On layoffs, very bad attendance, and Iger's legacy being one of disgrace

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is where I would caution against people imagining that this crisis will lead to a great reckoning and a change in the economic model that favours higher wages and better working conditions for people at places like WDW or fast food restaurants.

All of that could happen, but in contexts like Orlando it seems equally if not more likely that with mass unemployment people will get increasingly desperate to jump at whatever scraps are on offer. Then the hand of companies like Disney become stronger at a moment in which their investors are pressuring them to push harder to extract greater profits in a difficult environment. That's the scenario that the much vaunted free market left to its own devices will likely produce without legislation, stronger unions, or mass civil unrest.

Oh I agree...

Things COULD change...probably gonna get worse for the labor market in Florida. I’ve seen this fish before.

 

[TheDisneyDaysOfOurLives]

Arent these career oriented college educated folks supposed to have a big fat bank account of savings? Because they are smarter than the rest of us ?

It all depends. What if they're making $70K a year, have a couple of kids, and still paying off college loans? Do we still fault them? They might have three months of expenses saved, but it takes six months for them to get a new job. Do we still fault them? What if they had to take a chunk of their savings out for medical expenses or home repairs (new HVAC in the middle of summer is not cheap)? It's not as cut and dry.

 

[TheDisneyDaysOfOurLives]

I can’t stand this standard “givers and takers” tinge to this conversation...in THIS scenario. Though there are flaws in that stance at all times.

I heard an economist say this: “we didn’t stimulate the economy...we put it into a medically induced coma”

That is 100% correct. Needed to make sure no component collapsed - and quickly. That includes the average middle to lower class person. And I KNOW we all hate that...

But it needed to be done for the whole system and probably still does. Need some tweaks though...can’t argue that.

But I hate the spite that somehow “everyone is making out” - what a load of crap as always.

You know who made out? Bob Iger. The federal reserve created and injected $3.7 trillion of “liquidity” into the market with a snap of the fingers...buying junk bonds and trash debt that no normal human would spend their money on. And you know why? Because that’s what they learned in the housing crash: don’t make US pay! Don’t touch the markets. We don’t want the burden of paying.

Exactly. My hope is that those who were making minimum wage and this was an increase in money for them (most likely a significant amount more) used it to either pay off debt or saved it to help pay the bills for the next few months. I doubt it in a lot of cases, but I certainly hope that's the case because it definitely appears another bill won't be passed with that same benefit included.

Stop being mad at those who are the poorest of us and start looking towards the richest of us that tremendously profited off of this pandemic and don't take care of their employees (looking at you Bezos).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Arent these career oriented college educated folks supposed to have a big fat bank account of savings? Because they are smarter than the rest of us ?

...until the manufacturing went overseas - wrecking the management/labor paradigm- and everyone started going to college because “that’s what you have to do” with no slotting afterward.

Banks are happy though...$2 tril in college debt later. Making it rain!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Exactly. My hope is that those who were making minimum wage and this was an increase in money for them (most likely a significant amount more) used it to either pay off debt or saved it to help pay the bills for the next few months. I doubt it in a lot of cases, but I certainly hope that's the case because it definitely appears another bill won't be passed with that same benefit included.

Stop being mad at those who are the poorest of us and start looking towards the richest of us that tremendously profited off of this pandemic and don't take care of their employees (looking at you Bezos).

Bezos personally made an estimated $6,000,000,000 during the pandemic shutdown quarter...extra.

That’s right “extra”

 

[BigThunderMatt]

I would love to know who is the "king of living wage" decision so we can get a number from them that is realistic based upon geographic region considering all areas different. The rate is not what businesses want to pay and it is not what the laziest of lazy employees want either. It's probably somewhere in the middle and you will never please all so do not try....let the market decide since we are free to work and search for work at anytime.

Staying put is easy and complaining about your job is even easier. Making change happen takes work and growth. The choice is up to the individual and some choose to stay in the same position because it is comfortable and risk never getting a real pay increase above COLA.

That's a huge word salad to essentially say 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps'. Which is another way of saying 'my unique situation worked for me, so clearly it will also work for you'.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We as taxpayers pay for a lot to support many things including folks that use the hospital ER like their private doctor office and pharmacy with no intent in paying the bill since no one by law can be denied medical attention at the ER.

Very short-sighted and superficially “buzz wordy”

It's not they don't have any intention it's that they can't.
Last month rush #2 minion to the ER because he had difficulties breathing. Thank God it turned out to be something call a tonsil stone that broke off and was lodge in his throat. Even with supposedly great BC/BS insurance he owes a couple of grand. Now with an entry level job, student loan, rent etc. Nope that bill ain't getting paid. And I don't have a problem with that. Health care in this country is a cluster$& but that's a whole nother debate

Very insightful...and healthcare is always part of the discussion...even though this country has tried to deny it for decades - kicking and screaming

 

[Polkadotdress]

Watch the Florida Project starring Willem Dafoe. It's at WDW and Celebration's doorstep.

