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It's hard to guess these things, but I suspect that even if we massively succeed we probably won't make much if any dent in sit-down and local/mom-and-pop resta

It's hard to guess these things, but I suspect that even if we massively succeed we probably won't make much if any dent in sit-down and local/mom-and-pop restaurants (and the jobs that come with them) since we fill a very different role. E.g. I'll still be going to the local taqueria, Burmese hole-in-the-wall etc. post-Covid. But we might displace some demand and therefore labor from fast-food options like McDonalds. That said, they're having a lot of trouble finding workers right now (~200% annual turnover in the space from what I've seen) so I don't think we'll be creating unemployment there either.

xrd 6y ago
This is a terrific answer, thanks for engaging with me. It makes me feel better to hear that.
- p1necone 6y ago
  I suspect McDonalds is only dealing with high turnover because their wages don't cover living costs. Not because there's actually nobody who needs the job.
  - TedDoesntTalk 6y ago
    Right. If they are really desperate for help that does not turn over, they would raise wages. If your help is fungible, why bother? Or am I missing something?
    - jfengel 6y ago
      They have constructed their business model around fungible people. That has upsides and downsides. It's good for providing employment to young people without a track record and inconsistent schedules. It's bad for making any kind of career. Even managing is only barely a living wage, despite being the overwhelming task of dealing with those fungible workers. It's kind of useful that such a thing exists. But it's disappointing that it makes them the third largest employer in the US -- right behind Yum! Brands, who do pretty much the same thing. They turn out a product that people should consume sparingly but is instead one of the main food providers. In other words... a lot is broken. Poorly paid, disposable employees is just a tiny piece of it.

xrd 6y ago

This is a terrific answer, thanks for engaging with me. It makes me feel better to hear that.

p1necone 6y ago
I suspect McDonalds is only dealing with high turnover because their wages don't cover living costs. Not because there's actually nobody who needs the job.
- TedDoesntTalk 6y ago
  Right. If they are really desperate for help that does not turn over, they would raise wages. If your help is fungible, why bother? Or am I missing something?
  - jfengel 6y ago
    They have constructed their business model around fungible people. That has upsides and downsides. It's good for providing employment to young people without a track record and inconsistent schedules. It's bad for making any kind of career. Even managing is only barely a living wage, despite being the overwhelming task of dealing with those fungible workers. It's kind of useful that such a thing exists. But it's disappointing that it makes them the third largest employer in the US -- right behind Yum! Brands, who do pretty much the same thing. They turn out a product that people should consume sparingly but is instead one of the main food providers. In other words... a lot is broken. Poorly paid, disposable employees is just a tiny piece of it.