McDonald's hits all-time high as Wall Street cheers replacement of cashiers with kiosks
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Best post I've seen in a while. You win the internet ��
In the real world, there is a place for both training and education. The original model of the liberal arts education was designed for a different era -- one where over 60% of the US population was directly involved in agriculture and where the purpose of the liberal arts education was to enable one to become a better citizen. Employment wasn't really a concern -- the liberal arts educated person could readily find a job in the public sector as well as in the private sector doing any number of things for which they had no direct training.
That era is long gone. While I still believe the liberals arts education does help the student become a better citizen, I think the modern Academy needs to recognize that its no-skill liberal arts graduate cannot be a better citizen without a job. Periodically the Academy studies the issue and fails miserably. Elite universities appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission to study the question "Is a Liberal Arts Education still relevant?" Inevitably, The Academy appoints august professors of Philosophy, Women's Studies & Anthropology whose employment depends on the answer to that question. Inevitably, the Blue Ribbon Commission concludes "yes, we professors of the Liberal Arts still matter." Quelle surprise.
well, there's a bunch of $15/hour jobs up in a cloud of French-fry smoke.
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Originally Posted by greywar
Please. This is a pretty pathetic attack. They were getting replaced at $15, OR $7. The only question might have been now vs 2 years from now. Automation is getting cheaper.
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Originally Posted by steven_h
It wasn't like nobody had a clue... well, except those believing companies wouldn't make "other arrangements" knowing a $15 minimum wage would blow their bottom line.
Sometimes you get what you wish for, and end up with nothing.
I am a little confused. Are they already not out in McDonalds in other countries? In the past 2 years I have visited Germany, Austria and Amsterdam and all McDonalds had self ordering. More kiosks were there than people behind the counter. And two of the three people there were for just to serve the food and only one to take orders.
People skipped the line and placed orders on Kiosks and paid with CC and collected their order when their number was called out or displayed.
Similar to some banks where it costs money to use a teller than use the free ATM service, a day will come when they will add another 10-15% to your order if you use a live cashier behind the counter. Such is life.
Kind of interesting how the market seems to favor the loss of jobs. One more example of how the corporations and wall street are much more interested in profit than than preserving jobs! So, republicans, keep supporting the corporate wealthy. Keep getting rid of government regulations on banks and corporations. Just let business regulate itself. You'll eventually be working 12 hour days, 7 days a week, for $5 an hour, if you can find a job, that is!
Kind of interesting how the market seems to favor the loss of jobs. One more example of how the corporations and wall street are much more interested in profit than than preserving jobs!
Kind of interesting how the market seems to favor the loss of jobs. One more example of how the corporations and wall street are much more interested in profit than than preserving jobs! So, republicans, keep supporting the corporate wealthy. Keep getting rid of government regulations on banks and corporations. Just let business regulate itself. You'll eventually be working 12 hour days, 7 days a week, for $5 an hour, if you can find a job, that is!
Skeptical
To be fair though... automation also creates jobs, just on the other end of the class spectrum - engineers, designers, business people, etc. And also customer service support for those machines. How long can we protect one specific type of job, and why should we when they don't bring more value than these other jobs being created? Everyone has to move in the same direction of progress or get left behind.
To be fair though... automation also creates jobs, just on the other end of the class spectrum - engineers, designers, business people, etc. And also customer service support for those machines. How long can we protect one specific type of job, and why should we when they don't bring more value than these other jobs being created? Everyone has to move in the same direction of progress or get left behind.
Or they can emigrate to other countries for better opportunities, right?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skeptical
Kind of interesting how the market seems to favor the loss of jobs. One more example of how the corporations and wall street are much more interested in profit than than preserving jobs!
The sole function of a corporation is to make money for share-holders. If you have an issue with that, then move to out-law publicly traded corporations.
Or they can emigrate to other countries for better opportunities, right?
Wow how ironic would it be if you started seeing Americans illegally emigrate to Mexico or Canada for low-paying jobs and we were the next wave of "illegals."
McDonalds is going through a period of readjustment under current British CEO Steve Easterbrook.
McDonalds is already at the cheaper end of the market, at a time when many millennials are willing to spend more, so the chain has to decide is it just going to go ever cheaper or is it going to try and take some of the premium burger market. It seems to want to try and take a slioce of the premium market having employed table service in some countries and new premium menus, however whether this is succesful only time will tell. The alternative would be to just install atomated kiosks and cashiers, and go cheap, along with the likes of Burger King and KFC.
In the UK there are now lots of premium burger places such as Five Guys, Shake Shack, Smashburger, Byron, Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), Handmade Burger Company etc, whilst in terms of chicken Nandos has had a big impact on the UK market over the last decade.
Whilst Mexican chains such as Wahaca, Barburrito, Chiquito, Chipotle and even Taco Bell are expanding across the UK, whilst new Pizza Chains such as MOD Pizzas not compete with Pizza Haut, Pizza Express, Papa Johns, Domino's etc
I don't see the big deal behind McDonads kiosks. When I look at my local McDonalds, I'd say 80% or more of the business is made through the drive thru window. I'll be more impressed when you can order on a screen at the drive thru window, pull up to the next window and robot hands you the order! My particular location does have the kiosks installed inside the store. But you also have the same amount of people running the counter as it always has been. I see automation really just augmenting humans rather than replacing them completely.
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