Hacker News Reader

Comment by Spartan-S63 | Hacker News Reader

Rather, the pandemic has provided an opportunity to shore up ailing unemployment insurance schemes in a time when lots of types of work were inherently unsafe. As a result, we've shown people levels of dignity that they've never seen before, but should have been granted. If nothing else, the stimulus checks were unnecessary and the UI benefits were substandard.

Full stop, the reason why American workers are hard to find and hiring is difficult is because companies aren't paying enough money. Executives and shareholders have had decades of amazing wealth accumulation, but that has to end. The unwinding is happening and the gains from productivity, automation, and innovation belong to everyone and this moment in history may force government to adopt policies to make it happen.

View on HN

> hiring is difficult is because companies aren't paying enough money

What i don't understand is why can't they simply raise the costs and pay more? Surely all their competitors have the same problem. If a business is not viable at these higher costs then you don't really have viable business.

There is another variable in what it takes to be paid enough - conditions. Minimium wage for a convenience store clerk job while in college where you can openly study may be enough money from the nice side benefits and fits into your schedule.

A $25/hr job working in a sewage plant which certainly does not isolate the smell, unpredictable shifts, calls for unclogging human waste with an obnoxious arrogant, micromanaging asshole boss with rage issues? Not enough money.

You’re making it way too complicated.

Workers have alternatives. That’s your answer.

> aren't paying enough money

Renumeration expectations are entirely malleable and subjective. When you've been riding the gravy train, even $15/h looks a pittance.

> Executives and shareholders have had decades of amazing wealth accumulation, but that has to end. The unwinding is happening and the gains from productivity, automation, and innovation belong to everyone and this moment in history may force government to adopt policies to make it happen.

What does America have to offer in 2021 that would prevent said executives (at the potential behest of shareholders) from jumping ship?

>What does America have to offer in 2021 that would prevent said executives (at the potential behest of shareholders) from jumping ship?

Kind of difficult to sell somebody a cheeseburger in America without hiring Americans. It's just one of those things that can't be outsourced.

Giving American fast food restaurants two paths:

1. automate

2. become a charity

> 1. automate

Won't work. Customers are generally not going to figure out your UI, and even when they do a special case is going to come up once every five or so checkouts that requires employee intervention.

> 2. become a charity

This is a better idea. They should include e.g. 50¢ in the price of every Big Mac that will be donated to the workers who cooked and served it.

I like your answer to #2, but that’s not a charity, that’s aligned incentives.

McDonald’s doesn’t employ the burger makers. They work for franchisees, who don’t necessarily have “executives and shareholders”.

3. Be less profitable

Reply on news.ycombinator.com