Are you okay with burger flippers getting paid $15 an hour?

Question

Dinklex3 · Accepted Answer

Yeah. Why wouldn't I be? Working in the kitchen is so taxing on your body.  I'm in the military now and even at basic my body has never hurt like it did when I was working the kitchen at my college.

Rissyanne · Accepted Answer

It’s ridiculous. It’s going to make businesses go out of business.

OlderAndWiser · Accepted Answer

Hell no! It's an entry level job. No one ever thought that you were supposed to support a family of four by flipping burgers.

front2back · Accepted Answer

Yes as long as my $16/he salary is instantly raised to $21/hr

Cammy137 · Answer

I'm all for it. I don't live in the US but shitty jobs like working in McDonalds is not fun and one of the biggest problems people face when they find themselves stuck in such a job is that its impossible to save enough money up to escape. They end up working month to month, struggling to pay bills and survive and so there is never an opportunity for them to quit the job in the hopes of finding something better paid and more fulfilling.
Some people state that these jobs are meant mostly for young adults and teenagers but not everyone has the luxury of being able to get a job that is any better. I think we have to understand that some people end up trapped in these jobs.

Hidden_P · Answer

Absolutely fine with it.

Everyone should have a liveable wage and people in low end jobs work much worse conditions than educated ones.

So a doctor gets a lovely desk and a sit down all day as he deals with patients and earns thousands a week. He gets an air con environment, a decent lunch, and not panic about bills when he gets home.

A “burger flipper” or a barista or similar has spend their whole day on their feet cleaning and serving in hot conditions with no air con, dealing with a barriage of complaints from the likes of doctors. They’ve probably had a break skipped because of lack of staff (so 6 hours without sitting down) and they get to go home and count the pennies for the rent and work out how to eat for free.

A low end job has harsher conditions. I didn’t get to go to uni because I looked after my amputee Dad (how selfish of me) and I was welcomed with a shite job. I was the one of 2 people who didn’t pass out and need an ambulance because of the extreme heat we worked in (out of 28) and was rewarded with bullying, crap pay and brutal hours.

Everyone deserves a decent wage.

brennanhuff · Answer

If they did things properly, I wouldn't have a problem. If the government could force employments to push up the wages they paid people that were higher than minumum wage, which the minimim will be 15 dollars accordingly. For example, say you make $20 an hr and the minimum wage if $10 an hr. You're 10 dollars more than minimum. Don't forget, with increased minumum wage, the increase price in everything else goes up, so it's essential for your higher paying job for your wage to go up too. So if minumum wage is 10 dollars an hour and bumps up to $15 an hr, then people making 20 an hr should be bumped to 25 an hr. But tha't not going to happen, so essentially everyone who makes over 15 dollars an hr is taking a pay cut. College degree, or whatever to work themselves up and make better, well seems like a wasted attempt because now that wage you thought was decent paying is only a little more than minimum wage and not you're paying for things that are pricier and your wage helps even less now.

ShortCircuit · Answer

I'm not okay with the federal minimum wage being $15/hr. I am most certainly okay with individual businesses deciding to pay their employees $15/hr of their own accord.

However, for the record, my criticism of a $15/hr minimum wage isn't because I believe $15/hr is excessive. In the current economic landscape, getting a degree just isn't realistic for a large amount of people, in conjunction with the cost of living in most areas being so high, so I think $15/hr is reasonable and in most cases needed. However, I am critical of the entire concept of a minimum wage, because I trust that in a free economy, businesses are incentivized by competition to pay their employees fair wages--without government intervention.

ChronicThinker · Answer

Yes, because it's a job that needs to be done and it's a market people use. The money they make means they can put it back into the community while making sure people get their beef and cheese.

We can look down at it all we want until we go through the drive-thru and realize there's no one there to make your Big Mac.

yoshi_wanna_ask · Answer

Yes. It's a basic minimum wage. Meaning they can afford to live *and* save. They can save and get that car or apartment bond or college down payment and have a chance to make something of themselves. Instead of being almost homeless, unable to support themselves *or* save while still cleaning up your mess in one of the most thankless jobs in society.

