intercst
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It’s a creative argument trying to suggest workers tapping govt aid is somehow a subsidy to businesses and not a reflection of the market wage rate.
Activist masquerading as journalists. People wonder why journalism is a dying form.
Go ahead and impose a “living wage”, jobs that can move elsewhere will do so. Tasks that can be automated will be the first to go. Where they can’t, the consumer will pay the price in terms of cost of living.
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Socialism for the rich, rugged capitalism for the poor.
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I’m not sure Walmart employees now qualify for SNAP or Medicaid.
The average U.S. hourly field associate makes $18.25/hour. Minimum starting wages have increased over 90% since 2015. Supply chain associates make $27/hour on average.
I had a retired friend supplementing his social security by working at Walmart. He quit 2 years ago. He was making $15.??/hour. It worked for him as he had too much empty time on his hands and he enjoyed the social interaction with other employees. Won’t be my choice. I pulled the work plug at age 60. Never missed working or fellow serfs at work.
And Walmart now offers health insurance for employees:
Is it the best health insurance? Nope. I would rate it as insurance for a catastrophic incident. Just better then nothing. $2750 deductible for an individual.
Having said the above, 10 years ago Walmart was paying the federal minimum wage and providing no health insurance.
Yes Walmart built the business on the back of their employees. Many corporations do so. At least Walmart has loosened the pursue strings.
Some will mention Costco $30 plus an hour wage. Not everyone receives that wage.
The company set a $19.50 company-wide minimum in 2024 – the highest base floor of any major non-specialty retailer in the country – and has raised it consistently since 2021, when it stood at $17 per hour.
Costco does provide health with a $250 individual deductible:
Perhaps the Costco model be the standard retail stores should have. Methinks Costco is an outlier in pay & benefits.
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My niece worked part-time in a Costco warehouse while she went to college until she graduated and got a regular job somewhere else. She decided working in the warehouse was better and went back.
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Your friend may have run some numbers and realized that his Social Security alone was below the taxable limit but his wages put him into a bracket where his Social Security is taxed.
That’s why so many seniors volunteer. Get the social stimulation and satisfaction of being out and working.
Wendy
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Buc-ee’s is not a national chain, yet. Maybe it is by now. But their pay is pretty good as well. Especially if you work your way up to a managerial type job, which doesn’t require a degree, IIRC.
You have it entirely backwards.
When someone is getting help from the government employers, not just Walmart, do not need to support their employees. The pressure is off the employer. These employers gear to such workers.
Living wages will only be doable if we raise corporate taxes to produce more. We can not fully afford living wages for honest work yet. It is a disgrace.
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