Half Of America Makes Less Than $27,520 A Year And 15 Other Signs The Middle Class Is Dying

[4318michaeljohnson4318]

Getting a degree would be obvious but I would cement the job requirements for a food service manager into my head and work on em. Everything from payroll, inventory, accounting, HR duties, licensing/tax regulations pertaining to a fast food joint, customer service qualities, sanitation standards, and understanding the laws for workplace safety.

Excel in getting those employee of the month awards in order to build some form of communication with district managers.

Develop and recommend plans to improve business operations

Work hard and develop leadership skills

do you honestly think those are the skills you are getting while being a shift leader? Most people who become shift leaders are because of high turnover rates because of the nature of the job. I know someone for example who went from being a shift leader to a package handler for ups. The shift leader position basically lead nowhere.

 

[luckyluchiano]

* Employee Scholarships
We offer, as an organization, 2 - $250 scholarships per semester, for employees continuing to work on a full or part time basis. Employees must fill out an application and the applications are submitted to an independent committee for review and are awared to two recipients each semester from all stores.
* Employee Tuition Reimbursement
McDonald's may reimburse an employee who attends college and works part or full time. The employee must first apply for the employee scholarship listed above. Those that are not awarded the above scholarship, are then considered for tuition reimbursement. The tuition reimbursement amount is $250 per semester and will not be awarded if the employee is given full financial aid. The employee must let us know if they received full financial aid and that classes were completed. Reimbursement will be given after the semester is completed. Employee must be in good standing with the company and final decision for reimbursement lies with McDonald's management.

So basically nothing.

LOL @ 250. Verizon gives like 4-6k

 

[4318michaeljohnson4318]

Is this a serious question? I really can't tell.

Dead serious question. You're talking about something you dont know one single person who did. Its not that easy to gain skills at mcdonalds that are used elsewhere. All you know is their system thats why they can keep the wages so low, they have a system that runs it self.

 

[rico x hood]

stating that their is a huge problem in the system isn't pointing fingers at the government. It's holding them accountable for doing their ******* Jobs the way their suppose to be doing it. They are publically elected officials who by law are suppose to be working for the majority of the people, The government as of today is working specifically for the well being of the rich and being bolstered for it.

I just find it funny that you can sit here and tell people to just work hard and you can have this success as if state & federal governments don't add more regulations everyday that make it harder and harder for a person to reach the next class.

It's laughable that you use make the right decisions & do the right things as if people's ability to do these so called "right" things aren't completely negated due to social class. You can't sit here and tell me with a straight face that everyone in america has the same chance to obtain their goals, because outside of some government official promoting that garbage EVERY other piece of legitimate study & statistics proves otherwise.

and who needs guns when they can rob you by law.

Once again, blame everyone but yourself. Government regulations are holding you back. Get around them. I posted a list of 15 ways a while back that get people exempt from enrolling into Obamacare and saving them money from not having to pay those exorbitant premiums. I was vilified. I don't believe in the myth that people of certain classes are blind to the right ways to get ahead. I believe that people like you have poisoned their minds for so long that they believe that those right decisions are impossible to make, so they don't even try. Complacency is the father of all that you rail against. You say the government is working for you, then carve your own way. It can be done. Don't just sit back and wait for opportunity to be handed to you.

Dead serious question. You're talking about something you dont know one single person who did. Its not that easy to gain skills at mcdonalds that are used elsewhere. All you know is their system thats why they can keep the wages so low, they have a system that runs it self.

A gentleman I know worked as cashier at McDonald's for years, now he's an Assistant Manager at my Popeyes. I'm going to assume that your teenager and are unaware about how you get promoted in certain kind of jobs, but experience and a good work ethic are basically all you need to get ahead in these low skilled type industries.

