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

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

#71

Post by boomboomsubban » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:51 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.

>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

So if everybody in this situation goes back into school, applies for more jobs, and/or goes into a trade, what do you think will happen? Do you think minimum wage jobs are only being offered because people aren't trying to get higher paid jobs?

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

#72

Post by asdfasgasdgasdg » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:51 PM UTC

reaperducer wrote: post #55

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

If she's working two jobs and one of them is McDonald's, she probably can't afford a bike.

She's contemplating affording a car. If she can swing that, she can swing a used bike. Plus, there are, at least in my city, charitable organizations that will just give you a one.

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

#73

Post by outworlder » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:51 PM UTC

Other than the low salaries, there are two compounding issues here:

– Transportation. The US is very unfriendly to forms of transportation that are not cars. There are a few exceptions, but these are exceptions. Good public transport or even bike lanes would massively improve conditions for a lot of people.

– Health care. Private companies are overcharging people and have made health care(hospitals and medication) unreachable if you don't have your costs subsidized by your employer.

– Education. Higher education would likely help this person. But how could she afford it?

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

#74

Post by Phenix88be » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:52 PM UTC

x2f10 wrote: post #66

Phenix88be wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

> This individual qualifies for both Mcdonald's tuition assistance ($2,500 / year)

Is it a real thing ? Or just something they do to have a good image ?

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

#75

Post by jumbopapa » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:52 PM UTC

ceejayoz wrote: post #68

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.

I never said it would be easy, but I don't think it's impossible.

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

#76

Post by asdfasgasdgasdg » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:52 PM UTC

outworlder wrote: post #64

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> Not considering how far she works.

We don't know how far she works. We only know how long her commute takes. Bus routes in cities without good bus infrastructure are often circuitous and don't represent the fastest way to get to any particular place on the route.

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

#77

Post by zentiggr » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:52 PM UTC

pugio wrote: post #21

papreclip wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> not for continuing treatments of the chronically ill

So my rheumatologist gets nothing for continuing to monitor and advise and prescribe treatment for my arthritis? Which isn't exactly something I can willpower away...

I don't like you.

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

#78

Post by davidcelis » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:52 PM UTC

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 offers a 401k plan with up to 7% match. Even if you took the 10% early withdrawal penalty this is money in your pocket.

This woman is literally living paycheck to paycheck, and your suggestion is to... put money into a 401k? That simply isn't an option for people living in poverty like this.

> Gain knowledge, skills, and have a good work ethic and it is not that hard to get ahead in America.

This is a really out-of-touch perspective. One's ability to gain knowledge and skills is determined by the amount of free time they have when not working, and when you're only earning $9.50/hr, you have to spend a _lot_ of your time just earning enough to scrape by. It _is_ hard to get ahead in America when you're poor. Lifting oneself out of poverty is not easy to do here (or anywhere). If it were, we wouldn't have nearly 30% of our country's inhabitants living in or very near to poverty levels.

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

#79

Post by ceejayoz » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:53 PM UTC

larrywright wrote: post #43

jdkee wrote: post #9

Unions, unions, unions.

There’s a compelling argument that unions, combined with the fight for $15 minimum wage, will do nothing but make the situation worse. Nobody is going to pay $20 for a burger and fries. McDonald’s would either have to go almost entirely automated or cease to exist as a company.

McDonalds workers are unionized in Australia (https://www.sda.org.au/media-release-new-mcdonalds-agreement...).

The Australian minimum wage is AU$19.49.

A burger and fries doesn't cost you $20.

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

#80

Post by SolaceQuantum » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 7:53 PM UTC

jumbopapa wrote: post #75

ceejayoz wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I never said it would be easy, but I don't think it's impossible.

But you did say it would be "not that hard".