Sign on bonus for fast food?

[MrsPete]

It's not 'unskilled labour'. There is skill required to any job.

Well, yeah, any job -- even a volunteer job -- requires some work-ability /work-awareness skill. For example, showing up on time, working as a member of a team, following instructions, sticking to a task, dressing appropriately, being polite to customers. But those aren't SKILLS; skills are things most people can't do -- and things you can't learn in a day. Fixing an electrical problem is a skill. Running a cash register isn't. Cutting someone's hair is a skill. Chopping tomatoes and lettuce for a burger isn't. Taking someone's blood pressure is a skill. Sweeping the floor isn't.

...Other than just shorten hours or eliminate menu items. And short term those things may be helpful, but they also hurt sales.

Shortening hours seems like a small sacrifice; do we really need to pay for 24-hour stores?
Shortening a menu sounds like an acceptable solution as well.

I mean, at this rate, more and more places will figure out how to automate things and once they do, they won't go back.

Yes, I think one outcome of the pandemic will be a growth in computerization.
And that will eliminate some low-skill jobs.

But man...when you take out all of the pain and suffering, this pandemic is fascinating in a lot of ways to watch as it unfolds.

It's fascinating in a train wreck kind of way.
I'm sorry for the pain and suffering, but we as individuals can't change that.

this was what I was trying to say. I never said it didn’t take ANY skills to work fast food. But something a 16 year old can do on day 1 of the job is not a skilled position.

Yes, it's not an insult to anyone, but -- yes. Some people may pick up on the job faster, and some people may do the job better -- but if you can learn it in a day (or two), it's a low-skill job.

That would be fantastic for our economy. Work to get all small private owned businesses to fail so it can all be big corporations. Mmm, yum, nothing but the high quality Applebees to eat at. Nothing but Chinese junk at Walmart to buy. Never build a straight structure again with the warped garbage from Lowes and Home Depot. All the jobs lost by those who do want to work. The future sounds fantastic.

Eh, I have a friend who left teaching to start a restaurant some 2-3 years ago. Her business has not only done well during the pandemic, she opened a second location six months ago. They were quick to adapt with ideas like "Tuesday special" and "Pick up a family-sized meal" for a discount price.
Yes, some businesses will die during this pandemic, but they won't necessarily be small businesses. Sears, for example, seems finally to have died.

Regarding the "skilled" vs "unskilled"-- no one is saying people in those types of jobs don't have any skills or talents. These are recognized terms for certain types of jobs, like "trade", "profession", "blue/white collar", etc. Not a reflection of the value of the people working those positions.

Yes, well said.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

I retired at the end of 2020 although they still give me some consulting work.

These signing bonuses sound tempting. Work at Wawa for 90 days, quit, then work at Walmart for 90 days, etc.

But I do think I found my perfect retirement job. Parking meter enforcement boy in Ocean City, NJ. So many scofflaws who think the rules don't apply to them. I'd have a field day!!

Yeah, when I'm walking down the streets there I often check the parking meters.

 

[prairie_girl]

Well, yeah, any job -- even a volunteer job -- requires some work-ability /work-awareness skill. For example, showing up on time, working as a member of a team, following instructions, sticking to a task, dressing appropriately, being polite to customers. But those aren't SKILLS; skills are things most people can't do -- and things you can't learn in a day. Fixing an electrical problem is a skill. Running a cash register isn't. Cutting someone's hair is a skill. Chopping tomatoes and lettuce for a burger isn't. Taking someone's blood pressure is a skill. Sweeping the floor isn't.
Shortening hours seems like a small sacrifice; do we really need to pay for 24-hour stores?
Shortening a menu sounds like an acceptable solution as well.
Yes, I think one outcome of the pandemic will be a growth in computerization.
And that will eliminate some low-skill jobs.
It's fascinating in a train wreck kind of way.
I'm sorry for the pain and suffering, but we as individuals can't change that.
Yes, it's not an insult to anyone, but -- yes. Some people may pick up on the job faster, and some people may do the job better -- but if you can learn it in a day (or two), it's a low-skill job.
Eh, I have a friend who left teaching to start a restaurant some 2-3 years ago. Her business has not only done well during the pandemic, she opened a second location six months ago. They were quick to adapt with ideas like "Tuesday special" and "Pick up a family-sized meal" for a discount price.
Yes, some businesses will die during this pandemic, but they won't necessarily be small businesses. Sears, for example, seems finally to have died.
Yes, well said.

I think your confusing skill with specialty.

 

[wenrob]

very interesting reading, lots of "solutions" without any really experience of living and bringing up a family in a food dessert , low income area. I guess most people replying have never had to decide between using electricity / gas to cook food and using electricity / gas for heating, lights etc. Have anyone of you even lived with prepaid electricity , where you put credit on a meter and that's all you can afford to spend that week, so you limit your use of electricity and prioritize what appliances to use that week?

Also low income people budget down to the $, so while you may be able to drop $100 for food in one trip to Walmart which will last for a while, a low income person may have a daily spending limit of $50 which has to cover food for the day, any travel required, public transport or gas, as well as putting money aside for bills and other living expenses. Your $100 shop at Walmart, never mind any other money you have spent that day is just so far out of reach for a low income person. Thats why many low income people eat a lot of fast food compared to cooking at home, because they can only afford to spend small amounts of money at a time.

I think you’re mixing up the two topics? That was a little side conversation and we all acknowledged food deserts and why some can only afford what is closest to them. I’m not sure where you’re seeing anyone judging that unless it’s someone I have on ‘ignore.’

 

[MrsPete]

These signing bonuses sound tempting. Work at Wawa for 90 days, quit, then work at Walmart for 90 days, etc.

I dunno. Three months' work to get an extra $200-300. So if you work 12 weeks /4 days a week, that'd be $4-6 extra per work day. I'm not tempted at the moment, but maybe when I retire /if I were looking for a short-term job that would be the deciding factor between Job #1 and Job #2.

So many scofflaws who think the rules don't apply to them.

I never heard the word "scofflaws" before, but I like it!

I think your confusing skill with specialty.

No, I don't think so. A skill is something that takes time and effort to develop. A skill is something most people don't have (and, therefore, are willing to pay for).
A skill isn't, for example, basic grammar, which any adult is expected to know.

 

[prairie_girl]

I dunno. Three months' work to get an extra $200-300. So if you work 12 weeks /4 days a week, that'd be $4-6 extra per work day. I'm not tempted at the moment, but maybe when I retire /if I were looking for a short-term job that would be the deciding factor between Job #1 and Job #2.
I never heard the word "scofflaws" before, but I like it!
No, I don't think so. A skill is something that takes time and effort to develop. A skill is something most people don't have (and, therefore, are willing to pay for).
A skill isn't, for example, basic grammar, which any adult is expected to know.

We’ll have to agree to disagree

 

[MrsPete]

We’ll have to agree to disagree

With that, I agree.