Hey Unions, at some point wages and benefits will reflect productivity no matter how much you protest

[Votre_Chef]

Originally Posted by non-linear

This argument only applies to fast food. Ever done the math for big retail outlets, pharmacy techs, factory and warehouse workers? these employees typically add 2-4x as much value to their company as they're paid.

I'm not sure that argument even applies to fast food. Nobody will pay $15 for a Big Mac so McDonald's will just take the hit on additional labor costs.

Now as for the original point in the thread:

Labor costs have in no way kept up with increases in productivity. Since 1979, productivity has risen 240% in the United States while wages have remained stagnant. The median household income is around $50,000. If wages mirrored increased productivity, the median household income would be about $92,000.

[Quick Enough]

Originally Posted by Adrian71

The whole problem is, employers shouldn't have to be forced to make sure the people who keep their companies running on a daily basis are happy. They should want to provide better pay and working conditions for their workers. If you treat your employees well, they're likely to be more productive and loyal. Happy workers in turn create happy customers. Everybody wins. Well, greed loses, but it's due time we value human beings over greed.

"The whole problem is" "employers shouldn't have to be forced"

NO, the problem IS you THINK most, if not every company fits your "opinion "of business owners.

In my career I worked with thousands of companies and I found those that were successful and stayed in business care a GREAT deal about their employees and WANT them to be happy.

They are NOT FORCED to do so. It is good business sense.

A happy employee is more productive then an unhappy one.

Companies do NOT like turnover. It takes time AND money to retrain no matter how menial the job might be.

"They should want to provide better pay and working conditions for their workers."

They DO.

A company will give what it can afford and still keep its employes content.

Its a balancing act. Give them too much and you go out of business. Too little and you loose them.

I think it is obvious you have never started, owned or ran a business.

It is EASY to criticize othes when you have NO experience in the field.

[Quick Enough]

Originally Posted by Votre_Chef

I'm not sure that argument even applies to fast food. Nobody will pay $15 for a Big Mac so McDonald's will just take the hit on additional labor costs.

Now as for the original point in the thread:

Labor costs have in no way kept up with increases in productivity. Since 1979, productivity has risen 240% in the United States while wages have remained stagnant. The median household income is around $50,000. If wages mirrored increased productivity, the median household income would be about $92,000.

Productivity increased because of being more efficient, automation and new technology, NOT because the same workers were more productive.