General Discussion

MADem

(135,425 posts)

77. I think you're missing the REAL point, here.

Tue Jun 25, 2013, 10:51 AM

Jun 2013

Last edited Tue Jun 25, 2013, 11:52 AM - Edit history (1)

Back in my vigorous youth, you'd walk into a fast food joint, and a KID would take your order.

A high school kid, making money after school. That kid didn't have benefits, he only worked twenty hours a week, if that.

During the day, it would be someone working part - time; a senior supplementing their retirement, or a "stay-at-home" mother making a little extra "pin money." They didn't have 'benefits' either--they were just adding to the Christmas fund, or saving for a vacation, or helping out with the household budget.

The people who worked at those jobs--save the manager of the joint and the assistant managers--weren't working there forever, or invested in a "fast food career." It was a part time job to make a bit of cash, nothing more.

Now, those jobs are being held by people with families, who are relying on what used to be a part-time, kid's job to fund an adult lifestyle. The reason these people are taking these jobs is because there aren't better ones out there that pay a decent wage.

We need better jobs for adults in this country, so that kids can go back to stuffing burgers in bags.

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So I Walked In To A Fast Food Place...and??? [View all] rsmith6621 Jun 2013 OP

How much customer service do you need to order a hamburger? RB TexLa Jun 2013 #1

And you too are disposable. daleanime Jun 2013 #3

I remember when Democrats were champions of the working class. Maedhros Jun 2013 #108

I think(hope, have to believe)... daleanime Jun 2013 #113

What gets me is the viseral nature of their objections Maedhros Jun 2013 #117

If they have nothing but hate.... daleanime Jun 2013 #132

Maybe........ rsmith6621 Jun 2013 #4

I think most people are fine with both of those being close enough. Honestly, who get's that RB TexLa Jun 2013 #7

Do what? npk Jun 2013 #16

If they are close enough, no. I'm not going to get concerned with them charging my card an extra RB TexLa Jun 2013 #20

why would you begrudge somebody working there that extra thirty cents or dollar? frylock Jun 2013 #30

I wouldn't. RB TexLa Jun 2013 #31

Actually don't care about that thirty cents or a dollar. MattSh Jun 2013 #60

+1000000 -- no fries with my Sneezeburger, please nashville_brook Jun 2013 #118

What counts as "close enough"? Asking for "no mayo" is something that gets f*cked up quite often. Silent3 Jun 2013 #39

My pet peeve w/Steak'nShake: forgetting the ketchup on my takeout order. Divernan Jun 2013 #142

I must be cheap.......... auntsue Jun 2013 #47

No, he just likes to stir things up at DU with replies like that. Lex Jun 2013 #22

Not to mention being from Texas and Louisiana, they thnk minimum wage is okaawhatever Jun 2013 #25

What exactly are you arguing for? Crappy wages? Shitty service? Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #42

Close enough isn't good enough. Incitatus Jun 2013 #49

Really? You would be upset by paying $5 for a $4.50 meal? RB TexLa Jun 2013 #136

I wouldn't mind paying this if it would increase the worker's wages. OnlinePoker Jun 2013 #141

I'm not talking about someone trying to steal fifty cents from you. Geez, I'm talking about a RB TexLa Jun 2013 #145

If they want $5, they should as $5. Incitatus Jun 2013 #144

Great! Hire me to do your taxes! mwooldri Jun 2013 #122

The restaurants are likely happy with the 99% solution in place... Pelican Jun 2013 #66

I appreciate your Newest Reality Jun 2013 #79

Any job worth doing is worth a living wage Warpy Jun 2013 #8

Absolutely. nt silvershadow Jun 2013 #15

+ a million or so! Dark n Stormy Knight Jun 2013 #52

A-fricking-men! nt raccoon Jun 2013 #61

That's right, Warpy. LuvNewcastle Jun 2013 #75

Agreed!!! Fearless Jun 2013 #78

You win the thread. Apophis Jun 2013 #102

You got it. Perfect. nt tomg Jun 2013 #103

NBC: McDonald's executive says 'service is broken' NickB79 Jun 2013 #13

Service is broken, and we can't figure out how to motivate our starving, piss-poor, silvershadow Jun 2013 #18

