Should cast members be paid more?

[DisneyBamaFan]

You read it. She says he lives in an "income restricted apartment," i.e. public housing.

On what planet is rent restricted housing aka public housing? Rent control is all over the place, and there is almost never public funding for rent control.

Try google.

 

[dakcp2001]

On what planet is rent restricted housing aka public housing? Rent control is all over the place, and there is almost never public funding for rent control.

Try google.

Where I come from it is public housing. Maybe the poster can clarify in this situation.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Where I come from it is public housing. Maybe the poster can clarify in this situation.

Where you come from all rent controlled housing is public housing? Have a link?

 

[Planogirl]

Where you come from all rent controlled housing is public housing? Have a link?

Do either of you have a link?

 

[Minnesota!]

I do think, for what they provide, and how much money Disney does make, that CM's should make more.

Starting wage where I work - for unskilled, EXTREMELY entry level, is about $24K. Which is what, $11.50/hour or so?

When I started here, entry level paid $8/hour. And that was 13 years ago.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Do either of you have a link?

Sure - Rent control is different than subsidized housing:

Subsidized Housing

Rent Controlled Housing

 

[dakcp2001]

In my state there is no "rent control" when people say they live in rent control they are referring to section 8. That is the lingo here. I didnt even know there was a difference. I just googled, apparently the rent control you are referring to was outlawed in my state. People use rent control interchangable with public assistance related housing in my neck of the woods. I did find some interesting info that they tried to reinstate it a few years ago, to no avail.

http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/80/massrent.html

http://www.spoa.com/pages/bostonrc.htm

 

[Jennasis]

Isn't that what Disney is doing?

I don't know, since that's not my industry.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

In my state there is no "rent control" when people say they live in rent control they are referring to section 8. That is the lingo here. I didnt even know there was a difference. I just googled, apparently the rent control you are referring to was outlawed in my state. People use rent control interchangable with public assistance related housing in my neck of the woods. I did find some interesting info that they tried to reinstate it a few years ago, to no avail.

http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/80/massrent.html

Thanks for the information. I can believe that MA decided to go with subsudized housing instead of rent control. I think that rent control is horrible for the market and the landlords, but it is not subsidized by tax dollars (though it could be argued that it is subsidized by higher rent charged in non-controlled properties).

 

[Acklander]

I'm not privy to Disney's finances, so I'm not sure what they can or can not afford. However, Years ago I read a book by the guys who started Ben & Jerry's. They way they used to do it, is entry level would make X amount of dollars. The next level up (supervisor) would make no more than (I believe) 3 times entry level. The Manager would make no more than 3 times what the supervisor made. The VP would make no more than 3X what the manager made, and the president would make no more than 3x what the VP would make. There may have been other levels in there, but you get the idea. Ever since then I've looked at businesses with that type of scale. If there's a huge difference between what one level is making to the next level I consider it corporate greed.

 

[C.Ann]

Just curious....how much do some of you think they should be making?

Many of these job require little to no education and most cast members are entry level type positions. What do you guys think they should make? $20K / year? $30K? 40K?

Making $20K is $9.61/hr (assuming 40 hrs a week & no OT)
Making $30K is $14.42 /hr
Making $40K is $19.23 /hr

For people that say you can't live on $15K a year...maybe / maybe not. People do it..

Get a roommate if your single, if your married and your spouse works your income is added together and likely into at least the low $30's.

People should NOT be taking these types of jobs if they think they are going to get rich and live a great life from day 1. Take the job, work your way up and hopefully you can reach a pay level that you are happy with. That's the same as any other company.

The figures you presented above can't be taken at face value though - at least not in terms of a "living wage".. In reality, a "living wage" is what you actually bring home after taxes are taken out, SS, health ins. premiums, etc.. So the $9.61, $14.42, and $19.23 are going to be considerably less after deductions..

Based on what many posters here have said over the past year or two - in regards to employment possibilities in the Orlando area - it doesn't sound like there's an overabundance of jobs.. And as another poster pointed out, Disney is the largest employer - second only to Publix.. Housing has tanked, so people can't just sell their homes and move elsewhere - so it seems that there aren't an awful lot of options for people - which is probably why they had to take these jobs to begin with..

It seems to me that Disney expects an awful lot out of their employees - for the low wages they receive.. I think I have a better understanding now of why it's so difficult for some CM's to be happy, smiling, and cordial every minute of their work shift.. Financial issues can really wear a person down..

