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McDonalds pushes back on $15 min. wage

Faster horses

Well-known member
I hate to say "we told you so." Once automation takes over, companies won't go back to hiring human help.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2016/11/29/thanks-to-fight-for-15-minimum-wage-mcdonalds-unveils-job-replacing-self-service-kiosks-nationwide/#33388e83762e

-Ed Rinsi
As the labor union-backed Fight for $15 begins yet another nationwide strike on November 29, I have a simple message for the protest organizers and the reporters covering them: I told you so.

It brings me no joy to write these words. The push for a $15 starter wage has negatively impacted the career prospects of employees who were just getting started in the workforce while extinguishing the businesses that employed them. I wish it were not so. But it’s important to document these consequences, lest policymakers elsewhere decide that the $15 movement is worth embracing.

Let’s start with automation. In 2013, when the Fight for $15 was still in its growth stage, I and others warned that union demands for a much higher minimum wage would force businesses with small profit margins to replace full-service employees with costly investments in self-service alternatives. At the time, labor groups accused business owners of crying wolf. It turns out the wolf was real.

Earlier this month, McDonald’s announced the nationwide roll-out of touchscreen self-service kiosks. In a video the company released to showcase the new customer experience, it’s striking to see employees who once would have managed a cash register now reduced to monitoring a customer’s choices at an iPad-style kiosk.

It’s not just McDonald’s that has embraced job-replacing technology. Numerous restaurant chains (both quick service and full service) have looked to computer tablets as a solution for rising labor costs that won’t adversely impact the customer’s experience. Eatsa, a fully-automated restaurant concept, now has five locations—all in cities or states that have embraced a $15 minimum wage. And in a scene stolen from The Jetsons, the Starship delivery robot is now navigating the streets of San Francisco with groceries and other consumer goods. The company’s founder pointed to a rising minimum wage as a key factor driving the growth of his automated delivery business.

Read more at Forbes (link provided).
 

Steve

Well-known member
We have a chain of local convenience store that switched to touch screen koisks, they make decent food and are always busy.
With four touch screens the order line is seldom more then one person, often no line exists.
The automated order for custom made hoagies/sandwiches, and fancy coffee drinks are almost if not always correctly made.
( don't order the coffee, but am told at less then half the price of starbucks they are just as good.)



https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53ab244ae4b07c37bd78217c/55565d17e4b017690868ca31/556fd5bee4b0ef1f612db48c/1433392575015/06.jpg?format=1000w

to get a better understanding of the abilty to customize your sandwich check out the link to the options screens
http://www.seantrapani.co/wawa-touch-screen/



Almost every retail business have self check outs, I do not use them as it eliminates low skilled jobs.

If these useless idiots wanting a living wage need to get skills or live with mommy in the basement.
 

Brad S

Well-known member
Those favoring a govt planned economy don't understand the rule of unintended consequences. So they raise the "apprentice wage" to some arbitrary level, and are shocked when the new wage causes automation to replace labor. Of course the planned economy tards (commies), respond to unintended consequences with more government planning. The end result is the same anywhere on the globe - the parasite kills the host. And once wealthy Venezuela is starving.
 

Steve

Well-known member
I just heard the cost per employee of the carrier deal amounts to about $875 a worker a year .. more then likly equal to a month or two of unemployment or a years state taxes..

but far less then unemployment and welfare benefits.. considering some would take those and retire on SS early,, it is a pittance.

SEEMS revenue neutral is an understatement to me.. :roll:

lets hope he strong arms them into saving the other 1300 jobs.. carrot or stick is fine,
Has carrier considered the free advertisement? that alone would make the cost effective


Rumor, corporate tax break for companies only applies to US made production. (came from wife of Atlantic City corporate lawyer.)
 
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