4 ms·

Just to push back against this view a bit with one anecdote -- I'm still in contact with an ex-colleague of mine, who I used to work with in retail. He now work

Just to push back against this view a bit with one anecdote -- I'm still in contact with an ex-colleague of mine, who I used to work with in retail. He now works for various delivery apps. And according to him it's vastly superior to any retail job he worked previously and whenever I mention any of the negative press these apps receive and query for his opinion he usually just rolls his eyes. He gets to control when and how long he works, he gets to ride his bike (which he loves) and pay is much better than any retail job he would get in london (and he would be looking at retail manager considering his experience). So in that picture of local McDonald's in London, consider that perhaps those guys are actually much happier than everyone else working in that store (including the McDonald's managers). Obviously that's just an anecdote of one person, I don't actually have a strong opinion on this.

asah 4y ago
...until the day he gets injured, bike stolen, etc etc etc - and these jobs are also unsustainable because they're not saving enough for retirement, i.e. when your body is no longer able to compete with younger bodies.
- Invictus0 4y ago
  Serious question, have you ever been poor in your life or worked a retail job?
  - asah 4y ago
    Yes, many, I have stories. Inspired me to take school seriously. But this isn't about me. Obviously, people working retail jobs have limited options to make money. But that's also not the point. The point is that gig work sounds good until you need worker's comp.
cosmodisk 4y ago
I absolutely believe what your ex colleague says/thinks of his job is exactly what he means, however he's comparing it with a retail job,which,in most cases are pretty crap. I also understand that even if the job may look crap, it can still be a huge improvement for the person who's doing the job. I've done enough crappy and good jobs in my life to know the difference, but I appreciate not everyone would have such a perspective.
coredog64 4y ago
My (now ex) brother-in-law had to pivot from waiting tables to a delivery job. A positive benefit for him is that when he has the kids, he can bring them along and spend some time with them. That’s something that you’d take for for granted if you work at a laptop all day.
- xnyan 4y ago
  One of the greatest aspects of working from home is getting to see my young son all day. When programming or other focus work I have to isolate, but for meetings he joins me and it's a lot of fun. My job allows and supports this, and it's one of the biggest reasons I stay with them.
- cosmodisk 4y ago
  I did have some people delivering stuff for me with their kids/family inside the van. This is not OK in any shape or form. I understand why it's like this, but it doesn't make it any better.
ClumsyPilot 4y ago
> , he gets to ride his bike (which he loves) delivery guy i know has to, well, deliver and thete was nowhere to lock the bike. bike got stolen, 1 grand down the drain. he us borrowing a bike from a friend as otherwise he can't earn

asah 4y ago

...until the day he gets injured, bike stolen, etc etc etc - and these jobs are also unsustainable because they're not saving enough for retirement, i.e. when your body is no longer able to compete with younger bodies.

Invictus0 4y ago
Serious question, have you ever been poor in your life or worked a retail job?
- asah 4y ago
  Yes, many, I have stories. Inspired me to take school seriously. But this isn't about me. Obviously, people working retail jobs have limited options to make money. But that's also not the point. The point is that gig work sounds good until you need worker's comp.

cosmodisk 4y ago

I absolutely believe what your ex colleague says/thinks of his job is exactly what he means, however he's comparing it with a retail job,which,in most cases are pretty crap. I also understand that even if the job may look crap, it can still be a huge improvement for the person who's doing the job. I've done enough crappy and good jobs in my life to know the difference, but I appreciate not everyone would have such a perspective.

coredog64 4y ago

My (now ex) brother-in-law had to pivot from waiting tables to a delivery job. A positive benefit for him is that when he has the kids, he can bring them along and spend some time with them. That’s something that you’d take for for granted if you work at a laptop all day.

xnyan 4y ago
One of the greatest aspects of working from home is getting to see my young son all day. When programming or other focus work I have to isolate, but for meetings he joins me and it's a lot of fun. My job allows and supports this, and it's one of the biggest reasons I stay with them.
cosmodisk 4y ago
I did have some people delivering stuff for me with their kids/family inside the van. This is not OK in any shape or form. I understand why it's like this, but it doesn't make it any better.

ClumsyPilot 4y ago

> , he gets to ride his bike (which he loves) delivery guy i know has to, well, deliver and thete was nowhere to lock the bike. bike got stolen, 1 grand down the drain. he us borrowing a bike from a friend as otherwise he can't earn