Live data from Hacker News

Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

story.californiasunday.com

91–100 of 209 posts

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't want to dox myself, but you can probably guess which western European country doesn't. Healthcare isn't US level expensive there where you'll go bankrupt with any minor issue but still prohibitively expensive if you don't make much and break your arm for example, so it's somewhat essential. A colleague of mine got diagnosed with a serious heart condition, was away for a month or so without sick pay, got fired…

I keep hearing that you will 'go bankrupt' with every minor health issue in the US. Do you actually live in the US? Have you used US healthcare? I pay for my own health insurance (because I own my own company) and while not cheap, it's affordable. I think I pay around $250 US/month. I get regular checkups included (most prescriptions cost me $10 or less) and I had a colonoscopy last year and it cost me less that $50.…

[deleted]

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually it is ridiculous. Why were public funds spent on giving someone advanced education to drive around? Is there nothing better society can do with such skills?

It absolutely is not ridiculous on Google's part. You're making some other point.

It absolutely is. If the best you can do with someone with an advanced degree is make them drive a car, you're wasting a valuable mind on a menial task.

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#93
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google wants Geographers with masters degrees to drive their Google Street View cars for minimum wage in Seattle. Their requirements are ridiculous for their lowend positions.

It's kind of expected when in the US you have a culture of "everyone has to go to university or you are worthless".

I'd probably make the argument that it's an overemphasis on the principles of supply and demand (capitalism) that make one potentially worthless.

If there are enough geographers with graduate degrees applying for the gig even at minimum wage pay, you pay them minimum wage.

In the US (and let's be real, most of the world), capitalism trumps altruism (paying someone more than their market value because you're nice).

We exploit our own kind - it's always been that way, and there have always been a sufficient number of justifications (whether you agree with them or not) to keep up the practice.

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#94
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An unskilled operational role. I worked for outsourcers before as well doing support type jobs. Bad pay, ever increasing performance pressure, no benefits (no sick pay or health insurance), so if you got sick you were shit out of luck and healthcare was prohibitively expensive. Private insurance was available of course but these were all angle shooting companies in the affordable range that are barely better than hav…

>This was in western Europe. Most western Europe has socialized medicine. Was health insurance as essential as in the USA?

What does "socialised medicine" mean? Many European countries have mandatory health insurance premiums on top of normal taxation (for example: Netherlands, Switzerland).

The original poster says claims Ireland doesn't and whilst I'd assume they know more than I do, http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/eligibility.ht... makes it sound substantially free or heavily subsidised ("comprehensive, government funded public healthcare system").

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#95
post #94
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>This was in western Europe. Most western Europe has socialized medicine. Was health insurance as essential as in the USA?

What does "socialised medicine" mean? Many European countries have mandatory health insurance premiums on top of normal taxation (for example: Netherlands, Switzerland). The original poster says claims Ireland doesn't and whilst I'd assume they know more than I do, http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/eligibility.ht... makes it sound substantially free or heavily subsidised ("comprehensive, government funded…

See the means test here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/medical_cards_an...

Sounds comprehensive to you?

The income threshold is so low that only unemployed people qualify.

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually it is ridiculous. Why were public funds spent on giving someone advanced education to drive around? Is there nothing better society can do with such skills?

It absolutely is not ridiculous on Google's part. You're making some other point.

While it is off topic, the other point is interesting

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It absolutely is not ridiculous on Google's part. You're making some other point.

It absolutely is. If the best you can do with someone with an advanced degree is make them drive a car, you're wasting a valuable mind on a menial task.

If it was a valuable mind then surely the owner of it would opt to do a more valuable activity than drive a car around? Google is just providing an option. Should they be binning applications for the position that include degrees?

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironically, Disney Cruises is owned by...Carnival.

Source?

I was going from memory, and looks like my memory has some holes.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-04-16/business/9101190...

In the early 90s, Carnival bought Premier Cruise Lines (or most them, at least). They were supposed to assumed Premier's role as provider of "Disney" cruises, though I can't confirm that happened.

Disney started running its own cruise line in 1998. TIL

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#99
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet you make four times what the subject of the article makes (assuming you work 40hrs a week), receive additional pay for additional work, and are protected by US labor laws. I'm not saying your job isn't though, but I find it silly to use it to dismiss the point of the article which is that US companies should be held responsible under US laws.

He made 2k a month with tips. I was not protected by any labor laws as I was a contractor and not an employee (their way to get around benefits and employee related regulations). I'm also living in a first world country where costs of living are fairly expensive and where I don't have free housing (and food I presume), so I was living hand to mouth without health insurance.

The employee worked over 75 hours a week, but routinely had his timesheets rewritten to show 40. When he complained, he had some of his works taken away. When he was seriously injured in his job, his injury was laughed off as a lie and he was sent back to work anyway. I think it's fair to say that this person has a unique set of extremely challenging circumstances different than what you described. I'm not sure what we have to gain by dismissing these henious labor violations. Even if it was just as bad for you (I doubt it), would that invalidate this person's experience, or mean we shouldn't investigate these crimes?

Re: Below Deck: Filipinos make up nearly a third of all cruise ship workers

#100
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet you make four times what the subject of the article makes (assuming you work 40hrs a week), receive additional pay for additional work, and are protected by US labor laws. I'm not saying your job isn't though, but I find it silly to use it to dismiss the point of the article which is that US companies should be held responsible under US laws.

He made 2k a month with tips. I was not protected by any labor laws as I was a contractor and not an employee (their way to get around benefits and employee related regulations). I'm also living in a first world country where costs of living are fairly expensive and where I don't have free housing (and food I presume), so I was living hand to mouth without health insurance.

[deleted]
Post reply on HN