Community Chat

[CrazyDaisy]

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@gertrudecloset wrote:

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@CrazyDaisy wrote:

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@aroc3435 wrote:

@CrazyDaisy   Providing a living wage doesn't lower the bar it gives an individual the means to provide for self with some dignity and decency and to climb the ladder instead of plunging into the abyss they can't hope to otherwise escape.

Pulling oneself by the bootstraps doesn't preclude offering a helping hand from one or more sources.  Encouragement and helping to preserve and enhance a worker's dignity enchances everbody else's quality of life.

aroc343

Washington, DC

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Lower paying jobs are starter jobs not a person's life work.  Hard work, sacrifice and dedication to better oneself is "dignity and decency".  Whining that you want more money because you don't have enough and don't want to do anything else is absurd.  Provide more opportunities for people to better themselves, don't pay them to stay mediocre.  That is lowering the bar.

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@CrazyDaisy 

These low paying jobs can and are be life long jobs for people who will not be able to do much better in life.  Think of the many disabled who work hard to hold down a job with integrity.  Their work skills will be limited.  No one said they should earn the wage of a physician if that's not what they are skilled at.  It's not as simple as you make it sound.

Think of the elderly who need to supplement their retirement with part time work because their retirement isn't cutting it due to inflation?

Of course, some of these jobs must remain around.  We need a fair balance in the work force.  Everyone can't be a Chief.  We need some worker bees too or else where will we be? Only in an ideal world (Utopia) would what you describe can be true.

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The elderly and disabled recieve money from the Federal government from various programs, as they should.   These entry level jobs are there for people to get work experience and supplement other income, not raise a family of 4.  

[CalminHeart]

A lot of people re-evaluated life during the pandemic.

What's really important in life?  

Is the corporate world worth your soul?

Is working for low wages worth it?

Is it necessary to have the best things? 

Are the hours and stress of climbing the ladder worth it?

Do I really want to work for low wages?

How many went back to school (online)?

I retired from an huge international corporation. They are:

• Currently laying off 800 people in my city because of a change in their business plan.
• Eliminating positions of thousands of agents throughout the country
• gives salary increases to about 20% of people each year
• Cut their Pension plan payout 50%
• Cut benefits every year
• Charges $400 to $1000 per month for health insurance benefits. 

Is it really worth the angst anymore?  

[On It]

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@CalminHeart wrote:

A lot of people re-evaluated life during the pandemic.

What's really important in life?  

Is the corporate world worth your soul?

Is working for low wages worth it?

Is it necessary to have the best things? 

Are the hours and stress of climbing the ladder worth it?

Do I really want to work for low wages?

How many went back to school (online)?

I retired from an huge international corporation. They are:

• Currently laying off 800 people in my city because of a change in their business plan.
• Eliminating positions of thousands of agents throughout the country
• gives salary increases to about 20% of people each year
• Cut their Pension plan payout 50%
• Cut benefits every year
• Charges $400 to $1000 per month for health insurance benefits. 

Is it really worth the angst anymore?  

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Thank you for refocusing the topic on my original post. The continuing shortage crosses all socio-economic levels. Those not involved with large companies have no understanding of some of these companies' ruthlessness or lack of compassion for their employees. Many left or changed jobs as they answered your question, "Is it really worth the angst anymore?"

[IrishScorp]

I couldn't agree more. Prior to being married, my then fiance (now husband) and I said whoever made a smaller salary would stay home and raise our children. We would tighten up and we would make it work. When I was pregnant with our first child, I priced out daycare and compared it to my salary and the outrageous cost of daycare back then (1994) and it made no sense for me to work for a mere $100 a week (this was before I gassed my car). Day care back then would have eaten up my entire pay. My first child was born premature and had some health issues, at which point it was a no brainer that I would stay home and care for my child. I cannot even imagine what young families now pay for child care, knowing how outrageous it was 27 years ago. I can definitly see the slowdown leading families to evaluate the necessity of a second income while considering the costs of day care for a child/children. 

[IrishScorp]

The worker shortage is worldwide though. I don't see how bringing "foreigners" to the US help.

[CalminHeart]

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@IrishScorp wrote:

The worker shortage is worldwide though. I don't see how bringing "foreigners" to the US help.

