AOC- Amazon Pays their Employees in Starvation Wages.

[DarthKyrie]

If you tax the rich in a way that encourages them to reinvest in their companies, it has two effects
a) they actually reinvest in their companies (if they own any), generally through improvements to whatever it is they do, and wages
or b) they get the shit taxed out of them, and that money goes to the govt, as you said.

If they increase wages, that goes directly to middle/lower class worker bee's.
If they get taxed, that money can be routed to social programs which improve everyone's lives. It can also provide income for things such as a universal single-payer health system, which will alleviate some costs on the lower pay scale individuals, as well as increase incomes across the board.

You forgot the added benefit that employers enjoy, they no longer have to provide health insurance to their employees thus freeing up those funds to go into wages or into the business.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

You forgot the added benefit that employers enjoy, they no longer have to provide health insurance to their employees thus freeing up those funds to go into wages or into the business.

Not to mention simplification for doctors/doctors' offices, and a more reliable experience for patients, streamlining the entire healthcare process so some people can do more work and less talking on phones and not paying bills.

 

[DarthKyrie]

Not to mention simplification for doctors/doctors' offices, and a more reliable experience for patients, streamlining the entire healthcare process so some people can do more work and less talking on phones and not paying bills.

Also, people might just be able to eat better thus improving their health and becoming more productive at work.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Also, people might just be able to eat better thus improving their health and becoming more productive at work.

Madness. Pure, socialist madness.

 

[DarthKyrie]

Madness. Pure, socialist madness.

I know right. Why would someone that believes in American Capitalism want the workforce to be productive?

 

[Maxima1]

Why can't everyone have a living wage?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181203131059.htm

MESO devices will be here in a little more than a decade from now.

New quantum materials could take computing devices beyond the semiconductor era
Mutliferroics are promising candidates for new type of memory and logic circuits

"As CMOS develops into its maturity, we will basically have very powerful technology options that see us through. In some ways, this could continue computing improvements for another whole generation of people," said lead author Sasikanth Manipatruni, who leads hardware development for the MESO project at Intel's Components Research group in Hillsboro, Oregon. MESO was invented by Intel scientists, and Manipatruni designed the first MESO device.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Also, people might just be able to eat better thus improving their health and becoming more productive at work.

Millions in the midwest and south would like a word with you.

 

[glenn1]

So basically you feel that there should be starvation jobs. Jobs that require little skill should have workers that suffer, starve, have no healthcare, etc.... That's just nuts. You are a brainwashed fool.

Actually no, I think those jobs should be automated so those people don’t have jobs anymore. If your labor provides so little value add that it only pays starvation wages then honestly the job shouldn’t be done.

 

[Jamrr]

Wow, she wants everyone to make more money including herself while she makes an incredible 174 grand plus perks a year! Then bitches when she doesn't get her way. What a baby.
https://smartasset.com/retirement/congress-retirement-plans
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/a...z-wages-salary-congress/2019/06/11/id/919858/

 

[mindless1]

Actually no, I think those jobs should be automated so those people don’t have jobs anymore. If your labor provides so little value add that it only pays starvation wages then honestly the job shouldn’t be done.

Brilliant, then they either find a way to go on disability, or welfare, or end up in prison, and cost society far more than the difference it would cost for a livable wage, while producing nothing of value.

Further it's ridiculous to think tech could automate most of those low skill jobs any year soon. Automation is only at the level where it can do highly repetitive tasks, unless you want to include one-off robots, specially programmed, costing at least several hundred thousand dollars each, to replace each $25K/year employee?

Start your own company and try that. Just don't let the employees you fire, find out where you live. Your robot guard probably can't handle social justice warriors' insanity lol.

 

[glenn1]

Brilliant, then they either find a way to go on disability, or welfare, or end up in prison, and cost society far more than the difference it would cost for a livable wage, while producing nothing of value.

Further it's ridiculous to think tech could automate most of those low skill jobs any year soon. Automation is only at the level where it can do highly repetitive tasks, unless you want to include one-off robots, specially programmed, costing at least several hundred thousand dollars each, to replace each $25K/year employee?

That works on a manufacturing line with repetitive tasks where highest quality is paramount, but for 90% of the jobs out there paying low wages, it's not even remotely plausible given current tech.

Sales clerks are already being automated. Commercial drivers are on the cusp on being automated away. Tens of millions more menial jobs will go away soon enough. And it’s stupid to pay someone to do jobs not worth doing. Your plea “it will cost society while producing nothing of value” is pointless since they already produce nothing of value. Having society protect a bunch of make-work jobs like elevator button pusher is moronic. Either you learn new actually valuable skills or we just admit they’re a burden on society and pay them to exist like some potted plant.