I'll also use myself as an example. I started off as a cashier at Barnes and Noble when I was 16 and was promoted to full time after a year, by 18 I was department lead. I then started eying a management role and they started grooming me for it. I was cross trained in all departments. Trained on how to read the sales numbers and on how to interview. But then at the last minute, the manager position was absorbed by the Asst. Manager and there was nothing for me to go to. I could have transferred to another store but the money wasn't worth the commute. An this was 2008 the financial crisis was coming along. People were complaining about banks making all this money and tax payers having to bail them out.. So naturally, I decided to go into banking. Started off a part time teller, a year and a half later I was a Relationship Banker making great bonuses and learning many invaluable things to boost up my resume. A strong work ethic, ambition, and proper decision making can open many doors for you.

But then I quit the bank in August of last year because I knew if I stayed I'd get stuck and I did not want to be bank lifer. My passion has always been politics. So I left and decided to go to college (I have no degree). Now I work two jobs and go to school to pursue a degree in Political Science so that one day I may become a government relations specialist (lobbyist) for the MPAA.

 

[4318michaeljohnson4318]

So you're saying years of work in fast food is worth 36k? That's barely above poverty and that is what the second best job at Popeyes? What other industry do you know where you can work for years and still make that much?

 

[rico x hood]

So you're saying years of work in fast food is worth 36k? That's barely above poverty and that is what the second best job at Popeyes? What other industry do you know where you can work for years and still make that much?

Homie you asked how you go from non management to management. I and other people told you. You accused me of not knowing anyone that did, I informed you. Stop moving the goal posts. I answered both your questions.

I don't know where that 36K number came from but if that's what they make then they're doing better than half of Americans, they should be happy. Good day.

 

[4318michaeljohnson4318]

Rico you keep talking it from the perspective as someone young. Young people aren't the ones struggling working fast food jobs it's the people who have families living off their fast food wages

 

[4318michaeljohnson4318]

Homie you asked how you go from non management to management. I and other people told you. You accused me of not knowing anyone that did, I informed you. Stop moving the goal posts. I answered both your questions.

I don't know where that 36K number came from but if that's what they make then they're doing better than half of Americans, they should be happy. Good day.

http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Popeyes-Assistant-Manager-Salaries-E14706_D_KO8,25.htm

I'm just saying you make it seem like it's so easy to transition from fast food to something else when in your own example it's someone who stayed on the industry and gets paid peanuts compare to the experience they have.

 

[rico x hood]

Rico you keep talking it from the perspective as someone young. Young people aren't the ones struggling working fast food jobs it's the people who have families living off their fast food wages

Because you have to start young in order to be truly successful when it really matters. I left the bank because I didn't want to be a bank lifer. If you're in 40s and 50s and still work in fast food, then that's your fault. Unless you have some kind of mental handicap or are a recent immigrant.

 

[4318michaeljohnson4318]

Because you have to start young in order to be truly successful when it really matters. I left the bank because I didn't want to be a bank lifer. If you're in 40s and 50s and still work in fast food, then that's your fault. Unless you have some kind of mental handicap or are a recent immigrant.

But numbers speaking it's impossible for everyone to be a manager. How many managers are there for one McDonald's? Compare to how many crew members. Sure maybe 3-4 get the opportunity to be management but what about the rest? There is a price ceiling for crew members that basically leaves them poor

 

[Mark Antony]

Obama is garbage

Nothin changed
In fact things got worse

Not sure if trolling again or just really that ******* stupid. What do people think the Pres does? Directly give you a better job and raise?

 

[rico x hood]

But numbers speaking it's impossible for everyone to be a manager. How many managers are there for one McDonald's? Compare to how many crew members. Sure maybe 3-4 get the opportunity to be management but what about the rest? There is a price ceiling for crew members that basically leaves them poor

If there is no upward mobility then you LEAVE. Just like I did at Barnes and Noble. That's actually one of the questions I ask when I go on job interviews. How are the opportunities for advancement. Even in my example of the McDonald's gentlemen, he left to go to Popeyes. If you're stuck in a dead end job it is your own fault.

