It is unfortunate and the root of the problem. Hard work is not rewarded any more.
In my day, working in fast food used to be a motivation to do better like learn a trade or go to college. It was certainly a motivator for me. The pay wasn’t that great, the work was okay, but you are treated like an irresponsible kid. And most workers were irresponsible kids.
They still are. At one of my jobs, I was the only person who would show up on time and work hard, come in immediately when called in, pulled doubles and quadruples, and strove to learn everything about the job I could.
It got to the point that my boss couldn’t give me the days off I needed because I was the only one who could do the job on those days.