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

Wow, she wants everyone to make more money including herself while she makes an incredible 174 grand plus perks a year! Then bitches when she doesn't get her way. What a baby.
https://smartasset.com/retirement/congress-retirement-plans
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/a...z-wages-salary-congress/2019/06/11/id/919858/

Lets see...whataboutism + newsmax + hyperbole

Trifecta!

 

[Exterous]

Someone asked

Why isn't AOC going after Costco?

well

Chart of the Day: Costco Is in First Place For Fair Wages

https://www.comparably.com/blog/the...-walmart-kroger-amazon-costco-and-home-depot/

^that story compares how employees from different well-known companies feel about the company they work for (this includes costco and amazon and I think Amazon has rated 2nd or 3rd to Costco in most categories because of the recent wage hike that Rho Khana and Bernie Sanders basically scared Amazon into making happen


That's why people don't often criticize Costco. They've actually been a leader among corporations in providing good wages and benefits and work environment to their employees and I hope they continue to do so.


______________

It's easy to make your wages look really good if you outsource your lowest paying jobs and only build stores in affluent areas. (They outsource the people handing out food samples, clean the store, sell cellphones and a few other jobs and tend to only build stores in areas where they can attract $100k median income shoppers)

Are they better than most employers? Seems likely and they do pay good wages for their workers they directly employ. (and they don't outsource to the lowest paying companies either) Are they as angelic as people like to make them out to be? No. Is comparing them to Walmart and Amazon straight up a fair comparison? Not generally.

 

[ivwshane]

It's easy to make your wages look really good if you outsource your lowest paying jobs and only build stores in affluent areas. (They outsource the people handing out food samples, clean the store, sell cellphones and a few other jobs and tend to only build stores in areas where they can attract $100k median income shoppers)

Are they better than most employers? Seems likely and they do pay good wages for their workers they directly employ. (and they don't outsource to the lowest paying companies either) Are they as angelic as people like to make them out to be? No. Is comparing them to Walmart and Amazon straight up a fair comparison? Not generally.

You clearly don't know what the fuck you are talking about. I just checked four costcos near me and the median wage of of three three of those cities was below $57k and the fourth was below $63k. Just for reference, the median wage of California is $72k.

According to glass door, CDS employs between 5000-10000 employees. Using 10k that's roughly 15 employees per location and Costco has on average around 200 employees per location, that equals less than 1% of their labor force.

 

[Maxima1]

You clearly don't know what the fuck you are talking about. I just checked four costcos near me and the median wage of of three three of those cities was below $57k and the fourth was below $63k. Just for reference, the median wage of California is $72k.

According to glass door, CDS employs between 5000-10000 employees. Using 10k that's roughly 15 employees per location and Costco has on average around 200 employees per location, that equals less than 1% of their labor force.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/17/who-is-costcos-favorite-customer.aspx

Due to the membership fee, Costco's customers tend to be wealthier than the average American and have an average household income of $100,000. Costco's customers are also older than the average consumer, two years older than the general population, which seems to be a product of the company's catering to a higher-income base and the need to have a car to shop there. Baby boomers tend to be the company's strongest age demographic, and Costco customers also generally hail from the suburbs as shoppers who have garages and other such storage space tend to be the best-suited for the bulk buying that a Costco trip entails.

 

[ivwshane]

https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/06/17/who-is-costcos-favorite-customer.aspx

Due to the membership fee, Costco's customers tend to be wealthier than the average American and have an average household income of $100,000. Costco's customers are also older than the average consumer, two years older than the general population, which seems to be a product of the company's catering to a higher-income base and the need to have a car to shop there. Baby boomers tend to be the company's strongest age demographic, and Costco customers also generally hail from the suburbs as shoppers who have garages and other such storage space tend to be the best-suited for the bulk buying that a Costco trip entails.

Either you guys suck at reading comprehension or you suck at communicating. The poster I responded to said Costco builds in affluent areas. That is false. He then stated that you can keep your median wages high by outsourcing low wages employees and I showed him how that would barely affect their median wage.

Now if he wanted to make the claim that Costco pays well because their customer base tends to have a higher income, then I would have let his comment stand. That's not what he said and I corrected him.

 

[Maxima1]

Either you guys suck at reading comprehension or you suck at communicating. The poster I responded to said Costco builds in affluent areas. That is false. He then stated that you can keep your median wages high by outsourcing low wages employees and I showed him how that would barely affect their median wage.

Now if he wanted to make the claim that Costco pays well because their customer base tends to have a higher income, then I would have let his comment stand. That's not what he said and I corrected him.

If Costco is attracting affluent customers, it follows that the stores must also be in more affluent areas (or at least the surrounding areas).

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/insights/061516/whats-average-costco-consumer-cost.asp

It so happens that, of the more than 700 Costco stores, the vast majority are located in suburban areas heavily populated with affluent homeowners.