 

[4318michaeljohnson4318]

If there is no upward mobility then you LEAVE. Just like I did at Barnes and Noble. That's actually one of the questions I ask when I go on job interviews. How are the opportunities for advancement. Even in my example of the McDonald's gentlemen, he left to go to Popeyes. If you're stuck in a dead end job it is your own fault.[/quote
Don't you think the problem exists with these dead end jobs existing? Why don't we as an economy get rid of dead end jobs? In my opinion every job in our economy that is full time should be enough to raise a family and plan for retirement. The quality of jobs in our economy plays a big role in the health of our economy

 

[rico x hood]

Because then they would have to pay higher wages across a myriad of jobs across a myriad of industries. An I don't want to see the price of my milk go up, it's already too damn expensive as it is. I will never support it.

All these minimum wage jobs are not supposed to be career fields. They're meant for high school students to make a bit of money for prom or to gain some work experience. They're for at need people to be productive. They're for recent immigrants who have no skills yet, they're supposed to be jumping off points, or place holders if you fall on hard times. No able-bodied person should make a career of an minimum wage job. That's not what they're there for.

 

[ayzee]

 

If there is no upward mobility then you LEAVE. Just like I did at Barnes and Noble. That's actually one of the questions I ask when I go on job interviews. How are the opportunities for advancement. Even in my example of the McDonald's gentlemen, he left to go to Popeyes. If you're stuck in a dead end job it is your own fault.[/quote
Don't you think the problem exists with these dead end jobs existing? Why don't we as an economy get rid of dead end jobs? In my opinion every job in our economy that is full time should be enough to raise a family and plan for retirement. The quality of jobs in our economy plays a big role in the health of our economy

If you're desperate for a job, you can get a dead end job and then work it well until other opportunities arise and leave. Just make sure the dead end job has transferrable skills so the next hiring manager has some attraction to you.

I don't think you can just "get rid of dead end jobs." To some people, those jobs are the lifeline to a roof over their head and food in their kids' mouths and they're blessed to have them.

I went into a dollar store one time and this woman greeted me, asked to help me, to sum it up, she had a great personality/mood. You could tell she appreciated where she was, even it was ringing up off brand cola all day. And again, she sees it more than that. There's two sides to every coin.

 

[big panda]

the problem is everyones to blame

its the american people's fault for blinding following messages given to them

everyone goes to college to collect a piece of paper at the end of 4 years and over the years that piece of paper has lost it's value and weight in the community and even though it has lost it's value compared to years ago people still purse it with the false notion that things will work out just fine for them

i do believe the conditions that most american's are faced with are they're own doing.

in today's world there's so much entitlement from everyone for conditions that they have created for themselves.

the reason why immigrants came to the us is because it's the land of the free and your actions determine where you end up.

many people follow the same path simply because it's the path everyone else is taking and end up in the same ****** up predicament.

at the same time it also has been the government fault for creating some of problems many face to day as well, so they're not completely free from blame either.

were everything needs to change is schools. there's so many people that feel the need to educate themselves with the things that matter and aren't tuaght them due to schools appeasment for statewide test scores. if more people armed themselves with better knowledge they would be a lot better off then just blindly following the wolf pact in to the unknown.

 

[rillo561]

Trickle down economics is working it seems.

 

[Mark Antony]

You guys also keep bringing up retail and fast food like those are the only variables. There are legitimate careers where you make only 30k in one region, vs up to 5 times as much in another. Not everyone is going to have the luxury of moving either.

 

[sundoobie]

do you honestly think those are the skills you are getting while being a shift leader? Most people who become shift leaders are because of high turnover rates because of the nature of the job. I know someone for example who went from being a shift leader to a package handler for ups. The shift leader position basically lead nowhere.

Those are not on the job skills you would acquire within the company. If you're shift leader and you want to be promoted to management, then you need to go out of your way and on your own free time to acquire those skills.

 

[Betonblck]

Trickle down economics is working it seems.

Yup, the people at the top are doing great, Dow gonna hit 17,000. Same dudes voting for trickle down and gridlocked government are complaining about Obama being the reason people make $27k.

