Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners • Hacker News Board

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#21

Post by gruez » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:35 PM UTC

relax88 wrote: post #5

The idea that there can be a labour shortage in an industry that does not require specialized skills, at a time in history where capital has more power than ever is a total joke.

>at a time in history where capital has more power than ever is a total joke.

If you're talking about the last decade, maybe. In the current month/year? No, because the government is currently paying people to stay at home at rates competitive to employment[1]. With that taken into account labor's power is arguably stronger than ever.

[1] The median US hourly wage is $15.35 (https://www.statista.com/statistics/185335/median-hourly-ear...). With the $300/week subsidy from the federal government and 50% of hourly wage from unemployment, that works out to $15.18 for staying at home.

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#22

Post by BrianOnHN » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:37 PM UTC

JKCalhoun wrote: post #15

trasz wrote: post #8

When you maintain a form of slavery, like US does, it’s silly to expect companies to not try profiting on it.

Gotta love the moral clarity of "companies".

We need to stop placing so many restrictions on companies, for the good of the economy!

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#23

Post by lm28469 » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:37 PM UTC

perfunctory wrote: post #3

> ... as bosses refuse to raise wages to attract employees I see UBI as a very elegant solution to this problem. It levels the playing field for everybody. The problem with the current job market is that the negotiation power is not symmetrical.

> I see UBI as a very elegant solution to this problem.

Or you know, proper min wages and benefits: paid vacations, paid sick days, paid parental leaves, &c.

Not treating people like cattle is a good starting point

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#24

Post by edoceo » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:39 PM UTC

No labor shortage. It's a wage shortage. I'm certain if the pay went up, there would be applicants.

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#25

Post by Ericson2314 » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:41 PM UTC

perfunctory wrote: post #3

> ... as bosses refuse to raise wages to attract employees I see UBI as a very elegant solution to this problem. It levels the playing field for everybody. The problem with the current job market is that the negotiation power is not symmetrical.

No UBI is supposed to make people harder to hire, which is why employers are complaining the unimployment benefits are too generous.

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#26

Post by relax88 » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:44 PM UTC

gruez wrote: post #21

relax88 wrote: post #5

The idea that there can be a labour shortage in an industry that does not require specialized skills, at a time in history where capital has more power than ever is a total joke.

>at a time in history where capital has more power than ever is a total joke. If you're talking about the last decade, maybe. In the current month/year? No, because the government is currently paying people to stay at home at rates competitive to employment[1]. With that taken into account labor's power is arguably stronger than ever. [1] The median US hourly wage is $15.35 ( https://www.statista.com/statistics/18533…

https://www.atlantafed.org/chcs/wage-growth-tracker

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/inflation-cpi

https://www.epi.org/publication/swa-wages-2019/

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#27

Post by FooBarBizBazz » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:46 PM UTC

> people currently or formerly in prison

First of all, this lumps two groups together. Second, isn't it kind of "good" if employers become more willing to hire people with criminal records? They have a hell of a time finding jobs, which gets in the way of social reintegration.

> a Waste Management Services executive discussed hiring immigrants to fill commercial driver’s license positions

Oh no! Hiring immigrants! ... What are we supposed to do, shut them out of the job market to form parallel societies in the Banlieues?

How is this in The Guardian? It's Bannonesque "Reserve Army of Capital" stuff.

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#28

Post by gruez » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:46 PM UTC

relax88 wrote: post #26

gruez wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>at a time in history where capital has more power than ever is a total joke. If you're talking about the last decade, maybe. In the current month/year? No, because the government is currently paying people to stay at home at rates competitive to employment[1]. With that taken into account labor's power is arguably stronger than ever. [1] The median US hourly wage is $15.35 ( https://www.statista.com/statistics/18533…

https://www.atlantafed.org/chcs/wage-growth-tracker https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/inflation-cpi https://www.epi.org/publication/swa-wages-2019/

Dumping a bunch of a links with no accompanying analysis/commentary makes for a low quality comment.

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#29

Post by mensetmanusman » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:47 PM UTC

If this is done well it is actually a good thing. I have family recently out of prison and the lack of skills to re-enter the work force is sad, it’s almost like it is built to create reoffenders. The more work opportunities the better, just pay them reasonably.

Re: Companies address labor shortages by pursuing current or former prisoners

#30

Post by Ericson2314 » Tue, Aug 03, 2021, 2:48 PM UTC

Prison labor is fucked, but companies' greed overpowering their prejudice towards ex-cons is actually what we want!

https://rooseveltinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/RI...

C.f. WWII when black people got way more jobs leading to more prosperity and power and ultimately the civil rights movement.

The "labor shortage" is simply progress back towards the fast-growing economy and less lopsided labor market we used to have.

Better growth raises all boats, but capitalists winge about their loss of relative power. This why I say it's a great lie capitalists actually like growth. They actually prefer a doldrum economy with an unproductive basset bubble.