People earn more in certain jobs because of the education needed to get the job and the demand for the service and when you think about it, who would you rather get a minimum wage; a burger flipper or a lawyer? The cost of living has changed and it *never* should have been $6. Even 'burger flippers' in Korea get paid more than that.

QuestionMan · Answer

Last time I was at a McDonald's these bad boys were already taking my order. They are far more convenient than a person since they gave me a ton of options to choose from and then I just paid with my credit card.

They exist because it's cheaper than paying someone $15/h today and $17/h tomorrow or whatever the next desired minimum wage will be.

There are burger flipping robots as well. They're in their early stages but within 5 years your average McDonald's will have one.

Are you okay with burger flippers getting paid $15 an hour?

Annonymous10000 · Answer

Ehhhh it’s kinda unfair for people who do hard labor for less pay but I’d say fast food workers have to deal with a lot of bs

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meowcow · Answer

The actual dollar amount is irrelevant.

Leftists have been demanding a "living wage" for all jobs. In a few years, leftists will decide that living wage is now $20... and so on.

The question one should ask, is whether a no-skill job deserves a living wage. This is an important question because there are many jobs that require no skill. Burger flipper, cashier, stock person, Walmart greeter... etc.

If ALL jobs deserve a living wage, what incentive is there for any person to better themselves? Why would anyone finish high school, or go to university or actually contribute something more to society if the bare minimum is all that is needed to earn an income that could buy a home and raise a family?

If you paid a living wage for all jobs, you will have the majority of the population doing the bare minimum with their lives. The world is already overburdened with excessively lazy people. We do not need to incentivize more people to become useless.

sunsweet · Answer

There are a lot of problems that factor into people's lives. Increasing minimum wage would help account for the inflation over the years and at least help compare to the prosperity baby boomers had doing the same job. But there are a slew of problems in the economy to solve that would help account for that, like real estate. There are also ways to help small businesses that can't pay for a wage increase. It's a complicated question, but the fact that we have so much service industry jobs that need full time workers, they should at least be abel to afford live if they work full time. So it's not that we need to increase minimum wage but rather solve why people can't afford to live. Increasing minimum wage or certain state wages would be a solution, but it would come with a few problems that likewise would need to be dealt with.

Banyan · Answer

15 dollars an hour is steep. However, if you are working full time, your wage should be enough to live. There's just too many minimum wage Jobs being worked for them not to be a sustainable source of livelihood. 700000 jobs are exactly 7.25 an hour, with many state minimum wages being too low to live of either. We're talking about a one bedroom apartment with food, water, and minimum to no electricity. People cannot physically live off of that paycheck in that life style. The minimum wage has to be a living wage, and has to be tied to inflation. It would most likely be wise to tie it to locational cost of living as being in a rural town like me is much cheaper than living in new york, so it's cost of living would skew my community and probably tank it as a whole. A flat 15 dollars would be dumb, and not get the job done. We need to do this in a way that fucking works.

DesertCreature · Answer

This question is incomplete.

You must factor in what the wage is for all other activities. If other jobs that require the education, skill, and time equal to that which is required of a "burger flipper" are around $15/hr then yes, otherwise no.

Locality (cost of living) also plays a role in determining wages. The higher the costs the higher wages need to be.

For those making the "they have to make a living" argument you're saying that every job must command a wage singularly capable of supporting the living costs of an individual.

Burger flipping is one of those jobs traditionally meant to ween someone into the general workforce, provide basic experience, and fund the beginnings of a career. These aren't careers themselves, if you try and force them to be it won't work out, the industries can't support them and will do what they have to. Enter kiosks. Not many burger flipper equivalent jobs out there to engineer, program, and maintain kiosks.

FriendlyDrugDealer · Answer

Yup and it’s not easy to live on your own.

For those who are saying “just go to college and get a better degree “, and what if that career based on that degree is not exactly easy to get into it , what should the person do? Just sit and do nothing and pray for a miracle?

