Walmart employee Thanksgiving donations at Canton store cause controversy

[Lochias]

It does matter, and is reflected in pay-rates for particular jobs. For example, it takes a few weeks to train (and not much cost) a nursing assistant, and that reflects in their pay. It takes a year to train an LPN, a little bit of money to finish the education, and that refects in their pay. It takes 2 years at the lowest level, to train an RN, and significantly more money, and that reflects in their pay. All three positions serve patients, but each in a different capacity. Each has a different set of skills required to perform the job, and each has an increased level of education required. Every job is paid according to productivity, and reflects the level of education/skill. Further, a doctor pays quite a bit more in time and money to be trained, and that also is reflected in the cost of their services. It sure does matter how long it takes (as well as how much it costs) to train/educate in order to be competent at a particular job and yes, that’s reflected in their pay.

Again, I understand. People who, through no fault of their own, can’t get the moneny and time to get into school don’t deserve basic necessities because…reasons, or something. It’s all their fault. Somehow. Gotcha.

 

[Corki]

Again, I understand. People who, through no fault of their own, can’t get the moneny and time to get into school don’t deserve basic necessities because…reasons, or something. It’s all their fault. Somehow. Gotcha.

No. But people who have extenuating circumstances such as you describe are exactly why there is a need for charitable help - whether it’s from the government or a program like the one described in the OP (lest we forget where this discussion started).

There is a saying that hard cases make bad law. Setting the minimum wage at a level that does not address minimum needs but rather extenuating circumstances would be bad law.

 

[Rence]

And don’t lecture me about not knowing what it means to be poor (I know it wasn’t you personally, Jon Paul). I had plenty of years of stretching out my food stamps, selling my blood and sharing a house with a bunch of people in order to afford a place to live. When I started working, it was a draw job. I rode my bike to work. Did I expect my employer to meet my bills? No, I got a second job until the draw caught up. And I lived on ramen and mac and cheese.

Exactly. Even as a nurse, even though I get paid a lot more than the cashier at Walmart, I have my share of worries too. When something unexpected happens and it costs me money, I don’t go to my employer and demand more money for my situation. I actually work an extra shift or two. Or more. I’ve been working overtime for over two years. According to some here, I should just petition my employers for more money instead of work for my money.

 

[Rence]

And lets not forget that Walmart is not the only company that hires minimum wage workers. If the minimum wage was to go to $18/hour, that would mean that grocery store shelvers, child care workers, the receptionist at the apartment office, and the kid who does dishes at the school cafeteria would all also get $18 or more per hour. What do you think that will do to grocery costs, child care costs, rent?

Yup, I said that up a few pages ago. They can have their raise so that they all get $15/hour…but they’ll still be on the bottom of the pay-totem pole. The results would only be more costly goods and services. In addition, the higher level workers will demand more pay, in proportion to what the ones on the bottom of the skill level are making.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It does look that way. The median income is $51,017. I’m not sure how people raise more than a child or two on this pay. ATB

Really?

Around here, at least, it’s entirely possible. Interestingly, the FHLMC/FNMA underwriting rules say that a person making that much can afford a monthly house payment of $1250/month. I’m sure it’s different elsewhere, but here that would support a mortgage of about $175,000. That would be a house costing about $190,000.00. A $190,000 house here would be at least 2500 square feet, with at least two full baths, at least three bedrooms, perhaps four, and a two car garage, on a lot that would be no less a third of an acre.

And this is not the only place like that, by a long way.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Exactly. Even as a nurse, even though I get paid a lot more than the cashier at Walmart, I have my share of worries too. When something unexpected happens and it costs me money, I don’t go to my employer and demand more money for my situation. I actually work an extra shift or two. Or more. I’ve been working overtime for over two years. According to some here, I should just petition my employers for more money instead of work for my money.

Interesting to read this. A good friend of mine who is a nurse does her extra duty for extra pay at a local urgent care facility. They’re always looking for personnel. Home health companies are always looking for nurses too.

