Unpopular opinion, but maybe servers (and most everyone) deserves more than minimum wage. And in not saying the consumer should be paying it, they should be paid their money’s worth by their employer.
Michigan min wage is what like $10? Who the hell can survive on that?
Minimum wage is the minimum they can be paid, not the maximum. If the job “deserves” more than minimum wage it will pay more than minimum wage.
“Servers” are a job that requires basically zero skills, and is often done by literal children. I’m sorry but if there was ever a job that was only deserving of minimum wage, it’s that one.
The minimum wage when it was instituted was designed to represent the minimum wage needed for a single worked to support a family.
Additionally all labor is skilled labor. You either need school or experience to perform a job. I can drop a highly educated neurosurgeon into a restaurant. Without instructions they will fail at the job.
Anyway, all labor deserves a living wage. If you work a full week you should be able to support yourself comfortably.
Additionally all labor is skilled labor.
No, it’s not. When people use the term “unskilled” for jobs it doesn’t mean “you literally have to have zero skills, not even the ability to user your hands, to do it” - it means you only need a limited skill set and is a job that has minimal economic value. Essentially it’s a job that anyone at any stage could walk into and be able to do.
That has always been how the skilled/unskilled labor gap has been broken up. You might not like it, but that’s what it means. There is nothing about a server’s role that makes it a “skilled” job that requires highly specialized skills that someone would have to go and get qualifications and study for. It’s taking orders and carrying the orders out to people when someone else, often a skilled laborer like a chef for example, prepares them. Asking for drink orders and if everything is ok with the meal is not “skilled labor”.
Anyway, all labor deserves a living wage. If you work a full week you should be able to support yourself comfortably.
Agreed 100%. Unfortunately COVID (and everything since, like the “renewable energy” push) and most countries’ governments absolutely moronic handling of it has completely destroyed any hopes of this.
No, it’s not. When people use the term “unskilled” for jobs it doesn’t mean “you literally have to have zero skills, not even the ability to user your hands, to do it” - it means you only need a limited skill set and is a job that has minimal economic value. Essentially it’s a job that anyone at any stage could walk into and be able to do with minimal training.
That has always been how the skilled/unskilled labor gap has been broken up.
You’ve bought the lie they’ve been telling forever. Every person that goes to work is performing skilled labor. The only thing we do that doesn’t take any skill is being born rich.
Rich assholes that do nothing other than “invest” into a buisness. Every dime made from there is off the backs of working folks. Without our skills the wealthy would be poor.
Correct they deserve more and they should negotiate it with their employer, not people who out eating food and smd drinking
I agree tipping should go away, but I’m wondering how those economics would work out? Most food places barely break even, I can’t see anyone being able to pay their servers more, so they would still pass that onto the customers.
Add to this that people aren’t really smart. I remember some time ago, some places testing out paying their waiters, plus showing how much food would be with tax included with no surprised. People preferred paying more with tipping, the big price sticker drove business away.
Each item on the menu should be priced all in, including the tax.
The market will sort out the rest. If place can't get enough business while paying a living wage, they should go out of business so somebody else can come in who can make it work. Econ 101. Food and bars are 100% discretionary spend.
Whatever is happening now is no benefiting anyone besides owners and some some high earning waiters/bar tenders.
These clowns got brazen post COVID, so we are due for a push back.
Most food places barely break even,
A lot of them fail but the profitable ones are profitable. Owners just don't want you know that because.... you would ask why they don't pay better.
If they “deserve” more they’d get more. I’m not sure why so many Americans think that wait staff should be paid more - it’s pretty much the most unqualified job in the world that pretty much anyone can do.
it’s pretty much the most unqualified job in the world that pretty much anyone can do.
How many years have you worked as a server that allowed you to make this assessment?
You’re not seriously going to argue that a job that requires no qualifications or skills and is regularly done by children is a difficult job, are you? I worked at mcdonalds back in the day during high school and uni, spent my fair share of time on the counter taking peoples orders. It’s not hard, which is why like I said, it’s a standard job for people with zero qualifications and who just need some money to keep them afloat.
You are a free market maxi and this aint a free market. Chamber of commercie spends good money to lobby to suppress wages among other parasite.
This take is ignores this fact. why?
scarabic@lemmy.world 7 months ago
You’re right. Setting them on the same minimum wage and removing their tips WOULD net them less money. However just governing them with a higher minimum wage doesn’t mean that’s exactly what they would earn. If they lost all their tips they would all look for other jobs and the employers would have to start paying more in wages. It was probably the right move, legislatively, though it would cause some short term pain.