A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier • Hacker News Board

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#21

Post by pugio » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:32 PM UTC

papreclip wrote: post #17

moonbug wrote: post #2

Americans: fix your healthcare system.

I agree, but at the same time an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment. 40% of American adults, including the woman featured here, are obese. You can't just eat 3000 calories of junk food a day and expect the doctor to "fix it"

Fixing healthcare would (by definition, IMO) alter health system incentives. If the government were responsible for all citizen's health, AND it wasn't too heavily influenced by lobby groups, it would make a lot more sense to focus on prophylactic measures, such an promoting healthy eating.

Doctors should be paid for how healthy their patients are, not for continuing treatments of the chronically ill.

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#22

Post by throw1234651234 » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:32 PM UTC

codedokode wrote: post #10

> The bus stops running at 10 p.m. on Sunday, but McDonald's asked me to stay until close at 1 a.m. They asked me to stay because they need my help. I know it’s going to be rough to find a way home, but I need the money so I said yes. Cannot she ask them to pay for a taxi then? Also I didn't understand why she lives so far away from work.

>Cannot she ask them to pay for a taxi then?

This is pretty amazing delusion.

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#23

Post by abledon » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:32 PM UTC

JustSomeNobody wrote: post #15

codedokode wrote: post #10

> The bus stops running at 10 p.m. on Sunday, but McDonald's asked me to stay until close at 1 a.m. They asked me to stay because they need my help. I know it’s going to be rough to find a way home, but I need the money so I said yes. Cannot she ask them to pay for a taxi then? Also I didn't understand why she lives so far away from work.

> Cannot she ask them to pay for a taxi then? Should could ask... > Also I didn't understand why she lives so far away from work. Because when you earn so little, you really don't have much choice where you live.

also they mentioned she and her bf lived with his parents, and they both paid for the rent.

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#24

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:32 PM UTC

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #16

Miner49er wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would McDonald's pay for a taxi for her? I can't imagine them doing that. She might not live that far from work. It might be a 20 minute drive, but with the bus system in most towns in the US it's not crazy for that to take a couple of hours on a bus with walking (the closest bus stop to her is a 30 minute walk it said). I'm sure if she could get a job closer that pays as well she would've by now.

A bike would possibly be the ideal solution for someone in her shoes. Of course, there's that lovely enhanced risk of dying you get for daring to brave the streets on two wheels in the US. But if she gets back significant time from changing it up, it might be worth it.

[deleted]

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#25

Post by jammygit » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:32 PM UTC

echelon wrote: post #6

sezna wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I vote and I protest, but yet those with money continue to corrupt the system. I feel much more like a victim of the system than a participant. How would you suggest a typical American HN reader go about effecting change?

Probably emigrate, to be honest. A brain drain or loss of labor might do the trick. It's the ultimate peaceful vote of no confidence. The system isn't changing right now because it works for those in power. Without bodies to do the work, they'll change their tone. I don't expect this to happen, though. A lot of engineers are comfy with the top-tier healthcare provided by their employers, so they're likely not willing…

Come to Canada!

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#26

Post by threatofrain » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:33 PM UTC

jdkee wrote: post #9

Unions, unions, unions.

The most powerful tool in any union is a strike, but McDonalds is okay with that now, and won't be bringing in any scabs to replace those who are gone. They will be replaced by machines and the consumers are going to see a value-add.

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#27

Post by WaylonKenning » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:34 PM UTC

papreclip wrote: post #17

moonbug wrote: post #2

Americans: fix your healthcare system.

I agree, but at the same time an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment. 40% of American adults, including the woman featured here, are obese. You can't just eat 3000 calories of junk food a day and expect the doctor to "fix it"

If only she had the time to do meal prep, outside of the four hours a day she takes to commute.

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#28

Post by justinsaccount » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:34 PM UTC

> It’s 8 p.m. and my scheduled shift is over, but they asked me to stay later

> The bus stops running at 10 p.m. on Sunday, but McDonald's asked me to stay until close at 1 a.m. They asked me to stay because they need my help.

Thats not a job, that's an abusive relationship.

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#29

Post by Frondo » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:34 PM UTC

These questions like "why doesn't she simply x or y" make me sad. The person in the article is poor, not dumb.

She likely can't move. It's expensive to move, no matter who you are, and since she has two jobs, it seems like she's going to spend a lot of time on the bus no matter what.

She definitely can't demand McDonald's pay for a taxi, or she can ask, be turned down, and have her hours cut for next week. They'll cut her hours if she just leaves at the end of her shift, and they ask her to stay.

She's already doing something that could ultimately have a positive material impact on her life, organizing with her coworkers. It's just that the many interlocking systems around her life all work against her; bad public transit, bad pay for physically exhausting work, and having to fight so hard for something as basic as a union at her workplace.

This is a situation that calls for compassion, understanding, and working alongside her to change the systems that keep her in this situation, not suggesting "why doesn't she".

Re: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

#30

Post by SketchySeaBeast » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:35 PM UTC

x2f10 wrote: post #18

Her job is already going away; McDonald's around me have already replaced cashiers with kiosks. Unionizing and requiring $15/hr + full benefits is only going to accelerate McDonald's automation plans. Is the answer to fight for $15/hr or is the answer to go back to school, apply to more jobs, and/or go into a trade? Honest question.

> If the answer to fight for $15/hr or is the answer to go back to school, apply to more jobs, and/or go into a trade? Honest question.

Seems to me the goal should be to get a wage where you can afford to go back to school. I don't think it's fair to argue that the kiosks are replacing the cashiers only because they want a $15/hr wage - that's coming whether they want to or not. The only thing that the cashier can do is do their best to collect the resources right now to get out of that situation, and one of those is more earnings.