One of the oddest things I ever saw. My wife is an RN. For a time, she worked in home health. She liked it, and could get all the hours she wanted. More than once, her company was called by HOSPITALS, and not small ones either, to go work in a hospital when they were shorthanded. Perhaps the strangest of those, though, was a smallish, small town hospital that got shorthanded one day. Anyway, she was the charge nurse the minute she walked in the door, and was also the ICU RN. Fortunately, there was nobody in ICU at the time. So, because regulations require that there be an RN in ICU all the time, she directed the other nurses from the ICU.

 

[TARRAT]

I think we miissed an important part of the original article because the employees were not offended and gladly contributed. They have more charity in their hearts than many people and donate from their hearts.

A second point is what our church teaches. A living wage should be… i know from personal experience (my wife teaches in a catholic school) that the church and it’s affiliates struggle with paying a living wage. Fortunately most teachers at dw school are married and hubbys work or they are single gals living at home. So the church teaches the ideal but even they struggle with it.

 

[Country_Gal]

Problem is, many think a living wage should cover smartphone with data plan, artificial nails, cable TV, eating out, cigarettes and beer, and lots of other non-essentials…

 

[Corki]

Yup! Look how fast this thread went from thinking that the minimum wage should be 120% of the federal poverty level (which it already is) to 120% of the federal poverty level for a family of four (about $13/hour) to $18/hour as a minimum (almost $40K per year). An 18 year old kid, right out of high school with no skills or experience, making $18 an hour is not going to have much incentive to get more education or earn a trade. But he’ll have plenty of cash for video games and beer.

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Really?

Around here, at least, it’s entirely possible. Interestingly, the FHLMC/FNMA underwriting rules say that a person making that much can afford a monthly house payment of $1250/month. I’m sure it’s different elsewhere, but here that would support a mortgage of about $175,000. That would be a house costing about $190,000.00. A $190,000 house here would be at least 2500 square feet, with at least two full baths, at least three bedrooms, perhaps four, and a two car garage, on a lot that would be no less a third of an acre.

And this is not the only place like that, by a long way.

I couldn’t see paying that much, and being able to raise a family even if you forced your poor children to play soccer instead of hockey.

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Exactly. Even as a nurse, even though I get paid a lot more than the cashier at Walmart, I have my share of worries too. When something unexpected happens and it costs me money, I don’t go to my employer and demand more money for my situation. I actually work an extra shift or two. Or more. I’ve been working overtime for over two years. According to some here, I should just petition my employers for more money instead of work for my money.

You should Negotiate for more money.

ATB

 

[estesbob]

Yup! Look how fast this thread went from thinking that the minimum wage should be 120% of the federal poverty level (which it already is) to 120% of the federal poverty level for a family of four (about $13/hour) to $18/hour as a minimum (almost $40K per year). An 18 year old kid, right out of high school with no skills or experience, making $18 an hour is not going to have much incentive to get more education or earn a trade. But he’ll have plenty of cash for video games and beer.

It’s easy to be compassionate with other people’s money

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Yup! Look how fast this thread went from thinking that the minimum wage should be 120% of the federal poverty level (which it already is) to 120% of the federal poverty level for a family of four (about $13/hour) to $18/hour as a minimum (almost $40K per year). An 18 year old kid, right out of high school with no skills or experience, making $18 an hour is not going to have much incentive to get more education or earn a trade. But he’ll have plenty of cash for video games and beer.

The living wage number I’ve most often seen has been $10.00/hr. It’s not a lot but it will make life a little easier for those at the bottom of the wage scale. If an employer cannot pay this and must go out of business. We understand, and wish him well in the future.

How’s that?

 

[estesbob]

The living wage number I’ve most often seen has been $10.00/hr. It’s not a lot but it will make life a little easier for those at the bottom of the wage scale. If an employer cannot pay this and must go out of business. We understand, and wish him well in the future.

How’s that?

What about his employees?

 

[Corki]

The living wage number I’ve most often seen has been $10.00/hr. It’s not a lot but it will make life a little easier for those at the bottom of the wage scale.
How’s that?

