back to the future

[Smallsteps]

So as i have some time on my hands at work i end up reading articles or surfing the internet. Most I read are financial related and clearly do not address the whole Story.

i read a few articles about the 3 person team that won the Nobel in economics regarding their work studying poverty.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/14/here...ey-won-it.html here is just one link most of these articles do not cover but GLOSS over the findings
in that link article the trio say clearly in education the LACK of teacher accountability is a BIG issue. The studies they did were in Africa and India so accountability is global issue
It also mentions NOT a lack of materials but the teaching to use the items they have.
In another article the team discussed what they call Poverty Action Lab.
This they did in India where they re-organized the school system to learning levels not GRADE or AGE.
This has accountability to not just pass someone on to the next level they are not ready for. They had many, many students that needed and received remedial tutoring and closed some education gap..... Grab Doc and the Delorean we are going back to the future.

I remember when they started passing kids along because they thought holding back would hurt self esteem etc. They also focused on addressing small items individually instead of a one size fits all wealth distribution.

i also read a feedback on the Stockton CA experiment of 125 families getting $500 a month UBI.
The article started upbeat about how money was used as an emergency fund but...... later stated that approximately 40% was just cashed out (ATM) and they can only assume the money was spent as the recipient said as they could not track it . That does not instill much confidence IMO as anyone being asked will say it was spent on items to support the theory not.

Another article assumed it was a surprise (NOT), that Target cut peoples hours and streamlined systems and how many employees they need after raising wages to 15.... Is this NEWS to anyone?
I worked retail and will tell you that regardless of their anecdotal writing, they did nothing to look at the fact the people often hurt in these cuts are not the best and brightest employees.
Those whom are hurt really need these jobs as they need to develop skills or work habits in hopes to move on to a better job.

i honestly wish they would write about the fact that most EDITORS must be unemployed as nothing seemed to be written as more then a first draft missing a lot of information.

[disneysteve]

Another article assumed it was a surprise (NOT), that Target cut peoples hours and streamlined systems and how many employees they need after raising wages to 15.... Is this NEWS to anyone?

It's amazing how many people continue to support a higher minimum wage thinking it will help those low income workers. I read an article about Target also (maybe the same article). I meant to post something about it. It's blatantly obvious to me that when a business sees a sudden jump in their expenses, in this case payroll, they are going to do what they can to reduce overall expenses to compensate. That might mean cutting hours. It might mean eliminating a position or two entirely. It might mean investing in more technology and automation. The last thing they want to do is raise prices as that could backfire if it cuts into sales.

[Smallsteps]

It's amazing how many people continue to support a higher minimum wage thinking it will help those low income workers. I read an article about Target also (maybe the same article). I meant to post something about it. It's blatantly obvious to me that when a business sees a sudden jump in their expenses, in this case payroll, they are going to do what they can to reduce overall expenses to compensate. That might mean cutting hours. It might mean eliminating a position or two entirely. It might mean investing in more technology and automation. The last thing they want to do is raise prices as that could backfire if it cuts into sales.

The disconnect is amazing isn't it??? I am at a loss of how many examples they NEED before understanding it. i read somewhere Seattle lost approx 1000 small restaurants/ shops because of $15 many moved outside the city limits and set up shop in nearby cities.
The tax base is leaving/ they have empty spots no one will open up in/ and that does not even include the domino effect of lost sales & revenue to those businesses that supplied items to those restaurants etc.

I really think back to early in my working life where i had to choose between job A at $12 with sporadic 15 to maybe occasionally 32hours.... and job B at $10 that was 40 hours.

[disneysteve]

I just returned from the grocery store (Wegman's, for those familiar with them). I generally use the self checkout as long as I don't have more than the maximum number of items. There was a sign on the register that as of 10/27, the self checkout lanes will only accept electronic payments, no more cash. My first thought was that cash transactions slow down the line. The more I thought about it, though, I realized it's probably more about reducing labor needs. With cash, someone has to periodically stock the machine with currency and coins for change, empty the machines, count the cash going in and out, etc. With electronic-only payment, all they need to do is put a new roll of receipt paper in from time to time. That's a lot less labor-intensive.