"They are lucky they still get warm bodies to show up in most hell-holes." CrispyQ Jun 2013 #72

Service and attitude are lacking madville Jun 2013 #35

We have " in&ou"t here auntsue Jun 2013 #48

Here in MN we have Culver's NickB79 Jun 2013 #57

I agree. emmadoggy Jun 2013 #87

They just noticed this? jberryhill Jun 2013 #51

Well Here's a Clue, McDonalds RobinA Jun 2013 #62

I always thank people who serve me. 90 % can't be bothered to reply"You're welcome". Divernan Jun 2013 #143

" I don't care how much the pay is, you have a job you do it right." Incitatus Jun 2013 #146

Slow time on getting order............. mrmpa Jun 2013 #104

You seem to be saying... ljm2002 Jun 2013 #23

No, I'm saying I don't expect that much customer service when ordering a hamburger. I couldn't care RB TexLa Jun 2013 #24

LOL! How about $5 for a shit sandwich when, in reality, you ordered a $2 Happy Meal. Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #44

So because YOU don't value their services, these people shouldn't be paid a living wage? CrispyQ Jun 2013 #71

I have said nothing about what people should be paid. I just don't look at people and think they RB TexLa Jun 2013 #135

you must be a peach at parties... dionysus Jun 2013 #37

I tip in restaurants, why would you make up a lie like that about someone you don't know? RB TexLa Jun 2013 #38

We have to base our judgement on your post. You didnt give us much to work with, but rhett o rick Jun 2013 #88

My comment was questioning how much service the OP wants when ordering RB TexLa Jun 2013 #95

So you didnt have a point? Just curious how much service they wanted? Oh Plez. nm rhett o rick Jun 2013 #97

oh good, so you won't mind BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2013 #41

What if the person serving you is your wife? Your father? Your kid? lunatica Jun 2013 #58

My concern isn't service it is whether or nineteen50 Jun 2013 #80

-1 L0oniX Jun 2013 #82

So nice speech, but what's your point? nm rhett o rick Jun 2013 #86

Have you ever worked fast food? It is one of the hardest jobs I've ever had. It can be exhausting. 1monster Jun 2013 #94

The real question is what is the size of the hole demwing Jun 2013 #101

You think that's all they do? AngryOldDem Jun 2013 #114

Have you ever worked in fast food? iamthebandfanman Jun 2013 #126

Do you think it's OK to pay CEO's millions of dollars in bonuses when their companies lose money? lark Jun 2013 #129

This is why we can't have nice things. WilliamPitt Jun 2013 #130

I don't order hamburgers with you!!!1 flvegan Jun 2013 #139

It's a McJob. Most pay rates are set at corporate NightWatcher Jun 2013 #2

The McJob isn't just for high schoolers anymore. Coccydynia Jun 2013 #34

What part of the below exerpt do you not understand? It's not really a local decision. The OP is SlimJimmy Jun 2013 #106

Well, I was responding to a comment Coccydynia Jun 2013 #121

These national franchises have set wages for employees at varying levels. SlimJimmy Jun 2013 #123

What a shame Coccydynia Jun 2013 #124

I think a lot of time these renovations are pushed by corporate onto franchises tammywammy Jun 2013 #5

In Fairness RobinA Jun 2013 #64

And how many undocumented and/or non-union workers will they hire to do the remodel? baldguy Jun 2013 #6

The remodel will be eligible for tax write-off. Wages? Not so much. . . Journeyman Jun 2013 #9

Wages get written off taxes too. Travis_0004 Jun 2013 #12

Not so much, though. . . Journeyman Jun 2013 #19

Yes, so much .... oldhippie Jun 2013 #28

Wanna know why wages and workers are always cut first? BrotherIvan Jun 2013 #92

Wages paid are income-tax deductible, but... thesquanderer Jun 2013 #26

And all of those taxes are also expenses Curmudgeoness Jun 2013 #140

It's the workers that created a large part of the profit senseandsensibility Jun 2013 #10

"shame that corporations wont invest in their employees" handmade34 Jun 2013 #11

I suspect more people are proud to be shareholders of those corporations than proud to not be. nt raouldukelives Jun 2013 #100

