McDonalds Workers in New York Striking

[Granny square]

Ethics aren't ethics if they are based on your salary. I would also say that those in higher paying jobs don't necessarily have better ethical standards.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I have to chime in.

I was laid off from my non-profit job nearly 4 years ago. The spring before I was laid off, I received a 5% raise so I know I was doing my job well. I had been at my job since I had graduated from college with a BA.

It took me literally 2 full years to be called for any interviews. I was sending out resume upon resume and nothing. The entire time I was working retail part time, but when I say part time I mean less than 10 hours a week. It wasn't because I wanted only 10 hours, that was all my employer was able to give me.

I got a job at a big box store to make ends meet. Things were going well (between 35-40 hours per week) until after Christmas. Even with availability from 6am to 5pm (I worked at my other retail job nights), I was given only 5 hours a week. Not sure how anybody could survive on that.

Last summer I picked up yet another job. I worked for an attraction for a major company. Summer was great, I was getting 40+ hours a week. Meanwhile I still kept the other two jobs. The hours cut back in fall, but it was still steady.

What I'm trying to say is that not everyone who works for minimum wage is a kid. I have an education and I have prior experience but that doesn't seem to matter. I want to have a family, but it's nearly impossible when I don't even make $15,000 a year.

I want a 'real' job. I want somebody to hire me so I can feel worth it again. I just started substitute teaching in a local district and I feel more worth it than I have in nearly 4 years.

Part time jobs no longer mean 20 hours a week. I'm not sure how anyone is expected to survive on that.

I realize that my job may only 'be worth' $8.00 an hour but I give it my all everything I work.

 

[SLP958]

Sorry. Allow me to rephrase. Get a MARKETABLE education. Acquire a trade that is in needed in your area or relocate. I'm sure there are quite a few college graduates holding Liberal Arts or Gender Studies degrees that are having a hard time finding work. No one is going to GIVE you a job. You have to be qualified for a position that is open.
Likewise, no one is going to GIVE you a raise, or pay you double minimum wage just because you think they should.

Good point. Before deciding a career/college degree route, all students should research fields to see where there is a need and how much the field pays. I do not understand paying tens of thousands of dollars to have a degree in violin or painting when there is no money to be made there.

If one really wants these type degrees they should not be surprised when their skills are not marketable.

I really do not understand the debate in this thread. Working McDonald's is an unskilled labor job. It is to be expected that one would be pay unskilled wadges. It is not a company's responsibility to decide how much a worker needs to support themselves. Where did this idea even come from?

 

[angwill]

I have to chime in.

I was laid off from my non-profit job nearly 4 years ago. The spring before I was laid off, I received a 5% raise so I know I was doing my job well. I had been at my job since I had graduated from college with a BA.

It took me literally 2 full years to be called for any interviews. I was sending out resume upon resume and nothing. The entire time I was working retail part time, but when I say part time I mean less than 10 hours a week. It wasn't because I wanted only 10 hours, that was all my employer was able to give me.

I got a job at a big box store to make ends meet. Things were going well (between 35-40 hours per week) until after Christmas. Even with availability from 6am to 5pm (I worked at my other retail job nights), I was given only 5 hours a week. Not sure how anybody could survive on that.

Last summer I picked up yet another job. I worked for an attraction for a major company. Summer was great, I was getting 40+ hours a week. Meanwhile I still kept the other two jobs. The hours cut back in fall, but it was still steady.

What I'm trying to say is that not everyone who works for minimum wage is a kid. I have an education and I have prior experience but that doesn't seem to matter. I want to have a family, but it's nearly impossible when I don't even make $15,000 a year.

I want a 'real' job. I want somebody to hire me so I can feel worth it again. I just started substitute teaching in a local district and I feel more worth it than I have in nearly 4 years.

Part time jobs no longer mean 20 hours a week. I'm not sure how anyone is expected to survive on that.

I realize that my job may only 'be worth' $8.00 an hour but I give it my all everything I work.

I feel for you and you are not alone. That is the way things are where we live. College education, trade skills or not most jobs are only paying minimum wage or a little bit above because they know they can because people are desperate and will take what they can to try and keep their heads above water. I think people in good jobs that have no worrieds just don't understand. We have had our house on the market for 3 years now and can not even sell to move where their might be more job possibilities, wherever that is. I worry for my son but he will be able to move after college to wherever he can get a job. It is easy to just see what is happening in our immediate area and never understand that it is different all over.