[bjl584]

Usually, the easiest and quickest way for a company to cut costs is to tinker with its payroll.

It's so much easier to cut hours or eliminate positions than it is to say, install new high efficiency LED lighting or HVAC systems in all of a retailer's stores.
Target can save millions of dollars today, even in the next few hours if they start laying people off or cutting hours.
Or, they can save millions over the next 3 years by taking on a major CAPEX project.
Wonder what they'll pick?

[disneysteve]

Target can save millions of dollars today, even in the next few hours if they start laying people off or cutting hours.

Exactly. Heck, my daughter has now worked at 2 jobs where, if they aren't terribly busy, they'll send one or two people home early. Over the course of a year, the businesses save a ton of money doing that.

[Smallsteps]

This is what retail is plain and simple. Now beyond wanting companies to pay $15, some politicians want set schedules for retail This is work that ebbs and flows is not set . The bill they are pushing wants companies to have 2 weeks out of schedules. I remember as i was leaving retail places were Trying to do this it did not work well.

I just saw an article today lamenting how a ever changing schedule was just too hard on people. Seriously i am seeing made up stories to support whatever is being pushed at the moment.

The reality is most retail has many part time workers so they have flexibility to cover changes in customer traffic. so now people may work 3 days/ 8 hour shifts and may or may not be called in.
Now to accommodate this 2 week schedule thing will be 5 day 4 hour shifts (so you are already there in case they need you) losing 4 hours a week and the flexibility to work another job etc. The people thinking they are "helping" keep making it worse for the very people who cannot afford it.

[disneysteve]

Now beyond wanting companies to pay $15, some politicians want set schedules for retail

The reality is most retail has many part time workers so they have flexibility to cover changes in customer traffic.

I haven't heard about that. That is nuts. As you said, it totally goes against the nature of the business. There are changes in customer traffic based on time of year, weather, sales, holidays, etc. It makes no sense to give all of the employees set schedules in advance. Most get their schedules a week or two at a time.

Food service is the same way and is another area pushing for the $15 minimum wage.

[disneysteve]

I do recognize the problem with having a job where you may or may not get to work and have no idea how many hours you will work each week. Kind of impossible to live that way or make any sort of budget. How do you rent an apartment when you don't know how much you will earn each month? Even if you are sharing the place with one or more other people, you still need to know you'll be able to pay your share along with all of your other expenses.

I don't mean to downplay the effect having an unstable job has on all of the folks who do that sort of work but mandating how many hours an employer has to give you and how much they have to pay you isn't a feasible solution.

[Smallsteps]

I haven't heard about that. That is nuts. As you said, it totally goes against the nature of the business. There are changes in customer traffic based on time of year, weather, sales, holidays, etc. It makes no sense to give all of the employees set schedules in advance. Most get their schedules a week or two at a time.

Food service is the same way and is another area pushing for the $15 minimum wage.

These are called " predictive scheduling laws " some are by states and a national one is being pushed. Those who think this helps clearly do not understand the situation.

These make it very hard for both employee and employer. Imagine the same clairvoyant ability to know what( employer) customer traffic business will be for tow plus weeks( like you mentioned weather plays a role) and have employees need to ask for a day off 3-4 weeks ahead of time. There is a little thing called LIFE that happens.
When i worked retail and they tried the 2 week program of schedules by half way through first week it all looked like chicken scratch with all the shift swapping and change this and that to work around items like DR visits or other life happens things.

All these " bills" are sold as what about the single mom and not being able to come in at short notice etc.
I wish they would quit assuming PT or industries that have ups and downs are good career choices for everyone. Retail ( or restaurants) IMO is a great additional income for a family that has a primary income (75/25) that covers most expenses and retail is a supportive role. or pt for students or retirees. I realize that people often end up in jobs they had not planned on.
When you consider a job you need to weigh the pros / cons of that job. Schedules are a con for retail and service work PERIOD.

When i was working i went PT and wanted to stay that way yet i could come in when called and did not limit my availability so i ended up working 40+.
There were many people who NEEDED a check much more then me but they never answered the phone. They always said "if store needed me they should have scheduled me" well they did not know employee X would be sick or maybe even just quit. So Retail calls you do not answer you do not get hours and then you whine about how unfair the world is.