I really don’t have a problem with $10/hour. But I would like to see it implemented in stages (maybe a 50 cent per year increase) and a “learning wage” for workers under 25 that is lower. I DO have a problem with people who want wages to START at $18 and hour. That’s economic suicide.

If an employer cannot pay this and must go out of business. We understand, and wish him well in the future.

That’s one of the problems with these drastic propositions. If an employer goes out of business or has to cut his workforce, lots of people suffer.

 

[freeRadical]

Yes, it is. They can pay enough for their workers to freaking live, or they can go under.

What happens to the people they employ when they go under?

 

[freeRadical]

Why is it that everyone is okay with the government setting wage controls but not price controls? Why doesn’t the government just legislate that gas costs $1.00 a gallon, meat costs $1.00 a pound, milk costs $1.00 a gallon, etc.? That would solve everyone’s problem wouldn’t it?

There is no difference between wage controls and price controls economically. They are both bad for the economy.

 

[mikekle]

Yup, I said that up a few pages ago. They can have their raise so that they all get $15/hour…but they’ll still be on the bottom of the pay-totem pole. The results would only be more costly goods and services. In addition, the higher level workers will demand more pay, in proportion to what the ones on the bottom of the skill level are making.

I disagree with that, why would the higher level people suddenly demand more money? Id love to know how many corporate workplaces have donation bins set up for other employees, Im not referring to bins set up to help the needy or poor, but bins set up specifically for employees to give to other employees? If the felt like they needed to do this in the store, I truly hope walmarts corporate offices have similar bins set up to help employees who work there too.

I dont think $15 minimum wage would cause prices to go up that much, look at the profit margins for walmart and other such companies, there is PLENTY of wiggle room! they are not about to raise prices anyway, they would not want to risk loosing customers.

Really, this should not be an issue, but since greed is so rampant, it has become a major issue, the CEOs and high level people at walmart should be smart enough to realize the low level employees are the reason they have HUGE profits, they are walmart to the millions of customers who come thru the door, so why not give them more respect and pay as a result?

This reminds me of a funny statement I once heard somewhere…’ a company claims its employees smiles are their greatest asset, yet the company does not even offer dental insurance’ LOL…??

 

[freeRadical]

I disagree with that, why would the higher level people suddenly demand more money? Id love to know how many corporate workplaces have donation bins set up for other employees, Im not referring to bins set up to help the needy or poor, but bins set up specifically for employees to give to other employees?

I dont think $15 minimum wage would cause prices to go up that much, look at the profit margins for walmart and other such companies, there is PLENTY of wiggle room! they are not about to raise prices anyway, they would not want to risk loosing customers.

Really, this should not be an issue, but since greed is so rampant, it has become a major issue, the CEOs and high level people at walmart should be smart enough to realize the low level employees are the reason they have HUGE profits, they are walmart to the millions of customers who come thru the door, so why not give them more respect and pay as a result?

This reminds me of a funny statement I once heard somewhere…’ a company claims its employees smiles are their greatest asset, yet the company does not even offer dental insurance’ LOL…??

But a $15 federal minimum wage wouldn’t just affect Wal-Mart and other big businesses, it affects all businesses.

My mom works for a very small, family owned printing company. Only five people work there. She is 62, very close to retirement. If the minimum wage went to $15 an hour she would lose her job, period. Is there no compassion for her? What would she do if she lost her job? At her age it’s not very likely she would be able to find another job.

 

[Corki]

I disagree with that, why would the higher level people suddenly demand more money?

Do you really not understand this or are you just tweaking?

If an entry level employee makes minimum wage - $7.25 and a first level supervisor makes around $10/hour, what happens if minimum wage goes to $15? Would the supervisors be happy with making the same as the employees they supervise? No. The entire scale would shift up. Those formerly making $10 would be making $18, those formerly making $20 would be making $28, etc. Not only would employees demand it but management would need it. You don’t get employees to take on more work and more responsibility without paying more.