I’m in college, I work at retail pharmacy while living on my own, I get paid a couple dollars above of minimum wage because I took promotions despite the increased work load.

So for other people in similar positions like me or worse, they deserve it.

Alice2398 · Answer

That sounds decent to me that's almost £11 pounds that's higher then the British minimum wage (£8) and the standard of living is cheaper in the US then in the UK so I'd be grateful earning that much I don't even get paid the minimum wage only the apprentices minimum wage which is half the actual minimum wage so I'd be living it up if I was earning that much

Anon70 · Answer

I've worked in fast food, it's horrid for sure, but it's a choice... Sometimes it's your best choice, even though it's a pretty shitty job. Even if you got paid 15 it'd be shitty, but that doesn't mean you're deserving of more. It's not a mentally or physically taxing job. It doesn't take much if any skill... It's not something worth rewarding in my eyes. It's not a job we should encourage people to take up. I think it's a perfect job for someone in college to earn a bit on the side. Or someone who is having a tough time to make some extra money.

Anonymous · Answer

The market should decide how much a job is worth. If there is high demand but not a lot of people are capable/willing to do the job then they can demand a higher hourly wage. If a job is in high demand but can replace the employee with just about anyone then they should be able to keep the hourly wage low. In case of fast food, despite being a shitty job it's a job any teenager can come off the street and do so there's no reason to raise it to $15 an hour. If you're valuable to the company they will give you the raise that you deserve. If you're not valuable (someone that can easily be replaced) then there is no incentive to give you the raise. So, if you become the best burger flipper in the world and are able to do a high volume of work equivalent of multiple employees and you bring in the numbers that wouldn't be there if you were gone then sure, $15 is justified.. Otherwise, no.

WhereAmI · Answer

No, because those jobs are transitional and not meant to be a career unless you go into management which would then qualify you for the higher wages.

If everyone got a wage of $15/hr. then there would be much fewer jobs and more people would be struggling to get by. Also those with $15/hr burger flipping jobs would be worked to death by the managers to make sure they got good workers or threaten them with no job.

Inflation would in all likelihood go up as well since your now paying extra for the burgers. More than likely fewer people eating out.

chrisbigman · Answer

No. I'm all for making sure people have enough to pay their basic needs. But that's it. I have gone to all fast food joints in my area, and every time I've gone my orders have been messed up in one way or another. And it keeps happening. If they can't get the orders correct, then there's no need to reward them with higher pay. And don't tell me that they get busy. Sometimes, it wasn't that busy. So, they should've gotten the orders right, and yet they didn't. Also, working fast food is NOT a career choice. At least, it shouldn't be. I know not everyone can do certain jobs. But not even trying to get a career is ridiculous.

BuchitaBuchys · Answer

No, I'm not a monster, but I dont think flipping burgers is worth $15/hr. Yes, I understand that they need to make a living too, but raising the minimum wage hurts smaller businesses, creates job loss, and is overall more harmful to the poor (who it's supposed to help).
I'm surprised at the poverty in Chicago because there are so many programs here to help us, but many people refuse because they're lazy, unmotivated, or just content with the many welfare programs.

HungLikeAHorsefly · Answer

Of course they should. Everyone deserves a living wage for working. I know there's a lot of "but... socialism!" and "business will die!" claims rolling around but the labor market is much, much more complex than that. Those claims usually don't hold up under evaluation.

vishna · Answer

depends on the area. it a lot of places-this isn't a crazy number. in others, it is a lot for this sort of job.
people need more than food, they need a place to live, healthcare, transportation, they have utilities to pay, maybe even kids, a phone to communicate with the world. it costs money to have these things and 7 and some change will NOT allow one person to have all these things-it's just impossible. No, you should not be working 40 hours a week and not be able to take care of yourself.

AlienChickk · Answer

Depends? Personally I work at Pizza Hut, which is the same concept, and I first hand no how crazy working in that envimoment can be. It depends on the area, but for what I do I don't expect $15/h. Maybe a little more than what I make now would be nice, but $15 is too much for a small town. Big city maybe it makes a little more sense.

markscott · Answer

The reality is, either the burger place pays $15 an hour, or we pay higher taxes, helping under paid workers get basic needs met. So, yes, $15 is a lot of money to pay a burger flipper, but either the burger place picks up the tab by paying them well, or we tax payers pick up the tab, because they aren't paid enough.

