[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Federal law does not require ANY breaks, paid or otherwise. Again - please read the law before making ridiculous statements.

When you make a statement about what the law requires or doesn't require, the topic becomes "what does/doesn't the law require?" You are just - flat out wrong. It's not a matter of opinion. It's not a matter of interpretation. It doesn't matter whether my employers gave me breaks or not. You state it's a matter of Federal law. I am telling you that you are wrong. I didn't merely tell you. I quoted the actual Federal website's first sentence on the subject, AND provided a link so that you can read the entire page for yourself.

So, all of the lawsuits against companies forcing their employees to work during break time, and WERE WON IN COURT, were just a sideshow. Courts do not adhere to laws. If I encountered a work environment where the boss refused to provide breaks, you can bet your bottom dollar I would take it to court. There are laws on top of laws on top of laws. The law you discovered is only one of many related to labor.

[lpkruege1]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

First step was McDonald's to automate burgers and eliminate staff.

Starbuckies automated coffee making, resulted in eliminatng staff.

Now Sam's Club is automating pizza making and eliminating staff.

Sounds great to raise minimum wage rates, but there are consequences.

Agreed. Look at CA. More people lost their jobs due to automation and their employers going out of business. How did raising the minimum wage to ridiculous level help them? If $20 is good, why not make it $100? $1000? We all know the answer.

[lpkruege1]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Absolutely. But people have to start somewhere. And if that somewhere is a full-time minimum wage job, then that job should be a living wage. Theoretically. According to the whole reason minimum wage was implemented in the first place.

The federal minimum wage was created to stabilize the post-Great Depression economy, protect vulnerable workers from starvation-level exploitation, and ensure a basic standard of living for fully employed adults.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) into law on June 25, 1938, which established the first national minimum wage at 25 cents per hour.

Key Reasons for Its Creation

• Economic Recovery: Policymakers designed the wage floor to boost worker purchasing power and stimulate consumer spending after the Great Depression.
• Combating Exploitation: It aimed to eliminate "sweatshop" conditions and protect workers who lacked the bargaining power to negotiate fair pay.
• Standard of Living: The law sought to guarantee a baseline standard of living necessary for worker health, efficiency, and general well-being.
• Broader Labor Protections: Alongside wages, the FLSA restricted oppressive child labor, limited the maximum workweek, and introduced overtime pay rules.

[lpkruege1]

Originally Posted by Pugchief

Market forces always win out. The government can try to manipulate markets, but it never works.

Agreed. Look at France. Their spending is at 116% of their GDP. No one wants to cut, but they are in a death spiral like Greece. Like US could if we don't stop giving away free stuff.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by lpkruege1

The federal minimum wage was created to stabilize the post-Great Depression economy, protect vulnerable workers from starvation-level exploitation, and ensure a basic standard of living for fully employed adults.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) into law on June 25, 1938, which established the first national minimum wage at 25 cents per hour.

Key Reasons for Its Creation

• Economic Recovery: Policymakers designed the wage floor to boost worker purchasing power and stimulate consumer spending after the Great Depression.
• Combating Exploitation: It aimed to eliminate "sweatshop" conditions and protect workers who lacked the bargaining power to negotiate fair pay.
• Standard of Living: The law sought to guarantee a baseline standard of living necessary for worker health, efficiency, and general well-being.
• Broader Labor Protections: Alongside wages, the FLSA restricted oppressive child labor, limited the maximum workweek, and introduced overtime pay rules.

The bold/underlined is what's meant by a "living wage." Thanks for confirming that.