[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast

Well I know a local McDonalds franchisee who started working for them when burgers were probably 15 cents. Same situation with the local Wendy's and KFC franchisees, and in all three franchisee situations, their kids have started on the bottom, flipping burgers and cleaning the place, to move up the ladder to being store managers. Other dependable and ambitious workers can work their way up to management the same way.

If they want to make much more money than $15/hour, they can take their McD's experience and go to work for a more expensive, order-from-the-menu restaurant where they can earn tips of $20-$30 plus, per hour. If they WANT to.

A couple of years ago I met a Walmart store manager and thanked him for the efficient service I had that day at the cashier line (which was not the case at other area Walmarts). He told me "I love my job. I started out working for Walmart in high school, and here I am…store manager. They gave me a great opportunity to move up!"

So you are equating the opportunity available to the children of the franchisee to the typical employee?

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by janmcn

If people are demanding higher wages, doesn't that mean they are working? If people are working, how does that mean they want something for nothing?

First, most of the people protesting do not work. That is why they have the time to sit outside the McDonald's.

Second, there is a value to be placed upon a given job. Higher pay in no way translates to higher performance.

It is incumbent upon the employee to seek higher wages through higher performance. This is EASY in the fast food business. Employees are so lax that anyone can stand out if they so choose. Fast food establishments universally schedule more employees per shift just so they can have enough help to actually show up. The only places that do not have this problem are the ones that employ primarily seniors.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast

Well I know a local McDonalds franchisee who started working for them when burgers were probably 15 cents. Same situation with the local Wendy's and KFC franchisees, and in all three franchisee situations, their kids have started on the bottom, flipping burgers and cleaning the place, to move up the ladder to being store managers. Other dependable and ambitious workers can work their way up to management the same way.

If they want to make much more money than $15/hour, they can take their McD's experience and go to work for a more expensive, order-from-the-menu restaurant where they can earn tips of $20-$30 plus, per hour. If they WANT to.

A couple of years ago I met a Walmart store manager and thanked him for the efficient service I had that day at the cashier line (which was not the case at other area Walmarts). He told me "I love my job. I started out working for Walmart in high school, and here I am…store manager. They gave me a great opportunity to move up!"

Now THAT is the American way.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

Well, I know the local MacDonalds franchisee. He lives in a million dollar home and drives a Mercedes, while his employees are mostly living in poverty and/or on welfare. He deserves to make a nice return on his investment and risk, but it seems to me that there is a little left to go to the people who make him his money. BTW, he seldom is seen in the store.

Did you ever ask him how much he had to risk in order to buy that franchise? His employees are being paid what they are worth. and in many cases, based on my experience, they are getting more then they are worth. What does his income have to do with anything? Why should he give people money for nothing?

And while your at it, ask him how much he gives to charitiy and how much he pays for taxes each year.

[BobnBev]

Originally Posted by B767drvr

Those fast-food workers striking for a $15 minimum wage might soon find themselves REPLACED altogether!

What's the nation going to do with all the unskilled labor out there? Is this society's problem, or an individual's problem?


>>
A company called Momentum Machines has built a robot that could radically change the fast-food industry and have some line cooks looking for new jobs.

The company's robot can "slice toppings like tomatoes and pickles immediately before it places the slice onto your burger, giving you the freshest burger possible." The robot is "more consistent, more sanitary, and can produce ~360 hamburgers per hour." That's one burger every 10 seconds.

The next generation of the device will offer "custom meat grinds for every single customer. Want a patty with 1/3 pork and 2/3 bison ground to order? No problem."

Momentum Machines cofounder Alexandros Vardakostas told Xconomy his "device isn’t meant to make employees more efficient. It’s meant to completely obviate them." Indeed, marketing copy on the company's site reads that their automaton "does everything employees can do, except better."



Read more: Momentum Machines Burger Robot - Business Insider

<<

WOW!!! No more bathroom breaks, smoke breaks, coffee breaks. The wonderful world of automation. I think I'll invent a robot to clean and oil the other robots. Maybe give him a key to the front door.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

Heck, I'm staring at this post.

Me too.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Did you ever ask him how much he had to risk in order to buy that franchise? His employees are being paid what they are worth. and in many cases, based on my experience, they are getting more then they are worth. What does his income have to do with anything? Why should he give people money for nothing?

