I work in fast food and I’m not a teenager (MSM doubling down on socialism)

CNN Money ^ | May 30, 2014: 8:13 AM ET | Patrick M. Sheridan

[Olog-hai]

… In 1979, teenagers held 26% of all low-wage jobs, while adults aged 25-64 made up less than half of such workers, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, which analyzed the low wage workforce over a 30-year span. Today, only 12% of low paying jobs are held by teenagers, while adults make up 60% of them. Also, only 20% of such workers had attended some college in 1979. Today, it’s 33%. […]

A key argument behind the latest wave of strikes to raise wages to $15 an hour is that fast food workers these days are no longer just teenagers looking for pocket change. They are mothers and fathers struggling to raise children on wages that are too low, in most cases below poverty level. Research also shows that fast food companies haven’t shared their profits equally among their workers. While the lowest paid have not seen a raise in a long time, the industry’s top management are not only being paid handsomely but have given themselves hefty raises. …

[nascarnation]

You’re right.
In 10 yrs the two people per shift at each location will be logistics.

[workerbee]

TOO many young people think like you do, that the A.A. is small, useless.

It's an accomplishment, sure, but in the jobs world I think it's merely a stepping stone to a BA/BS, or perhaps to a more indepth trade. On its own, I don't believe (except for very particular circumstances) an AA is worth a whole lot. For someone like Dre in this article to use it as an example of how he's "educated" and that it puts him "above" the fast-food level, by itself, is simply wrong. NO DEGREE will put you above your hard work and ambition. There are a lot of people out there who are being steered to believe many things that aren't true about degrees and the job market. Many young people ought to be in trade schools or apprenticeships, but there's so much emphasis on "a college degree" that those things seem neglected, and hence, the value of the degree itself is watered down.

Perhaps a FReeper business owner/employer can give better insight.

[cloudmountain]

It's an accomplishment, sure, but in the jobs world I think it's merely a stepping stone to a BA/BS, or perhaps to a more indepth trade. On its own, I don't believe (except for very particular circumstances) an AA is worth a whole lot. For someone like Dre in this article to use it as an example of how he's "educated" and that it puts him "above" the fast-food level, by itself, is simply wrong. NO DEGREE will put you above your hard work and ambition. There are a lot of people out there who are being steered to believe many things that aren't true about degrees and the job market. Many young people ought to be in trade schools or apprenticeships, but there's so much emphasis on "a college degree" that those things seem neglected, and hence, the value of the degree itself is watered down.
Perhaps a FReeper business owner/employer can give better insight.

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I agree with everything you say.

If a man becomes a plumber, for example, or a car mechanic, he will have work for the rest of his life, here or in any foreign country.

We are descendants of Europeans, who worked for what they had. We don't feel demeaned by work, rather, the opposite.

[naturalman1975]

You know, in Australia, our minimum wage is roughly about $15 an hour (in US terms).

So what does that mean for fast food places like McDonalds?

Well, there's the rub - because what we refer to as the minimum wage in Australia is in fact the minimum adult wage.

And for these purposes, 'adult' kicks in at age 21. People under the age of 21 are entitled to a lower minimum depending on their age. Sixteen year olds are entitled to just under half the minimum wage, twenty year olds get close to the minimum - but the point is, the younger you are, the cheaper you are.

Which places like McDonald's hire as few adults as possible (except, of course, in those managerial roles etc, that have real responsibility - and which also pay more than minimum wage).

The point is, yes, maybe in America, there are a lot of adults earning a 'low' minimum wage - but it's better to be earning that than being unemployed and earning nothing at all - which would be their probable fate if they lived in Australia, where the jobs they are doing simply aren't available to adults at all.

[xrmusn]

I’m waiting for the entire fast food “experience” to become automated. It wouldn’t be that difficult.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Can see that happening...especially with the ‘auto car’ becoming closer to reality and if you can ‘operate’ a drone and make bombing runs half a world away, putting onions and lettuce on a burger should be a ‘snap’....
Would think the youngsters with a feel for ‘gadgets’ and video games should be looking into the robotics development/operation/repair field very seriously.