NearlyNapping · Answer

$15 per hour is plenty. If it's full time, that's triple what I need to live. I could do that and still put $12-14K per year in the bank.

As for the work itself, I'd have no problem flipping burgers. I'd much rather do that than a lot of other jobs.

Anonymous · Answer

I've never worked im fast food but I've seen the horrors they deal with and haves friends who have. People bang on drive through windows, scream, throw stuff and spit at the workers. They already are working in a sweltering hot enviorment in the summer or freezing in drive through during winter. And dont get me started on fast food bathrooms... I don't know what this mentality is that you get to treat fast good workers like animals.

11dog22 · Answer

Lol I remember all the hoopla. And when they won lol! After few days or month. All the lay-off and cashier was replaced by order machinery screens. Yeah. Now a burger place where a staff of 30 people dropped to 6-12. With a fast turnaround. Jobs like burger place was more designed as entree to the work world. But. Life is life.

rjroy3 · Answer

If a burger joint decides that's what they want to pay their employees I genuinely do not care. Good for them. If it's a state mandate, then I take issue because now it effects everyone in varying degrees. How much money someone makes at a burger joint doesn't matter or effect anyone else. state mandate will.

Pink2000 · Answer

What’s wrong with them getting paid more? Not everyone has the same opportunity as you and I. at least they’re trying to make an honest living.

avalonbob · Answer

They are shooting themselves in the foot. I can remember when they used to have the drink machine behind the counter and somebody filled your cup for you. Now you get an empty cup and do it yourself, because minimum wages already too high. They're already working on machines to flip burgers and fry fries. Soon there will be one guy in the store: to clean up. You'll talk your order into a machine, put your money in a slot, and it'll come out on a conveyor belt.

Frankenstein99 · Answer

I don't get why people bitch one side of the coin or the other about this.
Against it usually goes something like this "I have a college degree and i make 15 dollars an hr. so blah, blah, blah no.
For it you can't live off minimum wage these people are humans beings just like you and me blah, blah, blah
How bout we just let the market dictate.

winterfox10 · Answer

I am okay with it. The thing that really upsets me about this debate though, is that People are getting so hung up on the idea of $15 an hour, that they aren't asking the real important question. The important question, in my opinion at least, is why it is that people who are flipping burgers need that much in the first place! People shouldn't be flipping burgers to put their kid through college, or looking at those jobs for longer term careers in the first place.

Unit1 · Answer

This is potentially 2400 dollars in a month or roughly $28k in a year *IF* you work full-time like I do (40 hours/week).

That's still more than I make as a software tester with my associates degree -_-

I think this price is fair. Students gotta start working somewhere sooner or later, right?

lehsoj · Answer

It's ok but keep in mind. the more a company must pay it's employees. the less employees they are willing to hire. The more work an employee must do..
If they do rite the same number, then the more the burger will cost.

Labor is s big expense. Companies want to keep their profits up. If labor costs more than something else must be cut.

JackJPershing · Answer

Pure stupidity. The job is simply not worth that much, and business owners will instead speed up automation and eliminate those positions. This is what you get when imbeciles who know nothing about what it takes to run a business stick their ignorant noses in.

RedRobin · Answer

Ok, that's NZD$23.28. Minimum wage here is $16.50 and the living wage is $20.20 so that's A LOT higher than a lot of people with little to no experience get paid

Guanfei · Answer

Sure, they'll be fired soon and replaced with robots but whatever float their boats.
Boats that won't float for long. The most basic job paid more than most, what an insult to those who actually work their asses off to get something better.
Not to mention that a wage raise means a price raise. You think Mc D will just pay them out of their pockets? Nope, they'll lower their product quality to pay it less, and raise the price to pay the new wage. And get some money from it.

dropkicknj13 · Answer

Of course, I've always wanted my 1/8" pattys of greasy horse meat to cost $8 a piece. Its gonna make everything much more affordable when nobody else gets a matching raise and suddenly half of the country makes minimum wage.

