their job in these conditions when so many others are already out of work and would take any paying job without complaint.

93po 6y ago

Because they can be easily replaced by the 26 million newly unemployed and have no union.

replicant182 6y ago

Because essential doesn't mean hard to replace or highly skilled. It sucks and I wouldn't want to do their job but enough people are willing to at that wage.

rtkwe 6y ago

That would only really happen where workers are actually getting compensation commensurate with the value of their work. That hasn't been true for years (if ever) in the US. Also essential doesn't really mean their more in demand now than before in all industries. Mechanics for example are essential and still at work but cars if anything will be needing less maintenance now than before because so many people are out of work and not driving anywhere for vacations. Additionally the places where there is simply an increased demand and need are a lot of 2 types of job 1) warehouse workers or 2) manufacturing. Warehouse workers don't have that strong of a bargaining position because places like Amazon are already used to constant turnover, surge by up to 200k a year already, and only really need warm relatively able bodied people of which there are loads right now that'd love a job. Manufacturing people are in a slightly better position as it's harder to just throw bodies at it but factories have limited ability to ramp up. Grocery store workers are kind of (1) employees where it's very easy to replace workers so it's tough for ununioned employees to demand hazard pay or raises because it's very easy to find replacements, especially so now when there's so many other service industry jobs that are out of work right now.

Nasrudith 6y ago
Not to mention that even if demand rises the ability to pay doesn't necessarily rise as well. Value and price are not the same.

Der_Einzige 6y ago

Essential doesn't imply "Not replaceable". With 22 million out of work, it's easily to replace an "essential" meat packer. It's far harder to replace an engineer or doctor even if they aren't essential That's why white collar workers make so much money in the first place...