5 ms·

Business owners don't hire unnecessary people out of the goodness of their hearts. If they're paying someone full time to sweep floors, it's because it's a nece

Business owners don't hire unnecessary people out of the goodness of their hearts. If they're paying someone full time to sweep floors, it's because it's a necessary business expense. The owner hasn't the time nor the inclination to spend 8 hours a day doing that person's task. If they can identify slack in the person's job, they will try to cut hours, but barring that, they will keep that person employed at a higher salary, raise prices to maintain profits if they're able, and all of their local competitors will do the same, as they are in the same boat.

manigandham 6y ago
The assumes that demand stays the same with increased costs, or that supply remains the same under entirely different conditions.
amadeuspagel 6y ago
Not every single employee is necessary in the sense that the business would go bankrupt without them. (Even if that were actually true, the minimum would drive some businesses into bankruptcy, so I don't see how it would help your case.) Rather there's always a choice on the margin. The business can sweep the floor every day, every other day, twice a day, etc..
- RandoHolmes 6y ago
  As a software developer, if I were asked to sweep the floors I'd probably find another company to work for. Or maybe not depending on how much I cared about the company, but most likely I would. So for these companies, it's required.
whiddershins 6y ago
That’s observably false. I have commented before that I choose not to hire an assistant any more because I am intimidated and overwhelmed by labor regulation compliance. There are many, many, marginal jobs like this. Jobs that could serve as an entry point to an industry for a person, and a business owner might happily hire someone and give them a chance to learn on the job, but if faced with too many hurdles, will simply do the work themselves. This has the effect of making people even more dependent on college, btw. And can effectively make certain types of career paths disappear entirely. Thing of a greeter at Walmart. How easily can Walmart just do away with greeters?
- morsch 6y ago
  What's the career path of a Walmart greeter?
  - kyleee 6y ago
    it's not set in stone, and that's part of the beauty of it. Who are you to say whether or not another person may take such a job at a wage they find agreeable?
  - RandoHolmes 6y ago
    death is their way up and out of that career, lmao.
- RandoHolmes 6y ago
  > I have commented before that I choose not to hire an assistant any more because I am intimidated and overwhelmed by labor regulation compliance. Good! If you can't adhere to labor regulations then don't hire people. I don't think that's an outlandish position to hold.
  - whiddershins 6y ago
    How many people do you employ, out of curiosity? And how has your experience been with labor compliance in your region?
    - RandoHolmes 6y ago
      Several in fact! But to take your implication head on, I once worked for a company whose owner decided to do this stuff himself. It resulted in several instances of people going unpaid for a few days and the owner sending out an email basically saying "if you don't get your paycheck on this friday and need money, come talk to me, I'll fix it". The result? The owner finally started paying someone who was competent enough to ensure everyone got paid on payday! These laws exist for a reason, and those reasons generally involve people being affected by it. --- My learnin's from watching all of that happen is not to take it lightly.

manigandham 6y ago

The assumes that demand stays the same with increased costs, or that supply remains the same under entirely different conditions.

amadeuspagel 6y ago

Not every single employee is necessary in the sense that the business would go bankrupt without them. (Even if that were actually true, the minimum would drive some businesses into bankruptcy, so I don't see how it would help your case.) Rather there's always a choice on the margin. The business can sweep the floor every day, every other day, twice a day, etc..

RandoHolmes 6y ago
As a software developer, if I were asked to sweep the floors I'd probably find another company to work for. Or maybe not depending on how much I cared about the company, but most likely I would. So for these companies, it's required.

whiddershins 6y ago

That’s observably false. I have commented before that I choose not to hire an assistant any more because I am intimidated and overwhelmed by labor regulation compliance. There are many, many, marginal jobs like this. Jobs that could serve as an entry point to an industry for a person, and a business owner might happily hire someone and give them a chance to learn on the job, but if faced with too many hurdles, will simply do the work themselves. This has the effect of making people even more dependent on college, btw. And can effectively make certain types of career paths disappear entirely. Thing of a greeter at Walmart. How easily can Walmart just do away with greeters?

morsch 6y ago
What's the career path of a Walmart greeter?
- kyleee 6y ago
  it's not set in stone, and that's part of the beauty of it. Who are you to say whether or not another person may take such a job at a wage they find agreeable?
- RandoHolmes 6y ago
  death is their way up and out of that career, lmao.
RandoHolmes 6y ago
> I have commented before that I choose not to hire an assistant any more because I am intimidated and overwhelmed by labor regulation compliance. Good! If you can't adhere to labor regulations then don't hire people. I don't think that's an outlandish position to hold.
- whiddershins 6y ago
  How many people do you employ, out of curiosity? And how has your experience been with labor compliance in your region?
  - RandoHolmes 6y ago
    Several in fact! But to take your implication head on, I once worked for a company whose owner decided to do this stuff himself. It resulted in several instances of people going unpaid for a few days and the owner sending out an email basically saying "if you don't get your paycheck on this friday and need money, come talk to me, I'll fix it". The result? The owner finally started paying someone who was competent enough to ensure everyone got paid on payday! These laws exist for a reason, and those reasons generally involve people being affected by it. --- My learnin's from watching all of that happen is not to take it lightly.