How I Get By: A Week in the Life of a McDonald’s Cashier

Vice ^ | 12/05/2019 | Maxwell Stachan

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

You should look into getting your CDL license with fuel endorsement to drive a gas truck, I heard those guys make great money and there are a ton of jobs out there. Actually anything having to do with CDL drivers there’s a lot of jobs. I know here in New York if you are on unemployment, the state pays for you to go to CDL school, if you get a CDL-A and drive for a company like Walmart I heard they start at $70K a year. That’s strange why nobody would hire you as a chef because you are 47. I would think they would see age as someone with more experience. Plus look into writing cookbooks, you can publish them on Amazon and you make something like 70% of every book you sell

[82nd Bragger]

Ft Bragg, 1983 - 1986

[Future Snake Eater]

I have some questions.

1) Can we back up about 10-15 years to get a better understanding of her high school years and decisions?

2) Why is she so low-skilled that, at 29, she can only work at a McDonalds that takes her two hours to get to? (I imagine the answer is “see #1”)

3) Why does she receive absolutely zero assistance? Isn’t this the exact kind of case welfare is supposed to help with?

4) Why do leftists immediately jump to insurance as the end-all/be-all for all things involving life? Sounds like the government paying for all auto repairs would be more helpful to Cierra than health insurance.

[Svartalfiar]

I joined the Fight for $15 and a Union because I’ve worked in the fast food industry for 14 years—about half my life—and all these jobs have a few things in common. They all paid poverty wages. None of these jobs have given me the opportunity to come together with my coworkers in a union, or receive any healthcare benefits. And the only way we'll create change in these jobs is workers coming together and demanding it.

Guess what the biggest thing they have in common is? They're entry-level part time jobs. A Mickey D's cashier is something a high schooler works, or a retired guy that wants to go do something. It's not a job someone with years of experience should be in, unless there's a major life emergency.

And a $215 check for two weeks of work? At her income level, she can't have much withholding, if any. That's less than 15 hours a week, so she's only working two shifts. Why didn't she find something within walking distance of her house? I'm sure there's plenty of fast food, if not another Mickey D's right by her place!

[gogeo]

Why do you think rent is so high?

[mumblypeg]

That’s what I said— rent subsidies cause the rents to increase.

[gogeo]

Anything else?

[central_va]

Uh, no—just look at any city that has gone to a $15 minimum—lots of restaurant jobs were lost.

So who now does the work that those employees were doing? Did the restaurant close? If, so where are the customers they once served eating?

[central_va]

I guess you also want to pay $11.50 or more for Big Mac value meal.

That is a ridiculous prediction. Do you know math? Labor is 25% of the cost of a fast food order. So if labor goes up 20% then 20% of 25% goes up. 20% of 25% is 5 cents on the dollar at retail. Like most freepers you fail at economics and math.

[central_va]

Beef doesn’t vote or draw welfare.

[Red Badger]

Have you considered writing and making your own games?............................

[9YearLurker]

Yes, the restaurants closed (or modified their dervice to use less labor). And the customers presumably moved to less expensive restaurants, less labor’intensive takeout, or, heaven forbid, cooking at home.

[Engedi]

Fast food places are already replacing order takers/cashiers with self-serve machines/checkouts.

[Engedi]

Wishing you luck you can find something that you are happy with doing. Keep us posted on how it’s going. I will do likewise.

[central_va]

Which has nothing to do with the minimum wage increase. The minimum wage, adjusted for inflation, is at an all time low. So the automation that you are referring to is happening despite low labor costs and not because of it.