Work Reform

13187 readers

611 users here now

A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.

Our Philosophies:

All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.

Our Goals

Higher wages for underpaid workers.
Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
Better and fewer working hours.
Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

seeCseas@lemmy.world

tintory@lemm.ee

TinMod@lemmy.world

149

'We have no rights.' Frustrated with California wage laws, Moonstone Bistro in Redding cuts lunch service (krcrtv.com)

submitted 2 years ago by return2ozma@lemmy.world to c/workreform@lemmy.world

41 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 35 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

The statement from them is rich.

"We, as business owners, do not feel that we are the ones exploiting people. We pay huge taxes, fees, licenses, inspections, Workman's Comp, insurance, you name it. We do this for the right to work really hard, and to create jobs. Yet...we are being told that WE are the reason why people can't afford their rent. We are told we should pay everyone more, while we work harder, and for less. Employers are unprotected. We have no rights. We don't get overtime or breaks. The only thing we get is what's left over after everyone else takes their cut. At some point, the risk outweighs the reward.

For us, we cannot accept more liability and expense. We have to pay our rent, too. So we are reducing our costs. Reducing our liability. We are concentrating our efforts on the area that is most successful. Tanya and I, as most other business owners, are tired of hearing how it's our fault people can't afford their lives; tired of being told we need to work harder so other people can have more; tired of being told we should be happy with having less, working more, being liable and responsible for everyone and everything, so other people can have a better life."

Boo-fucking-hoo. Just do it and don’t grandstand about it, nobody fucking cares how hard you think it is to be upper middle class.

[–] return2ozma@lemmy.world 22 points 2 years ago

I rolled my eyes the entire article. These entitled twats!

[–] BaldProphet@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

I'm definitely not upper-middle-class, but I have attempted to run a one-man business before. I used semantics to dodge certain state licensing requirements (I was a "consultant" instead of a "technician") which would have cost me more than 50% of my annual profit. The state definitely adds a lot of nonsense costs to running a business that do little more than protect existing businesses from new competition and discourage lower-income people from attempting to start businesses of their own.