5 ms·

Rather, the pandemic has provided an opportunity to shore up ailing unemployment insurance schemes in a time when lots of types of work were inherently unsafe.

Rather, the pandemic has provided an opportunity to shore up ailing unemployment insurance schemes in a time when lots of types of work were inherently unsafe. As a result, we've shown people levels of dignity that they've never seen before, but should have been granted. If nothing else, the stimulus checks were unnecessary and the UI benefits were substandard. Full stop, the reason why American workers are hard to find and hiring is difficult is because companies aren't paying enough money. Executives and shareholders have had decades of amazing wealth accumulation, but that has to end. The unwinding is happening and the gains from productivity, automation, and innovation belong to everyone and this moment in history may force government to adopt policies to make it happen.

6foot4_82iq 5y ago
> aren't paying enough money Renumeration expectations are entirely malleable and subjective. When you've been riding the gravy train, even $15/h looks a pittance. > Executives and shareholders have had decades of amazing wealth accumulation, but that has to end. The unwinding is happening and the gains from productivity, automation, and innovation belong to everyone and this moment in history may force government to adopt policies to make it happen. What does America have to offer in 2021 that would prevent said executives (at the potential behest of shareholders) from jumping ship?
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- selectodude 5y ago
  >What does America have to offer in 2021 that would prevent said executives (at the potential behest of shareholders) from jumping ship? Kind of difficult to sell somebody a cheeseburger in America without hiring Americans. It's just one of those things that can't be outsourced.
  - 6foot4_82iq 5y ago
    Giving American fast food restaurants two paths: 1. automate 2. become a charity
    - pessimizer 5y ago
      > 1. automate Won't work. Customers are generally not going to figure out your UI, and even when they do a special case is going to come up once every five or so checkouts that requires employee intervention. > 2. become a charity This is a better idea. They should include e.g. 50¢ in the price of every Big Mac that will be donated to the workers who cooked and served it.
      - johnnylambada 5y ago
        I like your answer to #2, but that’s not a charity, that’s aligned incentives.
      - astrange 5y ago
        McDonald’s doesn’t employ the burger makers. They work for franchisees, who don’t necessarily have “executives and shareholders”.
      - 6foot4_82iq 5y ago
        > Won't work. Customers are generally not going to figure out your UI, and even when they do a special case is going to come up once every five or so checkouts that requires employee intervention. It does work. Every new McDonalds in Australia (where wages start at $22/h) is designed around using these screens for ordering. American consumers will adapt, they aren't special. > This is a better idea. They should include e.g. 50¢ in the price of every Big Mac that will be donated to the workers who cooked and served it. Barely palatable burgers are elastic goods (unless one has been drinking).
    - 8note 5y ago
      3. Be less profitable
refurb 5y ago
You’re making it way too complicated. Workers have alternatives. That’s your answer.
dominotw 5y ago
> hiring is difficult is because companies aren't paying enough money What i don't understand is why can't they simply raise the costs and pay more? Surely all their competitors have the same problem. If a business is not viable at these higher costs then you don't really have viable business.
- Nasrudith 5y ago
  There is another variable in what it takes to be paid enough - conditions. Minimium wage for a convenience store clerk job while in college where you can openly study may be enough money from the nice side benefits and fits into your schedule. A $25/hr job working in a sewage plant which certainly does not isolate the smell, unpredictable shifts, calls for unclogging human waste with an obnoxious arrogant, micromanaging asshole boss with rage issues? Not enough money.

6foot4_82iq 5y ago

> aren't paying enough money Renumeration expectations are entirely malleable and subjective. When you've been riding the gravy train, even $15/h looks a pittance. > Executives and shareholders have had decades of amazing wealth accumulation, but that has to end. The unwinding is happening and the gains from productivity, automation, and innovation belong to everyone and this moment in history may force government to adopt policies to make it happen. What does America have to offer in 2021 that would prevent said executives (at the potential behest of shareholders) from jumping ship?

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
selectodude 5y ago
>What does America have to offer in 2021 that would prevent said executives (at the potential behest of shareholders) from jumping ship? Kind of difficult to sell somebody a cheeseburger in America without hiring Americans. It's just one of those things that can't be outsourced.
- 6foot4_82iq 5y ago
  Giving American fast food restaurants two paths: 1. automate 2. become a charity
  - pessimizer 5y ago
    > 1. automate Won't work. Customers are generally not going to figure out your UI, and even when they do a special case is going to come up once every five or so checkouts that requires employee intervention. > 2. become a charity This is a better idea. They should include e.g. 50¢ in the price of every Big Mac that will be donated to the workers who cooked and served it.
    - johnnylambada 5y ago
      I like your answer to #2, but that’s not a charity, that’s aligned incentives.
    - astrange 5y ago
      McDonald’s doesn’t employ the burger makers. They work for franchisees, who don’t necessarily have “executives and shareholders”.
    - 6foot4_82iq 5y ago
      > Won't work. Customers are generally not going to figure out your UI, and even when they do a special case is going to come up once every five or so checkouts that requires employee intervention. It does work. Every new McDonalds in Australia (where wages start at $22/h) is designed around using these screens for ordering. American consumers will adapt, they aren't special. > This is a better idea. They should include e.g. 50¢ in the price of every Big Mac that will be donated to the workers who cooked and served it. Barely palatable burgers are elastic goods (unless one has been drinking).
  - 8note 5y ago
    3. Be less profitable

refurb 5y ago

You’re making it way too complicated. Workers have alternatives. That’s your answer.

dominotw 5y ago

> hiring is difficult is because companies aren't paying enough money What i don't understand is why can't they simply raise the costs and pay more? Surely all their competitors have the same problem. If a business is not viable at these higher costs then you don't really have viable business.

Nasrudith 5y ago
There is another variable in what it takes to be paid enough - conditions. Minimium wage for a convenience store clerk job while in college where you can openly study may be enough money from the nice side benefits and fits into your schedule. A $25/hr job working in a sewage plant which certainly does not isolate the smell, unpredictable shifts, calls for unclogging human waste with an obnoxious arrogant, micromanaging asshole boss with rage issues? Not enough money.