I like this OP BrotherIvan Jun 2013 #14

JC Penney's is failing badly for this very reason. tblue37 Jun 2013 #53

J C Penney really was very nice place at one point in time. truedelphi Jun 2013 #54

When I was at Penney's a week ago-- tblue37 Jun 2013 #74

You would think that with the large baby-boomer demographic, Tanuki Jun 2013 #84

Yep--and then they wonder why they can't turn a profit! nt tblue37 Jun 2013 #90

I have watched two small dress shops go out of business - truedelphi Jun 2013 #137

Agreed on so many points BrotherIvan Jun 2013 #96

Yep. I shop online mostly, too, now. My kids wanted to tblue37 Jun 2013 #107

"The responses by so-called 'Democrats'" Chan790 Jun 2013 #56

agreed ! steve2470 Jun 2013 #73

Agreed BrotherIvan Jun 2013 #91

As a Dept. Store Veteran RobinA Jun 2013 #67

I put myself through college working in retail BrotherIvan Jun 2013 #93

I've heard this before... Thav Jun 2013 #17

The person you were talking to likely Billy Pilgrim Jun 2013 #21

Let's say they have 20 employees Dyedinthewoolliberal Jun 2013 #27

Im sure the contractor... rsmith6621 Jun 2013 #40

if it is fast food--I would wager very few of them work full-time niyad Jun 2013 #133

Same at my wife's job DJ13 Jun 2013 #29

Minimum wage must be a living wage. mountain grammy Jun 2013 #32

Corporations (most) don't care about the rungs they're stepping on burnodo Jun 2013 #33

They can write off much of the costs of updating the interior. Ford_Prefect Jun 2013 #36

Employees are disposable.... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #43

That's exactly how Neutron Jack Welch thought . ... HughBeaumont Jun 2013 #111

That attitude infiltrated corporate America to where they see clerical staff as losers... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #112

yeah I noticed that when I was a temp hfojvt Jun 2013 #45

McDonald's is remodeling EVERY joint here in Phoenix. Not a bit, but huge remodels. Safetykitten Jun 2013 #46

A lot of the "store" managers of fast food places get bonuses, based on their SoCalDem Jun 2013 #50

The only department store now with good service is Neiman-Marcus. Manifestor_of_Light Jun 2013 #55

Friend of mine works at a local burger place-small local chain. hobbit709 Jun 2013 #59

Probably becasue of the AFA ("Obamacare")..lot of that going on... Elmergantry Jun 2013 #138

Good post. NaturalHigh Jun 2013 #63

...and the bartender said "What is this, a joke?" Arkana Jun 2013 #65

Asking the manager why they don't raise wages Orrex Jun 2013 #68

The manager is not the franchisee who is not the McD's corporate bosses. EOS. WinkyDink Jun 2013 #69

Maybe it's better to be a tile-setter or painter in your town than a clerk. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #70

My wife and I would have told the manger don't bother taking our order we don't diabeticman Jun 2013 #76

I think you're missing the REAL point, here. MADem Jun 2013 #77

You nailed it! Sissyk Jun 2013 #83

Exactly. AngryOldDem Jun 2013 #116

We have a local fast food chain that pays it's employees well. Bonx Jun 2013 #81

It's not personal, it's capitalism. nm rhett o rick Jun 2013 #85

One thing you should understand thefool_wa Jun 2013 #89

Seems the FREE MARKET turns a blind eye to this. alp227 Jun 2013 #98

New tile floor is a one time investment Uzair Jun 2013 #99

Employee turnover increases costs too. Texano78704 Jun 2013 #105

If it was a franchise they may have had no choice ceonupe Jun 2013 #109

remodel kardonb Jun 2013 #110

McDonalds Service is horrible. Elmergantry Jun 2013 #115

My kid worked at a McDonald's while in high school. AngryOldDem Jun 2013 #119

Yep that seems to be the consensus Elmergantry Jun 2013 #120

The chick-filet employees are like the nicest people ever. Like brainwashed! Logical Jun 2013 #127

squeezing blood from a stone... Javaman Jun 2013 #125

So, BillyRibs Jun 2013 #128

corporate heaven05 Jun 2013 #131

The fast food chain has investors who sulphurdunn Jun 2013 #134