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The article is about subjecting workers to discriminated pay rates for reasons: that are not clear to the workers; that may not be within the power of the worke

The article is about subjecting workers to discriminated pay rates for reasons: that are not clear to the workers; that may not be within the power of the workers to control; that cannot be predicted in advance; and that may vary per worker rather than being offered the same to all workers at once; with that last also based on factors unknown to the workers—including, potentially, personal information about the worker or about their compensation history. The paper is explicitly not (as in: the intro outright states this is not what it’s about) traditional forms of variable pay.

itake 2y ago
> that are not clear to the workers; that may not be within the power of the workers to control; that cannot be predicted in advance; and that may vary per worker rather than being offered the same to all workers at once; You’re literally describing tipping. When a worker starts their shift, they do not know how much they will earn. Tips vary per worker for sexism, racism, ageism reasons, or just plain luck.
- vundercind 2y ago
  That is similar! But this is the employer doing it, not a bunch of uncoordinated people.
  - itake 2y ago
    If 5 “employers” per day opaquely compensate an employee, then that’s ok. But if 1 employer, chooses their wage opaquely, then that’s bad. I don’t get it.
    - vundercind 2y ago
      The paper explains this (and isn’t about quite what you’re suggesting). Tens of pages of explanation, it covers it better than I will.
- yulker 2y ago
  Most restaurants in the world operate without tips.
mewpmewp2 2y ago
But usually these things come down to patterns that people will learn. E.g. they will learn certain location at certain hours will pay more, because there's more demand vs supply, so they will adapt. It allows them the power to decide when and for what money it is worth it for them to work those hours or this location.
- vundercind 2y ago
  Those parts, maybe. Will you know they’re offing you and Bill the exact same job at the same time, and are willing to pay whichever of you takes it first, but Bill’s offer is 20% higher? Or when they’ve made you a lower-than-usual offer to test if they can start offering you lower rates in the future (but you did just get a past-due notice on your kid’s hospital bill…)?
  - itake 2y ago
    > Will you know they’re offing you and Bill the exact same job at the same time, and are willing to pay whichever of you takes it first, but Bill’s offer is 20% higher? Is this any different from than any job ever? More experience airline pilots are paid more than the less experienced for the exact same route. Two new grads from the same school may get different offers depending on how well they interviewed for the same role. Where is the problem?

itake 2y ago

> that are not clear to the workers; that may not be within the power of the workers to control; that cannot be predicted in advance; and that may vary per worker rather than being offered the same to all workers at once; You’re literally describing tipping. When a worker starts their shift, they do not know how much they will earn. Tips vary per worker for sexism, racism, ageism reasons, or just plain luck.

vundercind 2y ago
That is similar! But this is the employer doing it, not a bunch of uncoordinated people.
- itake 2y ago
  If 5 “employers” per day opaquely compensate an employee, then that’s ok. But if 1 employer, chooses their wage opaquely, then that’s bad. I don’t get it.
  - vundercind 2y ago
    The paper explains this (and isn’t about quite what you’re suggesting). Tens of pages of explanation, it covers it better than I will.
yulker 2y ago
Most restaurants in the world operate without tips.

mewpmewp2 2y ago

But usually these things come down to patterns that people will learn. E.g. they will learn certain location at certain hours will pay more, because there's more demand vs supply, so they will adapt. It allows them the power to decide when and for what money it is worth it for them to work those hours or this location.

vundercind 2y ago
Those parts, maybe. Will you know they’re offing you and Bill the exact same job at the same time, and are willing to pay whichever of you takes it first, but Bill’s offer is 20% higher? Or when they’ve made you a lower-than-usual offer to test if they can start offering you lower rates in the future (but you did just get a past-due notice on your kid’s hospital bill…)?
- itake 2y ago
  > Will you know they’re offing you and Bill the exact same job at the same time, and are willing to pay whichever of you takes it first, but Bill’s offer is 20% higher? Is this any different from than any job ever? More experience airline pilots are paid more than the less experienced for the exact same route. Two new grads from the same school may get different offers depending on how well they interviewed for the same role. Where is the problem?