NormaTavish · Answer

Yes. It sounds like a fairly good base to guarantee people enough money to survive and not be taken advantage off by businesses because they are not able to do better.

Jackiej0459 · Answer

Yes minimum wage here is 7 something an hour and as someone who used to work there and now knows what its like to live on your own that is a very good wage

John_Doesnt · Answer

Yeah, because burger companies are making more than enough to still have a profit. Minimum wage was already raised to $12 an hour in my area and guess what? Prices didn't sky rocket and communists didn't take over.

Curmudgeon · Answer

In the absence of other moves to bring down the cost of providing a hamburger (taxes, overhead, utilities, etc) this will only lead to much more expensive hamburgers. Stagflation, here we come.

SummerOwO · Answer

No. Here’s the thing

If you pay them $15 an hour there would be less people employed to compensate for the high prices you’re paying for workers. Look at McDonalds. They’ve already replaced cashiers with machines.

Bandit74 · Answer

Not really. I think it's somewhat unfair to the people who were working jobs that required more skill and were considered above minimum wage, but are now in the same pay grade as people who work at Burger King.

Anonymous · Answer

no i worked hard to get a job that pays me well now these people want to ruin it.. minimum wage jobs aren't meant to make a living off of so we shouldn't raise their wage its unfair for literally everyone who actually got that paycheck by working hard

DinaM · Answer

It's not a particularly fun job, so I definitely think they should be paid properly.

FakeName123 · Answer

They should get paid what they are worth to the company. Minimum wage just shifts the problem away temporary until inflation hits.

SkipStop · Answer

Definitely. Wages must be increased for every job without layoffs or robot replacements. Almost half Americans can barely afford a normal life.

jessture · Answer

I think someone working 40 hours a week should make a wage that allows them to live in their own place and afford some basic luxuries in life. You know, like the baby boomers got to enjoy.

ObscuredBeyond · Answer

A starter high school kid cooking sandwiches should not make more money per hour than I do unloading trucks.

WalterRadio · Answer

Not if someone is willing to do it for less, because that means the person who wants the job more won't have a job.

EvilPimp · Answer

Yes why? Because I don't eat out much anyway so I wouldn't care if the prices at fast food places went up, only people who live off of McDonald's , Burger King instead of cooking learning how to cook etc would care

skateranon123 · Answer

Any socialist measure like that will only emporish everyone. Small businesses will close and big businesses will just lay off people and make the ones who stay work insanely hard to make up for the lack of manpower.

Trust me socialism is retarded

SngBirdy · Answer

Yes. Why would i complain about other people getting more money? Thats literally none of my business

TsundereMatrix · Answer

$15 is minimum wage where I live or about to be soon so that’s expected here.

apple24 · Answer

I guess... I get paid 20 an hour usually... Ouch and I am a college drop out. hahahah I guess as long as your a value member of society than you need not worry.

Cask23 · Answer

Higher labor cost will just hasten the transition to automation that will replace these jobs. $15/hr makes to paypack period of investment in automation even shorter increasing the ROI.

Gludiusmax · Answer

Those are supposed to be beginning jobs. Jobs to teach work skills to kids in highschool or adults wanting to move up. Besides the issue is not the minimum wage it's that people at the top need maximum wages.

Anonymous · Answer

No.  My personal driver gets paid 10 a hour andni can be a bitch sometimes so why would a burger flipper need 15 lol they need 8 an hour and to fo back to college

legalboxers · Answer

Why not? I’m sure most believe in the poor staying poor, but this way, the poor has a chance in getting an education where they can earn scholarships which isn’t on the dime of those who bellyache they are going on your dime

AdmiralBailey · Answer

Burger flippers work hard. Long hours with a half hour break. 12 hour days back to back just so hoes like you can eat. If a job has market value then people should get paid whatever it takes to keep business going.

Are you okay with burger flippers getting paid $15 an hour?

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