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

On what planet is rent restricted housing aka public housing? Rent control is all over the place, and there is almost never public funding for rent control.

Try google.

I think the correct term here might be income restricted housing? I'm not sure I didn't read. You have to make a certain amount (generally around 15 - 18 k depending on 1, 2 or 3 bedroom) and not go over a certain amount (anywhere between 22 and 25 k depending on 1, 2 or 3 bedroom).

Let's just say the ones around here have freaking waitlists of nothing but a good chunk of cast members. Because it's really all you can afford unless you have a ton of roommates. The one I'm thinking of is 635 a month for 1 bedroom, 745 for 2 and 865 for 3.

That's still pretty high rent when you consider someone in attractions working full time (40 a week) for 2 years is still only bringing home around 240 a week after insurance comes out. AND insurance is going up again, by a lot. $5.00 a week for the lowest insurance benefits may not sound like a lot but when you're only making $7.70 an hour... well that's a gallon of milk or 2 loaves of bread that you don't have anymore and that hurts when your insurance STILL has a deductible of $1,000 you have to pay before they cover anything.

Is it lower skilled positions? Yes. But not everyone in the world has the know how, the drive, or the ability to go for white collar jobs. Does that mean that we should make it so they can't live from day to day? Yes... I know you lived on less when you were single. Want a cookie? Because not everyone can do that.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I'm not privy to Disney's finances, so I'm not sure what they can or can not afford. However, Years ago I read a book by the guys who started Ben & Jerry's. They way they used to do it, is entry level would make X amount of dollars. The next level up (supervisor) would make no more than (I believe) 3 times entry level. The Manager would make no more than 3 times what the supervisor made. The VP would make no more than 3X what the manager made, and the president would make no more than 3x what the VP would make. There may have been other levels in there, but you get the idea. Ever since then I've looked at businesses with that type of scale. If there's a huge difference between what one level is making to the next level I consider it corporate greed.

I believe it was Japan that once had a law that restricted CEO pay, with bonuses, to no more than 20x the lowest salary in the company. That seems like an equitable approach within a company, but you would probably lose your best executives to companies not held to those same restrictions.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have not read the whole thread, but I have worked for the mouse "off property" at the Vero Beach resort making a pittance to clean toilets and the lobby.

The job is not rocket science, it did not pay much and I am not of any disillusion that sporting a smile requires additional compensation. You either have a work ethic or you don't and there are people in all sorts of jobs world wide that should not work in customer service. They'd be unhappy if they made twice as much.

I have relatives that currently or in the past work for the mouse in the past. One is salaried, one was salaried, one was hourly with a sad resentment towards guests.

I also have a friend who currently works for the mouse. She isn't wealthy--far from it, she is hourly--but she does it b/c it is fun (and free that free entry perk).

It would be lovely if folks were paid more. But--to say they deserve more as an entity, I have a problem with that.

There is a supply and demand, they will offer more when they are short on supply of cast members and they will offer less when there is a line a mile long.

Then toss in that--what exactly are folks doing? For most folks--they aren't doing much that requires a $20 hour salary (a rough guestimate of a "living" wage). The tasks involved just don't command that wage.

I don't recall my wage, but it wasn't very high. It was an opportunity to leave a crap job that paid more to work for the mouse. When I got there, I was treated poorly by the housekeeping staff (but beautifully by the office/lobby/kitchen staff and HR--go figure!) That drove me to leave at the first opportunity.

I have a hard time with folks insisting that customer service folks should make more just because they deal with people. I just don't get it. There just isn't a huge skill set required and being nice (IMHO) isn't something someone should be paid to be. If they aren't nice at $2 an hour, they aren't going to be nice at $20 or $50 an hour.

I am not certain of the resolution, but if one were to really investigate the compensation schedule across corporations, Disney is not unique in what they are doing.

Now, I was not on property. I was in my own little Vero Beach world. One friend that used to work there, but transitioned on property when they shut down sales at Vero said that it was a whole different world once you got to the world.

But my bottom line opinion--compensation should be commensurate with skill set required to do a job. I cleaned toilets. I had a hard time then and now with the notion that I should be getting paid a lot to do that task.