 

[trynafeelmink]

Once again, blame everyone but yourself. Government regulations are holding you back. Get around them. I posted a list of 15 ways a while back that get people exempt from enrolling into Obamacare and saving them money from not having to pay those exorbitant premiums. I was vilified. I don't believe in the myth that people of certain classes are blind to the right ways to get ahead. I believe that people like you have poisoned their minds for so long that they believe that those right decisions are impossible to make, so they don't even try. Complacency is the father of all that you rail against. You say the government is working for you, then carve your own way. It can be done. Don't just sit back and wait for opportunity to be handed to you.
A gentleman I know worked as cashier at McDonald's for years, now he's an Assistant Manager at my Popeyes. I'm going to assume that your teenager and are unaware about how you get promoted in certain kind of jobs, but experience and a good work ethic are basically all you need to get ahead in these low skilled type industries.

I'll also use myself as an example. I started off as a cashier at Barnes and Noble when I was 16 and was promoted to full time after a year, by 18 I was department lead. I then started eying a management role and they started grooming me for it. I was cross trained in all departments. Trained on how to read the sales numbers and on how to interview. But then at the last minute, the manager position was absorbed by the Asst. Manager and there was nothing for me to go to. I could have transferred to another store but the money wasn't worth the commute. An this was 2008 the financial crisis was coming along. People were complaining about banks making all this money and tax payers having to bail them out.. So naturally, I decided to go into banking. Started off a part time teller, a year and a half later I was a Relationship Banker making great bonuses and learning many invaluable things to boost up my resume. A strong work ethic, ambition, and proper decision making can open many doors for you.

But then I quit the bank in August of last year because I knew if I stayed I'd get stuck and I did not want to be bank lifer. My passion has always been politics. So I left and decided to go to college (I have no degree). Now I work two jobs and go to school to pursue a degree in Political Science so that one day I may become a government relations specialist (lobbyist) for the MPAA.

At this point your using about a 10% number and pointing towards it saying look it can be done... Yes it can, the realistic chances of that happening for most people aren't high, which is why we are having this conversation anyway. The statistics show that there is a much larger percentage that a person who grows in poverty stays in poverty. this isn't a myth.

You don't believe that people from a certain class are blind on how too get ahead. When was the last time you visited a public school or walked through an poverty stricken urban area? So the government shouldn't be held accountable for the horrid school systems in america either, everyone should just study harder, go out & get tutors.

You are blocking out every single variable and factor and making an assumption that most of America is just lazy. You would allow for a government that is suppose to serve the people to take no blame, while expecting those abused by said government to simply step up and overcome every obstical because 1/10 did it.

do you not see a problem with the government running a system where 1-2/10 people make it ?

I also love how you claimed when you didn't like the job you simply quit and went back to school, what about the people who can't afford to put away money, the people with children, the people who worked hard in college graduated with a 3.5 & are thousands of dollars in debt. All those people just have the luxury of quitting their jobs and finding a magnificent job somewhere else?

The problem with your argument is that your looking at this from a clear cut perspective & refusing to look at it through the scope of what many Americans are dealing with right now, how anyone can sit here and equate = asking for equal rights as begging for a handout is disgusting.

And as for your other point if people really did know the "right" ways to get ahead then the government wouldn't be bullying the society to play slave to the people with the deepest pockets.

 

[rico x hood]

You're ignoring the point where I said I quit my job and am now working two jobs and going to school. I work two jobs I hate right now too keep my bills paid. This is my penance for not going the traditional route and going to college when I first left high school. I'm 24 in classes with teenagers. Oh well, I made my choices. But on a brighter note, it wasn't a waste. I have a great resume.

My perspective is steeped in experience. I stated in the hometown love thread that I'm from West Brighton Staten Island. You're from NYC so you may be familiar with the area. I still have family and friends there. They sell drugs and work temporary construction gigs to get by. My friends that have apartment are on section 8 (this is seen as positive). Having kids young is a normal thing. EBT cards are the norm. I live in NoVa now. But when I was 18 i got kicked out of my house and moved in with my aunt in West Brighton, i quickly got a transfer to the local Barnes and Noble by the mall and worked part time. I'd wake up some mornings and see people chilling and get off work and they'd still be chilling. They were complacent. I can't save them and I have no intention on trying. An what I found most peculiar is that some of the older folks would congratulate me on working, while they were unemployed.

