A problem in Michigan...
Workers work harder if they do not feel above their work. One problem group is suburbanite kids, even poor ones. They just don't know any better.
The other group is the overqualified... like me.
I have to admit I feel no need to work at all at my second job and often feel sickened by the fact that I do it. My other job I like, but it just cannot supply enough hours (which is understandable since it doesn't seem to have enough work to fill the hours I have).
The longer I go without finding a "real job" the more bitter I get towards my crappy retail job. In high school I actually worked hard at such jobs.
This is the second one I've been at that is closing soon.
Incentive isn't simply the here-and-now salary for an overqualified person. It's "does it move me forward? Is there something to gain?"
Unfortunately with most labor jobs and retail jobs-
THERE IS NO INCENTIVE!
And in Michigan highly qualified people are being laid off left and right, competing for cashier jobs. College graduates are sweeping up internships, not leaving them for current students. My fiancee, an engineer, took three years to find a job.
I'm having lousy luck finding a real job and I have to admit... I'm not very enthusiastic about seeking another crappy job to replace the one that's closing.

The reason your immigrants work harder is because that crappy job you offer is a step up for them and they are also more inclined to worry about the here and now.
But for the rest of us, what we need is the creation of more "real jobs", the kind we went to college for.
Because frankly it's only been a few months and I'm already really %&$# depressed about being a college graduate working in &*%$@# retail.

Think about it, folks. In order to get the most out of people for a job, they have to feel that the job is a step up. And frankly if America descends to the point where our general population thinks a retail or labor job is a step up... something is wrong.

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That information is classified and to be given only on a need-to-know basis...

And I do not need to know.

You may need to move! There are tons of jobs in Atlanta.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Yeah but my fiancee got a job. She's the breadwinner (Master's in Engineering vs. Bachelor's in Sociology). Right now it's still pretty stressful because my debt keeps her salary from being enough so I really have to hang on to two jobs and can't take any job risks for the time being.
Once my debt is paid off, if I still don't have a real job, I'm going back to school.
I'm supposed to be getting a call by Friday from a market research place... but I've heard that before.

Apparently western Michigan is growing... but driving to Grand Rapids- it better pay (*)(*)(*)(*) good. Ann Arbor and Livonia seem to be doing okay and that's not too bad a drive.

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That information is classified and to be given only on a need-to-know basis...

And I do not need to know.

If anything, the minimum wage should be eroded by inflation. Raising is the last thing that should happen, sure, the workers will get more...assuming they keep their jobs. I doubt any employer is going to pay $7.50/hr for a 15 year old boy to bring the grocery bags to a car. labor contracts should be left between the employer and the employee. if you look into the history of this law you'll find it's glaringly racist too.

You like slave labor? Please move to Mexico.

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Hi, I like communications. I like intelligent and amusing people. We might disagree, but that's okay. Just don't be boring.

It depends on where you live. Where I live most teenagers make over $7.50/hour. Its the laws of supply and demand. Lots of crappy jobs, very little demand.
Anyone know what a grocery boy in New York City makes?
But back in Alabama I think you are correct Ben.

is being fueled by the accelerating cost of petroleum and health care more than any other factors. Minimum wage does not even keep up. Minimum wage laws can always be crafted to allow a lower wage trial period but ,frankly, if a 15 year old works as hard as a 25 yr. old, why shouldn't he be equally paid? Sounds like you are promoting age discrimination, Ben. How is the law "rascist"?

if it were no then we'd have huge population shifts from NY, Mass, and CA to low wage places like Mississippi, Alabama, etc. We don't. That's because businesses also want educated workers, they also need to be near large populations to cut on shipping and numerous other reasons. History is de facto evidence of this.

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All you need to know about the energy crisis:
ANWR Exploration Republicans: 91% Supported. Democrats: 86% Opposed.
Coal-to-liquid R's: 90% YES. D's: 78% NO.
Oil Shale Exploration R's: 90% YES. D's: 86% NO.
Outer Continental Shelf Exploration R's: 81% YES. D's: 83% NO.
Increased Refinery Capacity R's: 97% YES. D's: 96% NO

SUMMARY: 91% of House Republicans have historically voted to increase the production of America’s own oil and gas. 86% of House Democrats have historically voted against.

If you look into the history of the law, it was passed in 1938. the results were mainly seen around 1950 due to inflation, from 1948 to the 1960's black male teenage unemployment was over double than what it was in '48, and in the 1970s' over triple (from gradual increases in MW). Employers can afford to discriminate when artificial prices are set.
I'm not promoting age discrimination, as a 15 year old, I want to make it into the job market. this is very hard if the government is making these "greedy" employers pay me (or any other unskilled worker) more than what we're worth. when we can set our own labor contracts, I can get the job I want, and maybe have a friend with me, as well as and work my way up the ladder because my labor is in higher demand than what it would be if there was mw. I would love to be paid a ridiculously high amount, but the chances of me....or a 25 year old being hired under those conditions are less than if we could let the contract be between myself and the employer.

On the surface, it sounds like a good way to promote a living wage.


But in fact, it is often disfunctional and hurts those who need work:

- I don't see a single min. wage which could even come close to being a living wage

- by creating an artificial minimum, many employers will choose not to hire many marginal workers, including many part time student workers.


The fact is that employees are paid for their productivity and against the laws of supply and demand. There are forces out there and competition for jobs worldwide which affect workers. It is often painful and discouraging. You have to bring something to the table, and find something which you love and which has long term potential. If you find something that you love, then do that, but if you love what you do, you will find success. Sometimes it takes awhile to figure out what that is. It took me 18 years of work to figure out what I really loved. (When I say do something you love, I mean find an occupation that you love with a realistic chance of success.)

There are lots and lots of unhappy lawyers and dentists out there.