And while your at it, ask him how much he gives to charitiy and how much he pays for taxes each year.

The risk in buying a MacDonalds franchise is very minimal. As I said, he deserves a nice return on his investment and considering the risk of his capital. The employees are being paid what they are worth, or by your impeccable standards, more than they're worth? By what standard? His income has everything to do with it, because one should calculate the value of the employees based on their contribution to generating that income. He should not give people money for nothing, if they generate no profit they should be fired, but if they generate profit they should share in the success of the operation. I don't know what he gives to charity nor what he pays in taxes, but he seems to have plenty left over to get by. My children own several businesses and are very successful, and to their credit they compensate their employees very well with incentive bonuses if the company thrives.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

The risk in buying a MacDonalds franchise is very minimal. As I said, he deserves a nice return on his investment and considering the risk of his capital. The employees are being paid what they are worth, or by your impeccable standards, more than they're worth? By what standard? His income has everything to do with it, because one should calculate the value of the employees based on their contribution to generating that income. He should not give people money for nothing, if they generate no profit they should be fired, but if they generate profit they should share in the success of the operation. I don't know what he gives to charity nor what he pays in taxes, but he seems to have plenty left over to get by. My children own several businesses and are very successful, and to their credit they compensate their employees very well with incentive bonuses if the company thrives.

Got to disagree on the bolded part. Employees are valued based upon what their skill set is worth to any potential employer. The rarer or more difficult to replace the skill set, the greater the value to the employer and the greater the compensation. That the employee adds to the profitability of the company relates more to whether the position or employee will be retained.

[justjim]

I don't believe anybody believes that fast food minimum wages is going to $15.00 hr in one big jump. Just ain't going to happen. However, is it reasonable, manageable and possible over a five or six year period.

Many States are already paying wages above the Federal Minimum wage. The cost of living is certainly different in places like New York, L.A. And Chicago than places like Jonesboro, Dothan and Leesburg. A good day's pay for a good day of work. Everyone who is able should work----And have the opportunity to make a decent wage.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by justjim

I don't believe anybody believes that fast food minimum wages is going to $15.00 hr in one big jump. Just ain't going to happen. However, is it reasonable, manageable and possible over a five or six year period.

Many States are already paying wages above the Federal Minimum wage. The cost of living is certainly different in places like New York, L.A. And Chicago than places like Jonesboro, Dothan and Leesburg. A good day's pay for a good day of work. Everyone who is able should work----And have the opportunity to make a decent wage.

Very reasonable post Jim.

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Did you ever ask him how much he had to risk in order to buy that franchise? His employees are being paid what they are worth. and in many cases, based on my experience, they are getting more then they are worth. What does his income have to do with anything? Why should he give people money for nothing?

And while your at it, ask him how much he gives to charitiy and how much he pays for taxes each year.

Paying people to work is not giving people money for nothing. Anybody that works a 40 hour week should not have to live below the poverty line. It is the taxpayers that are subsidizing these businesses by providing food stamps and other programs, which by the way, these workers qualify for by virtue of their income. And this includes many employees who work for The Villages and other vendors in this area.

[buggyone]

Justjim says it correctly. Minimum wage is not planned to double in one fell swoop - or is it a swell foop? It would take a few years to fully implement.

Prices do increase naturally. So what? Your Social Security goes up, too. I can afford to pay another quarter for a beer at Cody's.

[tippyclubb]

Originally Posted by janmcn

If people are demanding higher wages, doesn't that mean they are working? If people are working, how does that mean they want something for nothing?

They want a $7 a hour increase in pay doing the exact same job they were hired to do at minimum wage. Yep, they expect something for nothing.

[waynet]

and the rich keep getting richer. And it's only the rich. the Mcdee worker is not alone. Even skilled workers are not benefitting froma better economy.

[tcxr750]

I get nostalgic when I recall making 75 cents per hour at Mcdonald's. Then I joined the Air Force and made $87 per month (1964). When technology replaces people think of the bright side of this event. The companies that manufacture and use this technology will have an increase in shareholder value. Our diversified portfolio of investments will increase in value. When we die our investments will then be passed on to our underemployed heirs. Just make sure its in a tax sheltered investment!