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A lot of Americans think they're above working certain jobs.... in the fields, maids in a hotel, day labor, roofing, etc. When was the last time a immigrant, legal or not, took your job in the fields?

[CrazyDaisy]

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@CalminHeart wrote:

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@IrishScorp wrote:

The worker shortage is worldwide though. I don't see how bringing "foreigners" to the US help.

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A lot of Americans think they're above working certain jobs.... in the fields, maids in a hotel, day labor, roofing, etc. When was the last time a immigrant, legal or not, took your job in the fields?

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Employers cannot hire those that enter this country illegally.  

[FiddleDeeDee]

When our children were little (we have 4), the cost of childcare was more than my salary plus part of DH's (and we made good money). Essentially, I was working to pay for childcare so I could work to pay for childcare so I could work, etc......

Stupid. Did some thinking, a LOT of research and chose to stay home and teach at the college level via UMUC (University of MD, University College). ALL of my classes were online and ALL of my students were adults who were either military (and all over the world) or parents in high risk situations (meaning they had a job, debt, kids and were working on a college degree to better their situation but Life was making it REAL TOUGH for them). Due to my degrees and background, I became a counselor to students in this situation as well as a prof. Win-Win for everyone. My situation was not unique, many  live/lived and nothing changed about it (still hasn't); however, Covid BROUGHT IT TO LIGHT to the masses and now we're seeing changes (good and bad depending on your situation).

The increase of wages is NOT happening to everyone. Nope. In local restaurants, the ones who received the increase have NOT been the ones in the back but the ones in the front. Servers are not doing too badly with tips, however, the INCREASE in food costs plus a tip has made people choose to eat out less. We don't go out. I'm not paying $20 (before a tip) for a hamburger, fries and a coke. That would be $120 for the 6 of us plus $25 for the tip: $145 for something I can make at home for $10 (if that) and we're talking a dive restaurant, nothing upscale or with ambiance. So, what happens as less people choose to eat out due to cost? The business still fails. 

Companies are hiring but with conditions:my sons can tell you that. I can tell you that, DH can tell you that. Part time (no benefits) and odd hours. "Can you work 3 hours in the morning and then come back for an hour at night? No? Ok then, see ya". Working multiple jobs with no benefits is what many who are in HS and college are doing because that is all that is out there. Yes, these are NOT jobs to support anyone but think about it: how are those who ARE needing to support a family, pay rent/bills supposed to do it with schedules like this? Oh, and not fixed schedules either. Not seeing the $15 an hour around here either: $11 is the norm, $13 is WOW. At the hospital I'm at, it's all part time. DH's company is the same. If you're a MD, PhD, nurse with specific skills....different story. But we're not talking about that sector of the population. Companies cry the blues but they are not paying well.

Btw, many companies will start you out at a higher pay but then DECREASE your pay. In right to hire/fire states, it's legal. One son found that out the hard way. He walked. Many can't.

It's easy to blame those "living on the dole, at home, watching TV" when you're not out there in the job market. The vast majority of Americans do NOT hold a degree. The vast majority of Americans work in jobs that don't offer benefits or chances to advance. Getting a degree or certificate is EXPENSIVE (research it, you may be shocked at the cost); and if you don't pass the state exam, all that money was for NOTHING. As factory automation becomes the norm (and it's starting to), what will so many do then? How about mail/packages? Ordering food? Grocery shopping? People laughed when my husband mentioned the phrase "out-sourcing of jobs is going to become common place" 20-some years ago (IT was starting to do that back then); they are NOT laughing now.

COVID showed us the flaws, the problems in our society, in our world. Instead of trying to get it back to the "same old, same old", perhaps we should now make the changes to make us stronger and prepared going forward. Don't think it isn't going to happen again, folks. It may not be another Pandemic, but something else that could shut us down. 

Oh, one last thing: I know many (too many) who have made MORE money since Covid than in  years prior. This has been a BOOM for them financially. Their lives didn't change in any way. Personally, no one (other than DH and I) lost their jobs or their benefits; they all received pay raises; they're all doing fine. No big deal for them (they say). And those that make the laws, procedures, decisions that affect the majority are in THAT group. Something else to think about.....