How I Get By: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

Vice ^ | 12/05/2019 | Maxwell Stachan

[Responsibility2nd]

I'm surprised. I fully expected to read how Cierra cannot afford to raise her 4-5 children. At least - as far as we know - she's not on welfare.

[Vaquero]

When my company had a big layoff back in 94 I worked part time at 3-4 different jobs. On my ‘free time’ I did construction on my house to make it more valuable in case I had to sell.
It’s what one does if one has a family. Work.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Ok my friends. These are OUR people. Her salaried shift manager was able to get overtime pay for working past the 40 hours/wk, thanks to the Kenyan. If she’s putting in 40 hours a week she’s staying out of trouble. I say take EVERYTHING away from those that don’t work full time. 2 part time jobs with no health care is what’s out there. I say provide them with the health care as long as they can prove they worked those 40 hours. WE find a way to get her car fixed.

[Track9]

They’re running a lot of this propaganda lately. I guess to counter the great jobs report.

[Vermont Lt]

I was a commissioned sales person out of school. Talk about long days. Door to door.

I never had any money.

[texas booster]

Very improbable story. Not the fact that this McD franchise and the hospital may not pay much, but that she is Fight, Fight, Fighting for the Union ..

Anyone that works 40 hours @ ~ $10 makes about $20k per year. With any kids at home she would get almost FREE ACA medical care, subsidized by other US citizens.

She wouldn't pay any federal taxes if she has any kids. Especially since the Trump tax cuts helped almost everyone.

And standing in one spot on concrete? The hospital safety squad can get her a mat that takes the hardness out of concrete. Yes she's still standing but not on concrete. I get that at my PT gig at Amazon, so it isn't a secret.

Looks like she is getting very bad advice from the union organizers who want to profit from her misery rather than help her.

And it goes double for VICE.

[luvbach1]

Yes, she is to be commended for supporting herself and children. And yes, it’s tough.

[CatOwner]

They’re running a lot of this propaganda lately. I guess to counter the great jobs report.

It is only going to get worse in the next 11 months. Saw a lot of that in 1991-92, particularly with TV shows (see: Roseanne) having their characters lose jobs.

[Responsibility2nd]

Coming back has been difficult at times, which is part of the reason she joined “Fight for $15 and a Union” a political movement that advocates for a $15 minimum wage. The cause gives her some small semblance of hope.

 

I wonder if she know that paying $15.00 an hour for a Mickey D job solves NOTHING. It only increases the problem.

[faithhopecharity]

congrats to this person for working an honest job and not sucking off welfare

i hope also that they will get whatever job skills training they’re most interested in, perhaps at their local community college, and land a higher-paying job

its often amazing just how many useful job skills one can acquire at a low-cost (often with fees waived, very low fees, or at least financial assistance programs)...local school.. .and some of the jobs can pay a whole lot of money, too

[NobleFree]

a $15 minimum wage

The true minimum wage has always been and will always be $0 - and the higher the legal "minimum wage" the more people will be getting the real minimum wage.

[Mr Rogers]

"I live with my boyfriend John and his parents. John and I help around the house and we pay rent every month. "

I don't hire anyone. But if I did, someone trying to form a union would be low on my list. So would someone who publicly complained about how mean her previous employer was.

This line also stood out: "I only get paid for one job, but they ask me to do a little of everything." Imagine that! I'd guess from her pay that she works around 15 hours/week at McDonald's.

"And I know I’m not the only one struggling with these poverty wages—this is why we fight!"

That attitude will get you far. Not! FWIW, my first job was a below minimum wage job at Baskin-Robbins. I never thought of it as a lifetime career.

[Repeal The 17th]

“...These are OUR people...”
-
No.
She does not belong to you.

[Kickass Conservative]

I know I’m getting old. In my day, High School Kids and bored Senior Citizens worked part time at Fast Food joints.

Those entry level Jobs provided some extra cash, Training and Life Lessons for future Employment in the real world.

They were never intended for People who supported a Household and had Parental Responsibilities.

[central_va]

The current min. wage is ridiculously low.

[central_va]

You worked before the flood of LEGAL immigrants.

[NobleFree]

The true minimum wage has always been and will always be $0 - and the higher the legal "minimum wage" the more people will be getting the real minimum wage.

[armydoc]

Ok my friends. These are OUR people. Her salaried shift manager was able to get overtime pay for working past the 40 hours/wk, thanks to the Kenyan. If she’s putting in 40 hours a week she’s staying out of trouble. I say take EVERYTHING away from those that don’t work full time. 2 part time jobs with no health care is what’s out there. I say provide them with the health care as long as they can prove they worked those 40 hours. WE find a way to get her car fixed.

In the Army, when someone presented an idea passionately, they were immediately told to "run with it". I agree with you in principle. You have a name and a location. Track her down, find out the details and report back. If it's legit, I'll commit to phoning in my CC# to a repair shop for a portion of the repair.

[DIRTYSECRET]

The shift manager who worked over 40 hours/wk with no overtime pay were trying to get ahead. Of course they’re OUR people. Obama took them away from us by getting them more pay. Isn’t 40 hours enough? They can work 60 but if the employer doesn’t want to pay them they’ll quit after 40. What’s wrong with that?

[central_va]

The min wage in 1968 was $12.00/hr adjusted for inflation.