Seen it. Very sad. Still confused by why you all think the local Celebration Publix is so dangerous?

 

[mkt]

Lol you don't know **** about unions

Tell me more about what I don’t know.

Or I can tell you about how unions are a joke in a right to work state. And I say this as a former teamster and former member of IATSE.

 

[matt9112]

It all depends. What if they're making $70K a year, have a couple of kids, and still paying off college loans? Do we still fault them? They might have three months of expenses saved, but it takes six months for them to get a new job. Do we still fault them? What if they had to take a chunk of their savings out for medical expenses or home repairs (new HVAC in the middle of summer is not cheap)? It's not as cut and dry.

Going to school you cant afford counts just as much as me getting an AP on oayment plans

 

[mkt]

So its my responsibility as a tax payer to pay for them?

You already are. See how many Walmart employees and Disney CM's get qualify for government assistance, even if they're working full time.

Not to mention all of your tax dollars going in incentives to these businesses that don't pay living wages. Corporate welfare is real, and far worse than anything humans get in aid.

 

[mkt]

I would love to know who is the "king of living wage" decision so we can get a number from them that is realistic based upon geographic region considering all areas different.

That's a fair point. I'd replace the federal minimum wage with legislation mandating a mandatory living wage based off of your MSA's living wage.

You'd have places where $7.25/hr is the minimum, and you'll have places where $25/hr is the minimum.

 

[mkt]

Going to school you cant afford counts just as much as me getting an AP on oayment plans

Hardly. One is an investment into being more competitive in the workplace, and the ability to earn more.

The other is a luxury item that isn't needed but is nice to have.

 

[Lilofan]

That's a fair point. I'd replace the federal minimum wage with legislation mandating a mandatory living wage based off of your MSA's living wage.

You'd have places where $7.25/hr is the minimum, and you'll have places where $25/hr is the minimum.

Please advise where it is $25 per hour to a start.

 

[Lilofan]

Very short-sighted and superficially “buzz wordy”

Very insightful...and healthcare is always part of the discussion...even though this country has tried to denied it for decades - kicking and screaming

short sighted or the truth?

 

[TheDisneyDaysOfOurLives]

Going to school you cant afford counts just as much as me getting an AP on oayment plans

I must've missed the schools any 18-21 year can afford to go to.

 

[flynnibus]

That's a huge word salad to essentially say 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps'. Which is another way of saying 'my unique situation worked for me, so clearly it will also work for you'.

Or one could respond - "I tried to do something about my situation, did you?"

Not everyone will succeed - but if they can't even show how they tried...

Frankly I'm bored of all the "orlando wages suck" -- then why the hell are [you] still there? It's 'woe is me' talk. Do something about it..

 

[Lilofan]

It's not they don't have any intention it's that they can't.
Last month rush #2 minion to the ER because he had difficulties breathing. Thank God it turned out to be something call a tonsil stone that broke off and was lodge in his throat. Even with supposedly great BC/BS insurance he owes a couple of grand. Now with an entry level job, student loan, rent etc. Nope that bill ain't getting paid. And I don't have a problem with that. Health care in this country is a cluster$& but that's a whole nother debate

More thinking like that - ain't getting paid is one of the reasons why our country is screwed.

 

[eliza61nyc]

short sighted or the truth?

As with most cases a little bit of both.

 

[mkt]

Florida’s wages as a whole are subpar. Hospitality employees in Tampa don’t make any more than hospitality employees in Orlando; there’s just more of them in Orlando.

I’m not sure why, but employees in the Sun Belt are just paid lower on average. I live in the Midwest, low cost of living metro, and the wages here are even significantly higher... I guess because nobody wants to live here?

Even Miami's, which is weird since it's Florida's "world class city" it's largest and most expensive metro area, and the largest engine for Florida's economy.

You generally will earn more in Miami, but what the market will pay in Miami a lot of times also includes unscrupulous employers paying minimum wage to professionals from Venezuela who are desperate for a US visa.

I interviewed for UI/UX and front end developer positions in Miami several years ago in preparations for my previous layoff, and they wanted to pay $8.56/hr. Their excuse was "that's what the market supports", and after speaking with a headhunter friend, she explained that they're doing that on purpose to game the system and bring in a developer from Venezuela that's desperate to get out.

Please advise where it is $25 per hour to a start.

It was meant to be a theoretical exercise. However, using my proposed MSA exercise, likely the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley MSA, NYC MSA, Greater Boston MSA, and Washington MSA. You know, the really expensive cities to live in.