Worker's Wages : Wendy's vs. Walmart vs. Costco
- Thread starter SandGino
- Start date
In all fairness, the guy at Costco was a forklift operator with 20 years on the job, his job is more demanding, takes training and has safety issues he has to be mindful of.
The article didn't even say what the Wendy's and Wal-Mart workers do, just that they hold similar positions? If the guy at Wal-Mart is a forklift operator, there is a beef, but I doubt the girl at Wendy's "Cinnamon Tigner" is a forklift operator. Just a hunch, I've never known a forklift operator named Cinnamon before, lol.
The article didn't even say what the Wendy's and Wal-Mart workers do, just that they hold similar positions? If the guy at Wal-Mart is a forklift operator, there is a beef, but I doubt the girl at Wendy's "Cinnamon Tigner" is a forklift operator. Just a hunch, I've never known a forklift operator named Cinnamon before, lol.
The article is crap (from CNN, say it ain't so!), but the underlying idea is sound. Costco actually gives a shit about its workers, and tries to pay them a living wage. They have a rare and admirable corporate philosophy, and it seems to be working for them. I'm scared to get all Pollyanna about it, but for now I'll just say: Fuck yeah, Costco! You go, girl!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickung...nd-sails-proof-that-you-get-what-you-pay-for/
http://hbr.org/2006/12/the-high-cost-of-low-wages/ar/1
(hey lookie! It's our pals at Gawker!)
http://gawker.com/costco-the-anti-wal-mart-511739135
I know for certain that employees at Costco are paid very well for what they do. Full time cart pusher/stocker/door greeter are the lower end pay scales each bringing in 50k + per year plus full benefits for free, 2 lump sum payments (minimum $1000 up to $3000+) price match on both pension and rrsp contributions to a Max of $1000 each. Forklift operators, cashiers and various other jobs make more. Of course these jobs require you spend several years there to get to top rate. Nonetheless you are rewarded well if you are willing to serve your time.
I tried retail once. It certainly is not for me but Costco is one of the few places you could make a decent living at it.
I tried retail once. It certainly is not for me but Costco is one of the few places you could make a decent living at it.
Costco has some of the lowest turnover in retail. The CEO of Costco earns $650000 per year with up to $200000 in bonuses for less than a million in total compensation per year. By contrast the CEO of Wal-Mart gets 20.7 million in salary, stock options, and bonuses.
The guy at Costo is fork lift driver, you need a license for that and so it's it kind of a skilled labour, so they pay more.
No one is forcing you to eat, either. Right? Mind you, if for some reason you feel the need to, (eat, that is), you may find yourself taking employment somewhere less than ideal.
As mentioned before, the article is shit but the underlying premise is sound. It's not just forklift drivers. Costco pays its hourly workers an average of $20.89 an hour, while Walmart said its average wage for full-time employees in the U.S. is $12.67 an hour. Almost double.
I'd agree with that philosophy if unemployment was at rock bottom. But seeing as there are way more workers looking for work, than jobs available, workers can't exactly pick and choose. Which leads to unlivable wages as this is an employer's world currently.
While I don't agree (or think it's feasible) that wages of fast food workers should be doubled, a large hike is probably in order. I've never believed in the philosophy that you deserve only so much as you can get. Such a philosophy has led to millionaires who never work a day in their lives and people with three jobs who can barely get by. Fast food workers work in a stressful, albeit low-skilled, environment. Seems to me they should be paid a wage that affords them a decent living space, food, clothing, utilities, a car, and a few bucks left over.
