So in the end, only those that are big business should be able to afford to stay open?
United States Biden administration policies and actions - megathread
- Thread starter Tyzuris
- Start date
The work environment should mean more then the money
That doesn't matter too much though.
I'm just saying, this is how it is. This is how economics work. Supply and demand is a legit thing. As @LordsFire pointed out earlier, this is just made worse from all the covid handouts diminishing the supply. The vax mandates are going to make it even worse.
If I am looking for a job, and I find two very similar positions and both company cultures seem like a good match to me, I will pick the one who pays more.
So will everyone else.
Yes, this sucks for small shops.
We've got quite the shitty time ahead of us for small businesses. A lot of them will probably have to get by with things like utilizing family members, or interns, or people just starting their careers, or as you said, creating a great work environment.
I'd take a little pay cut for a really great work environment, rather than being worked to the bone for a few dollars more.
bintananth
behind a desk
The problem isn't mom and pop unable to pay $15/hr. It's that $15/hr isn't enough to for one person to support a family practically anywhere in the US.
Take Mississippi for example. Dad needs about $21/hr to pay the bills when mom's not working too.
StormEagle
Well-known member
The work environment doesn’t buy food or pay rent dude.
Don’t get me wrong, I think what’s happening is bullshit and is largely the fault of the government sticking their oar into the economy.
But if the mom and pop shop is paying $11/ hour and Walmart has jacked their pay up to $20/hour, guess who most people are going to go work for.
Is that fair? No, probably not, but that’s how this shit works.
Bigking321
Well-known member
What happens when the government screws around with supply and demand on purpose to artificially decrease the labor market during a high demand for workers? This isn't a competitive market. It a government caused distortion of the market. Businesses are competing with a public funded monolith that we are all forced to contribute to. Many can't compete with that.
This is not a natural thing and it is hideously unfair to blame businesses for not being able to respond to deliberately sabotaged market forces. Especially after being forced into shutdowns for most of a year.
"Just raise wages or close" is NOT a reasonable or fair response to this and I refuse to blame small businesses for any part of it. They are in a incredibly bad position right now due to government mismanagement (or deliberate sabotage) and absolutely no actual fault of their own.
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I would note the article seems to be discussing a different issue than what you're saying. The issue it's citing isn't hiring or retention issues, it's companies that have employees not being able to get those employees the already have to physically go back to the building:
This I actually would blame the Biden admin for, as he and his party are unequivocally the party responsible for covid fearmongering. After months of having the entire party apparatus screaming that being less than 6 feet away from another human being is practically suicide because of the virus and if anyone says otherwise they're a lying disinformation merchant....well, it turns out scaring people witless for short term political gain has long term consequences. Shocking, I know.
This I actually would blame the Biden admin for, as he and his party are unequivocally the party responsible for covid fearmongering. After months of having the entire party apparatus screaming that being less than 6 feet away from another human being is practically suicide because of the virus and if anyone says otherwise they're a lying disinformation merchant....well, it turns out scaring people witless for short term political gain has long term consequences. Shocking, I know.
You're not wrong.
We were headed slowly in this direction, and that's why wages were rising under Trump. That's a good thing.
Then covid and bad policy hit and accelerated the whole process.
It's a mess.
People need to take what they get.
Suck it up
Or find a job that pays more and Improve your life lol
I don't owe shit to my employer besides my labor that I'm being paid for. Of course I'll do a good job, because that's what I'm being paid for, but If someone else is going to pay me more, I'll go work for them.
Everyone is diffrent. If the people you work for don't appreciate you, leave once 6ou have a better job or one you want to do.
Work environment does pay a bit of a role too.
I've turned down several jobs that paid more because I like where I'm at. It's stable and they treat me well.
But all those things being equivalent? Money makes the decision.
We do not owe people our labor, and 'suck it up and do the job' may fly in the military, but it does not fly in the business or civie world.
If two jobs are nearly equal in benefits, work environment, and convenience for where people live, then the one that pays more is going to get more applicants.
Businesses have to compete for labor now, instead of having labor compete for jobs, and that is a GOOD THING. The more power employees/potential employees have in their hands, when it comes to dealing with the bosses, the better.
You think I joined the Army for the pay?
It all depends on the person. And most people would rather slave away and hate thier job if it means making a few bucks more then a job they love.
That is only good for big business.
Small business is fucked over, and in the end we will see the fall of small town stores and everything you buy will be making the rich richer.
Eventually those home town restaurants will be replaced by chains because they couldn't compete.
Depends really.
Big businesses right now can outcompete and sell products for cheaper than a all businesses.
But they have a MUCH LARGER labor force.
Paying all those people more is expensive.
While small places can utilize family members and shit like that. And they can get away with paying a little less if they're in a small town and are good to their employees in others ways. My boss bailed me out of jail once lol
You might end up seeing small businesses thrive. They might be able to sell products for cheaper than the big businesses who will all raise prices to make sure their share holders and executives don't lose any money.
It all depends on the area. Small business in big places will not make it though
I mean, around here the small businesses are CONSISTENTLY out paying the large businesses.
I'd say my area is a oretty good mix of low income and high class upper income. I was recently reading articles about how this is one of the most mixed areas in the state. Like you'll have one block that's all mansions and million+ dollar homes, and a block over it's section 8 projects lol.
Like I mentioned earlier, a local pizza place and a local taco place are paying $20 an hour. Good luck getting that at McDonald's.
Perhaps it would then behoove some small businesses to update and reexamine their business models, and figure out how to operate with fewer staff, if they are not willing to raise their wages.
And if a place cannot pay a living wage, then it should not expect employees to be willing to do the job as more than a part time gig, till they find something better.
If small businesses cannot survive a rise in wages, to help people actually do more than live paycheck to paycheck, then maybe the business doesn't deserve to survive. People do not owe companies our labor, no matter what size they are, and trying to cling to past economic paradigms is foolish in the extreme.
Also, small businesses do not have stockholders to satisfy, so they can pay more directly to employees without worrying about if it will affect their price on Wall Street.