 

[Hannathy]

My son is a FT CM living on his own in an income restricted apt
It is a tiny studio, but he is happy
It has 3 big closets and a nice kitchen and small bath
He also has a car payment, ins, and calble bill
He mannges to pay all his bills, has NEVER been late with of his bills
he also buys all his own food
He is a 4 year CM and makes less that $8 an hour
The only thing he does differnet is he works 6 days a week

And what has your son done in the 4 years to better himself? and make him employable for a higher wage? Is he going to college? Is he volunteering for any extra experience and assignments within Disney that he can?

If he is doing an unskilled job he is going to get unskilled wages no matter how long he is in the job. And honestly why shouldn't he?

 

[Planogirl]

I have not read the whole thread, but I have worked for the mouse "off property" at the Vero Beach resort making a pittance to clean toilets and the lobby.

The job is not rocket science, it did not pay much and I am not of any disillusion that sporting a smile requires additional compensation. You either have a work ethic or you don't and there are people in all sorts of jobs world wide that should not work in customer service. They'd be unhappy if they made twice as much.

I have relatives that currently or in the past work for the mouse in the past. One is salaried, one was salaried, one was hourly with a sad resentment towards guests.

I also have a friend who currently works for the mouse. She isn't wealthy--far from it, she is hourly--but she does it b/c it is fun (and free that free entry perk).

It would be lovely if folks were paid more. But--to say they deserve more as an entity, I have a problem with that.

There is a supply and demand, they will offer more when they are short on supply of cast members and they will offer less when there is a line a mile long.

Then toss in that--what exactly are folks doing? For most folks--they aren't doing much that requires a $20 hour salary (a rough guestimate of a "living" wage). The tasks involved just don't command that wage.

I don't recall my wage, but it wasn't very high. It was an opportunity to leave a crap job that paid more to work for the mouse. When I got there, I was treated poorly by the housekeeping staff (but beautifully by the office/lobby/kitchen staff and HR--go figure!) That drove me to leave at the first opportunity.

I have a hard time with folks insisting that customer service folks should make more just because they deal with people. I just don't get it. There just isn't a huge skill set required and being nice (IMHO) isn't something someone should be paid to be. If they aren't nice at $2 an hour, they aren't going to be nice at $20 or $50 an hour.

I am not certain of the resolution, but if one were to really investigate the compensation schedule across corporations, Disney is not unique in what they are doing.

Now, I was not on property. I was in my own little Vero Beach world. One friend that used to work there, but transitioned on property when they shut down sales at Vero said that it was a whole different world once you got to the world.

But my bottom line opinion--compensation should be commensurate with skill set required to do a job. I cleaned toilets. I had a hard time then and now with the notion that I should be getting paid a lot to do that task.

Customer service people can have more difficult things to do than just be nice. In my area, the jobs involve complicated computer programs and require literally months of training. Plus even the interaction goes beyond being nice with the company requiring the use of certain words and phrases and some scripted interaction too. Finally, you feel that the job is really hard when you get an abusive customer. That is very hard.

Of course, CM jobs may not be like this.

 

[Planogirl]

Sure - Rent control is different than subsidized housing:

Subsidized Housing

Rent Controlled Housing

Thanks

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

And what has your son done in the 4 years to better himself? and make him employable for a higher wage? Is he going to college? Is he volunteering for any extra experience and assignments within Disney that he can?

If he is doing an unskilled job he is going to get unskilled wages no matter how long he is in the job. And honestly why shouldn't he?

I don't think that the poster was suggesting otherwise.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Customer service people can have more difficult things to do than just be nice. In my area, the jobs involve complicated computer programs and require literally months of training. Plus even the interaction goes beyond being nice with the company requiring the use of certain words and phrases and some scripted interaction too. Finally, you feel that the job is really hard when you get an abusive customer. That is very hard.

Of course, CM jobs may not be like this.

True--but I have a feeling we are talking about CM's doing the more mundane non-extraordinary tasks to operate the theme park.

As it stands--at least at Vero, each section had their own payscale...so us lowly mousekeepers, didn't get the same range as the front desk people or the recreation staff for example.

The common argument seems to be that the CM's have to put up with all sorts of guests and their low wage must be why they can't be sunshine and cheery all the time.

My comment was about that.

Even a retail CM isn't going to have to know the ins and outs of their computer systems.

(And I have worked retail as well...making more than I did scrubbing toilets of course. And part of the reason why I opted for scrubbing toilets!)

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I have done some searching. Florida does not allow rent control, per se. They do allow municipalities to control rent increases, but landlords can charge new tenants whatever they want. Not sure if this is what mrsdon meant.