this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2026
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Work Reform

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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.

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[–] BeardededSquidward@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

That's the neat thing, it isn't for us.

My boss makes a dollar, I make a dime,

This rhyme comes from a different time,

My boss makes a dollar, I make a cent,

That's why I can no longer afford rent.

[–] HerbGrower@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

Huh, I always thought a dime was $0.01 when I heard the original rhyme

[–] rethnor@lemmy.zip 10 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

And any positions that are paying minimum wage aren't hiring full time for those positions, that means more than one job which increases transportation costs and reduces free time.

[–] HerbGrower@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 hour ago

I have had plenty of full time minimum wage jobs. Also had a few zero hour contracts which absolutely suck in comparison.

[–] Sharkticon@lemmy.zip 9 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

I wish my bills were that low.

[–] myyass@lemmy.world 4 points 10 hours ago

no kidding. that's my average water/trash bill. I guess the lights don't need to say on.

[–] fucmm@lemmy.zip 5 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

We need to start taking to the streets my friends and just take what you need. Fuck corporate America. I’m gonna take what I want and throw what I think it’s worth on the counter on the way out. Who’s gonna stop me. I need food and clothes for me and my kids. You gonna fucking stop me? The fucking guy checking receipts gonna stop me? No it’s gonna be the Karen bitch that voted for trump and I’m gonna Sparta kick that hoe out my way

I don't see people stealing food.

[–] Radical_Socialist_t00t@lemmy.ca 9 points 12 hours ago

It's not meant to be sustainable. Capitalism is about cheating your fellow men out of their munnies so you have more.

That's why we need Scientific Socialism

[–] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 25 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

The federal minimum wage is $7.25, something like 20 states don't pay a higher wage.

... and many are paid much, much less than that, like working prisoners, making less than a dollar an hour.

... and also many farm workers are paid much, much less than federal "minimum".

Millions of people. The more you look, the more people you will find making laughable wages.

[–] doingthestuff@lemy.lol 8 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Most jobs in my area pay $11-$13. It isn't $7, but it isn't $15 either. Also, who can manage transportation on $300? I spend that much in fuel. This meme paints WAY too easy of a picture. Life is much harder than that in most of the US. I see people from developing nations saying Americans are spoiled because they're so rich, but what they think is rich is absolutely destitute poor here. You'll likely be homeless and hungry if all you earn is $30k/year.

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[–] green_link@lemmy.world 20 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

how is it sustainable? it's not. and that's by design. American politicians and billionaires want it this way. they want the divide. the more poor you are the more likely you are to serve them. slavery never disappeared from the US. the 'American dream' has been dead for decades.

[–] Shanmugha@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

the more poor you are the more likely you are to serve them

I am getting tired of waiting for people to realize what's in the post and finally take up to pitchforks. That's not rocket science, come on

[–] heartSagan5@lemmy.zip 5 points 11 hours ago

If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you. Lyndon B. Johnson

It works for poor versus rich too. Convince their depressed earnings are due to immigrants, etc. and they'll attack them and (not us rich folks). It's a redirection by the rich.

[–] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 4 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

It also wasn't sustainable 20 years ago.

Millennials in their 40s are finally reaching the level of income/financial freedom as a genX did in their late 20s.

[–] heartSagan5@lemmy.zip 2 points 12 hours ago

And some of GenX got part of the Boomer economy where they practically handed you a job for simply asking and things were affordable.

[–] mwguy@infosec.pub 17 points 15 hours ago

And $15/hr is roughly twice the Federal minimum wage.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 4 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

This is also why the powers that be drug their heels and took 10 years to implement the 15 dollar minimum wage.

because they knew that by the time they did, it would solve nothing due to inflation and cost of living rises.

So they got the brownie points for passing it, but still have the desperate, manipulable base thats one bad month away from losing everything.

and they'd also get to go "God, we just gave you the 15 dollar minimum wage, and now you want 25? Stop being greedy and live within your means!"

[–] HerbGrower@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

If you are 1 bad month away from losing everything why are you making £400/month car payments. Over £200 a month on food delivery. £90 a month phone contract. £150 a month on TV and streaming services.

These are real people I know. Like yeah the economy isn't great but you are not helping yourself. Cut back a bit and you could easily build up enough savings to cover several months if something bad was to happen.

Actually suggesting these things to people is really difficult though. They immediately become defensive and try to justify all these luxuries as needs.

They can technically afford them all, but it leaves them with absolutely nothing at the end of the month. As if they are actively trying to spend everything before they get paid.

[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 27 points 18 hours ago (9 children)

Where is rent 1200? Maybe with 2 roomates.

[–] BlueberryWalnut@sopuli.xyz 3 points 12 hours ago

Eureka CA $1200 for a 2 bed 1 bath single family home

...but you live in Eureka

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[–] GlendatheGayWitch@lemmy.world 14 points 16 hours ago

And that is more than double minimum wage in the US ($7.25/hour)!

[–] OakTree@lemmy.zip 115 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Young people just don’t understand saving, and how your options expand after saving even just a little bit. Use this post as an example - if you put that $100-130 away every month, in about 6 months you can afford a gun. This gives you a lot more opportunities.

[–] mechoman444@lemmy.world 21 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

Well... It's not sustainable for the person making $15 an hour, but it's certainly is for the person paying that person $15 an hour and I think that those are the only people that we should be caring about.

Listen you got to work 6 days a week and go to church on Sundays. That's how it's supposed to work. That extra 20-30 bucks you get at the end of the month, collection plate.

Then you can die quietly at 55 and somebody can take your place.

/S obviously.

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[–] Trilogy3452@lemmy.world 7 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (2 children)

YSK: if you're paying for 60$ for a phone for yourself there are MVNOs that are waaay cheaper

Edit: to be clear this is not to refute the post's argument

[–] sudoer777@lemmy.ml 1 points 33 minutes ago

US Mobile is like $20/mo

[–] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 3 points 13 hours ago

Same as Op. I pay about $10-20 a month for cell service. I'm mostly on wifi anyways.

This isn't a "don't buy Starbucks and you can afford a home" tip. More like... Don't pay AT&T/Verizon/whatever fucking company any more than you have to because these motherfuckers all give money to ICE.

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