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A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

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

#61

Post by ativzzz »

sezna wrote: post #3
moonbug wrote: post #2

Americans: fix your healthcare system.

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?

Voting and protesting are ultimately pointless if the options to vote for aren't enacting the changes needed, and if the protests aren't causing enough disruption to people in power for them to change anything.

If you really want change, then you need to somehow climb the ladder of power and enact the changes yourself. Unfortunately, if you take the political or corporate path, you will most likely be so disillusioned by the time you get anywhere that you will join the other side.

You can also become a revolutionary of sorts, by leading others through your charisma or prose.

Of course none of these are anything a "typical" person can do, but in fact, a "typical" person really has no power whatsoever unless someone atypical manages to organize them together.

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

#62

Post by paggle »

Frondo wrote: post #29

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 cu…

Also, she is “dumb,” because poverty is exhausting and exhaustion lowers your IQ massively. Have everyone in this thread run away from a mass shooting and then ask them to debug a deadlock.

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

#63

Post by AtlasBarfed »

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.

Asks, management suspects she might be "uppity" or getting "restless" or , replaces her with no notice or warning.

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

#64

Post by outworlder »

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.

> A bike would possibly be the ideal solution for someone in her shoes.

Not considering how far she works. And there are of course no shower facilities.

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

#65

Post by SolaceQuantum »

KingMachiavelli wrote: post #36

> She says she plans to work for as long as possible, trying to provide for her baby. As part time employees, we don’t get health insurance or paid sick days. And the cycle repeats. I know it's a cold, impersonal take, but when life sucks, having a child is going to make it worse and most likely just lead to a new generation of suffering. As much as a $15 minimum wage might help, even at $12 in Colorado, McDonald's a…

" I know it's a cold, impersonal take, but when life sucks, having a child is going to make it worse and most likely just lead to a new generation of suffering."

She could've had the child when her economics were in a better place. She could've been assaulted. She could've been denied the education to prevent the pregnancy. There are a bajillion and one reasons why a child might exist and she is responsible for it.

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

#66

Post by x2f10 »

Phenix88be wrote: post #39
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.

> is the answer to go back to school Without money ? My girlfriend was a cashier. Now she's studying law because my job can provide for us and we have free healtcare in belgium. Otherwise it would be impossible ! > apply to more jobs That basically mean more slavery since she will apply for job that pay like McDonalds. It wont solve any problem. > and/or go into a trade I don't understand what your mean here.

It is not impossible in the United States. This individual qualifies for both Mcdonald's tuition assistance ($2,500 / year) and FAFSA. FAFSA will more than likely pay for her schooling + books if she's starting at a community college.

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

#67

Post by sebringj »

throwaway07Ju19 wrote: post #59
sebringj wrote: post #32

Before I had a programmer job when i was younger, i completely 100% empathize with her in having those types of thankless jobs and constantly being tired. I can't imagine being trapped in that going forward. I bootstrapped my situation but I had a nice parents, a middle-class upbringing and a decent school to start everything, and a knack for programming... but I know/met so many who do not have this leg up in whatev…

In the U.S. there is one presidential candidate championing a UBI of $1000/mo. It would be paid for by a VAT tax. Typically VAT tax is unpopular because it is regressive. But the UBI more than compensates for the extra tax burden.

yah I think we tend to lean toward Yang because well, Elon does and this is a tech forum...yada yada...Yang.

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

#68

Post by ceejayoz »

jumbopapa wrote: post #47

I'm probably going to catch some flak, but I see some optimizations she can make. - McDonald's offers college tuition reimbursement, when you're low income this is one of the best ROI you have available to you. - McDonald's offers a 401k plan with up to 7% match. Even if you took the 10% early withdrawal penalty this is money in your pocket. I don't think the best use of her time is lobbying for a $15/hr minimum wage…

McDonald's tuition assistance is only $2,500 a year. That wouldn't even pay for the average community college's tuition.

It can be hard to put money in a 401(k) when you're already living paycheck-to-paycheck, especially if you're trying your college idea.

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

#69

Post by oh_sigh »

gnu8 wrote: post #56
oh_sigh wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just put her stats into the healthcare.gov calculator. She can get a bronze plan for $370/month, and she qualifies for a $370/month premium tax credit - meaning she can get a bronze level plan for $0/month. Seems affordable. What am I missing here?

She doesn’t have the extra $370/mo in her budget to pay out in anticipation of a $4440 refund next year.

The government knows that this is a common state for people, and would allow her to pay her estimated tax credit monthly directly to the insurance company.

So that isn't it. Any other guesses?

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-fami...

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

#70

Post by Miner49er »

throwaway07Ju19 wrote: post #59
sebringj wrote: post #32

Before I had a programmer job when i was younger, i completely 100% empathize with her in having those types of thankless jobs and constantly being tired. I can't imagine being trapped in that going forward. I bootstrapped my situation but I had a nice parents, a middle-class upbringing and a decent school to start everything, and a knack for programming... but I know/met so many who do not have this leg up in whatev…

In the U.S. there is one presidential candidate championing a UBI of $1000/mo. It would be paid for by a VAT tax. Typically VAT tax is unpopular because it is regressive. But the UBI more than compensates for the extra tax burden.

Yang's implementation is very regressive. You have the regressive VAT tax, but then you also have the fact that you are cutting government benefits then giving everyone $1000. So the poor just end up net poorer.

Example:

Now:

$12,000 a year + $12,000 in benefits = $24,000

$50,000 a year + $0 in benefits = $50,000

UBI:

$12,000 a year + $12,000 in UBI = $24,000

$50,000 a year + $12,000 in UBI = $62,000

The poorer person receiving benefits is actually poorer then before, relatively.

Someone let me know if I'm missing something.

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