We had all the usual's that only wanted to work day shifts/ no weekends/ off by specific time and off for holidays and any events like festivals etc in area.

They threw a fit if they decided they needed a day off and there was no one who wanted to cover their shift ... they would just call in. So some one would get a call to fill in.
I literally had a person whom called in and i covered last minute wanted me to give them one of my other shifts like we had swapped..... i told them "no you called in because you did not get the day off you wanted and so you lose."

I think Government interference will only hurt those who can least afford it.

[Smallsteps]

I just returned from the grocery store (Wegman's, for those familiar with them). I generally use the self checkout as long as I don't have more than the maximum number of items. There was a sign on the register that as of 10/27, the self checkout lanes will only accept electronic payments, no more cash. My first thought was that cash transactions slow down the line. The more I thought about it, though, I realized it's probably more about reducing labor needs. With cash, someone has to periodically stock the machine with currency and coins for change, empty the machines, count the cash going in and out, etc. With electronic-only payment, all they need to do is put a new roll of receipt paper in from time to time. That's a lot less labor-intensive.

So many items are going to electronic payments etc mostly due to the reasons you stated.
I wonder what will happen to all those whom are un-banked and limited to pre -paid cards. some of those do not work well if close to only a few dollars left etc. i would think with more and more things headed to electronic payments there would be more of a push to capture the unbanked market.

[disneysteve]

employees need to ask for a day off 3-4 weeks ahead of time. There is a little thing called LIFE that happens.
When i worked retail and they tried the 2 week program of schedules by half way through first week it all looked like chicken scratch with all the shift swapping and change this and that to work around items like DR visits or other life happens things.

LOL. That happens at our place all the time. We get our schedule for 6 weeks at a time and we get it a month or so in advance. Right now, I've got my schedule through November 30 and we just got the tentative schedule for the period through January 11 a couple of days ago. If we need a day off, we need to put in that request at least a few months in advance and even then there's no guarantee it will be approved. I've had PTO requests turned down more than 6 months in advance and others have had requests denied as far as a year in advance.

[Smallsteps]

LOL. That happens at our place all the time. We get our schedule for 6 weeks at a time and we get it a month or so in advance. Right now, I've got my schedule through November 30 and we just got the tentative schedule for the period through January 11 a couple of days ago. If we need a day off, we need to put in that request at least a few months in advance and even then there's no guarantee it will be approved. I've had PTO requests turned down more than 6 months in advance and others have had requests denied as far as a year in advance.

wow that seems a bit over the top in pre-scheduling.
What happens if someone decides to leave or a life happens event?

I have had co-workers leave work one day have an accident and NEVER return.
I think in the case of entry level type retail/ service jobs the turnover rate is far greater then a physician as well. I just do not see in some zeal to say employees need this and that never take into account that there are two sides to every story and some of the most vocal examples when their claims are examined it is often self inflicted obstacles to a better job / life.

[disneysteve]

wow that seems a bit over the top in pre-scheduling.
What happens if someone decides to leave or a life happens event?

We need to have 13 people working at all times to have all sites covered, so they need to account for that when considering PTO requests. The current policy is that no more than 3 people can be off on any given day. Until very recently, we've been chronically understaffed. Over the past 2-3 months, we've hired several new people and filled in the staff nicely so that 3 person limit might get bumped up at some point.

You can take off any time IF you are able to find someone to cover your shift. I just did this the other day for some time at the end of the year. I have PTO hours that will expire (use it or lose it) so I took a couple of days off to use up some of those hours but I was only able to do that because I got people to cover for me.

As for emergencies - illness, funeral, etc. - they work around that. The leads will text, email, and call people until they find someone to cover. If necessary and they're available, one of them will cover themselves. We have a good number of per diems so there is a bank of people to reach out to along with the FT and PT folks who often pick up extra shifts.

Nobody has ever left suddenly fortunately. Our contracts require 90 or 120 days notice (I don't remember which) so anytime someone was planning on leaving, it was known well in advance. If something sudden happened like illness or injury, those open shifts would be up for grabs like any other open shifts.