I've been on both sides sir. The government cannot provide ambition. That is innate. If you can look at someone go to work everyday that just moved out there and that not light a fire in you. Then it's nothing that can be done for you.

 

[Mark Antony]

You're ignoring the point where I said I quit my job and am now working two jobs and going to school. I work two jobs I hate right now too keep my bills paid. This is my penance for not going the traditional route and going to college when I first left high school. I'm 24 in classes with teenagers. Oh well, I made my choices. But on a brighter note, it wasn't a waste. I have a great resume.

My perspective is steeped in experience. I stated in the hometown love thread that I'm from West Brighton Staten Island. You're from NYC so you may be familiar with the area. I still have family and friends there. They sell drugs and work temporary construction gigs to get by. My friends that have apartment are on section 8 (this is seen as positive). Having kids young is a normal thing. EBT cards are the norm. I live in NoVa now. But when I was 18 i got kicked out of my house and moved in with my aunt in West Brighton, i quickly got a transfer to the local Barnes and Noble by the mall and worked part time. I'd wake up some mornings and see people chilling and get off work and they'd still be chilling. They were complacent. I can't save them and I have no intention on trying. An what I found most peculiar is that some of the older folks would congratulate me on working, while they were unemployed.

I've been on both sides sir. The government cannot provide ambition.That is innate. If you can look at someone go to work everyday that just moved out there and that not light a fire in you. Then it's nothing that can be done for you.

What the folks crying about corporations or Obama not making their lives better will ever understand.

 

[trynafeelmink]

You're ignoring the point where I said I quit my job and am now working two jobs and going to school. I work two jobs I hate right now too keep my bills paid. This is my penance for not going the traditional route and going to college when I first left high school. I'm 24 in classes with teenagers. Oh well, I made my choices. But on a brighter note, it wasn't a waste. I have a great resume.

My perspective is steeped in experience. I stated in the hometown love thread that I'm from West Brighton Staten Island. You're from NYC so you may be familiar with the area. I still have family and friends there. They sell drugs and work temporary construction gigs to get by. My friends that have apartment are on section 8 (this is seen as positive). Having kids young is a normal thing. EBT cards are the norm. I live in NoVa now. But when I was 18 i got kicked out of my house and moved in with my aunt in West Brighton, i quickly got a transfer to the local Barnes and Noble by the mall and worked part time. I'd wake up some mornings and see people chilling and get off work and they'd still be chilling. They were complacent. I can't save them and I have no intention on trying. An what I found most peculiar is that some of the older folks would congratulate me on working, while they were unemployed.

I've been on both sides sir. The government cannot provide ambition. That is innate.

I get that and what i am telling you is that while you may have had the ability to go and get two jobs and go to school, someone with a family, an older person with health issues, someone who's already deep in debt etc etc may not have the opportunity to simply quit for even a week and not have their entire situation destroyed.

I'm from the hood so trust i know of the lazy bastards who just want to sit and abuse the government all day, but that is in NO WAY representative of the people that this statistic is showing or the majority of people in the hood. That's what i get upset about when discussing this topic, the idea that this is the overall mindset of the poor or people being in bad situations. Those people aren't going to change most of the time because they simply don't want too or don't have the training or skillset too (Which can also be highly attributed to the public chool system but that's an entirely different convo)

However there are people who have worked their entire life, have picked up some minor skills, might even have graduated from a university and they are still being forced to fight for these low end jobs & are underpaid for their level of expertise. Meanwhile jobs in the middle sector are slowly diminishing or raising the qualifications of those jobs forcing people who already don't have any money to go back to school and put themselves in further debt.... all of these combined lead to people being stuck in a class despite of their hard work & efforts. It's been a trend growing for two decades and the U.S government is simply watching as the gap grows between the rich and the poor, and for whatever reason people seem to think it's asking for contributions, simply by asking them to help let the average man hold as much importance in the deciding of laws & regulations as the rich man.

 

[4318michaeljohnson4318]

You guys have no clue about history. Are you saying people have become less ambitious? Why was being in the middle class working in the 50s better than middle class right now? Are you saying Americans as a whole got lazy? C'mon.