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Comment by shmde | Hacker News Reader

> Living Wage is a Union Word.

Wait what ?!?

Paying you more than the absolute minimum is not in the interests of our Customers, Shareholders, Associates, Shareholders and our Shareholders.

Amazon actually pays significantly above the minimum wage, this frequently leads to complaints by businesses located near their plants that they have to hike their pay in response to still get workers. NYT did a nice article on this two years ago: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/05/business/economy/amazon-w...

That's true, but I don't think it's altruism. Working conditions that incent people to urinate in a bottle to avoid being marked as slow...tend to mean higher wages are needed to close that deal.

Higher being relative, of course. I know from a historical perspective that warehouse work in the 1980's, after a couple of years, was enough to pay for a modest apartment and car, etc. It's not now.

> That's true, but I don't think it's altruism.

It's almost as if we already have a good system for discovering prices and wages.

Competition for employees? In my capitalism?

Leaving aside Amazon's appalling labour record, I do think this is a brilliant strategy to lure away the highest quality workers from nearby factories and warehouses. I am sure it is part of their decision making when deciding where to build a new warehouse.

No one said Amazon is paying the minimum wage though. They're working to pay the absolute minimum while still having adequate staffing.

It all reminds me of the TTRPG Paranoia:

"SERVE THE COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER IS YOUR FRIEND! The Computer wants you to be happy. II you are not happy, you may be used as reactor shielding. The Computer is crazy. The Computer is happy. The Computer will help you become happy. This will drive you crazy. Being a citizen of Alpha Complex is fun. The Computer says so, and The Computer is your friend. Rooting out traitors will make you happy. The Computer tells you so. Can you doubt The Computer?"

Better...it's also an "early warning sign". Oof.

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