 

[theeedude]

Amazon pays their "liberal elite" tech workers pretty well. Although it is considered one of the more stressful tech companies to work for.

 

[ivwshane]

If Costco is attracting affluent customers, it follows that the stores must also be in more affluent areas (or at least the surrounding areas).

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/insights/061516/whats-average-costco-consumer-cost.asp

It so happens that, of the more than 700 Costco stores, the vast majority are located in suburban areas heavily populated with affluent homeowners.

And that would be false. Do you consider Sacramento an affluent area? Feel free to look at the multiple locations in that area, look at the median wages, house prices, crime rate, and compare them to actual affluent areas in northern California, SF, napa, walnut creek, Livermore. Then you can look up and see how many WalMart and sams clubs are in those same areas.

Am I saying rich people don't live in those areas? No. Am I saying Costco doesn't cater to the more affluent? No. But you can't say the because they cater to the more affluent that that means they are only located in affluent areas. They are typically located in large cities (over 100k).

 

[ivwshane]

Just to add more contrast and comparison to WalMart and Costco.

If we look at just sams club which would be closer to a like for like comparison. The median wage at sams is $11.73 vs $22.50. Sams has 599 stores vs 527. Membership fees: sams $45 vs $60. Median member household income for sams is $80k vs $100k.

I'm curious as to how bj's does. I've never seen one so I don't know how they compare in terms of member experience.

 

[Exterous]

You clearly don't know what the fuck you are talking about. I just checked four costcos near me and the median wage of of three three of those cities was below $57k and the fourth was below $63k. Just for reference, the median wage of California is $72k.

According to glass door, CDS employs between 5000-10000 employees. Using 10k that's roughly 15 employees per location and Costco has on average around 200 employees per location, that equals less than 1% of their labor force.

Affluent compared to where Walmart will put its stores. Walmart will put stores in places Costco won't ever touch. Costco places theirs where they can get their $100k earning customers.

CDS is not the only Costco food sample provider and that's only one of the areas I mentioned. In addition they also outsource most of their services, shipping and delivery, and fleet maintenance. Enough to put them in the same range as Walmart for pay? No but enough that the comparisons with other companies have issues

 

[ImpulsE69]

While you argue about Costco vs. Walmart vs Amazon, you are all missing the mark. What it comes down to is whoever runs Costco is just a tad bit less greedy than the other places. That is what those numbers mean.

 

[ivwshane]

Affluent compared to where Walmart will put its stores. Walmart will put stores in places Costco won't ever touch. Costco places theirs where they can get their $100k earning customers.

CDS is not the only Costco food sample provider and that's only one of the areas I mentioned. In addition they also outsource most of their services, shipping and delivery, and fleet maintenance. Enough to put them in the same range as Walmart for pay? No but enough that the comparisons with other companies have issues

Now you are back peddling. I just provided a like for like comparison and Costco still pays better, double what sams pays. If you want we can look at glass door and compare individual positions and your point would still be wrong.

And CDS is the only food demo provider. All other demos are supplied by the vender themselves. Should Costco now be paying the wages of the venders they do business with?

I'm curious as to what these locations Costco "won't ever touch". I just looked at the LA area, specifically around Compton and there are 7 costcos within 20 miles and one less than 8 miles. Sams club in that same area? Three.

 

[ivwshane]

While you argue about Costco vs. Walmart vs Amazon, you are all missing the mark. What it comes down to is whoever runs Costco is just a tad bit less greedy than the other places. That is what those numbers mean.

Exactly and that was the point OCZ was trying to make. Its also why raising corporate taxes is better for workers than tax cuts, CEO's will either re-invest in their company or pay their workers more rather than pay more in taxes. The benefits in doing so are great.

 

[Maxima1]

And that would be false. Do you consider Sacramento an affluent area? Feel free to look at the multiple locations in that area, look at the median wages, house prices, crime rate, and compare them to actual affluent areas in northern California, SF, napa, walnut creek, Livermore. Then you can look up and see how many WalMart and sams clubs are in those same areas.

While they have urban locations ( albeit not the worst elements), the majority are in suburban areas.

Now you are back peddling. I just provided a like for like comparison and Costco still pays better, double what sams pays. If you want we can look at glass door and compare individual positions and your point would still be wrong.

And CDS is the only food demo provider. All other demos are supplied by the vender themselves. Should Costco now be paying the wages of the venders they do business with?

I'm curious as to what these locations Costco "won't ever touch". I just looked at the LA area, specifically around Compton and there are 7 costcos within 20 miles and one less than 8 miles. Sams club in that same area? Three.

They have generated similar amount of sales, yet Costco does this with significantly less employees (around 40% or so). Costco has a lot of high-dollar items they sell, while Sam's doesn't, so it's easier to get more revenue per employee. In addition, because of Costco's high labor costs, they have scrutinized more ways to make the process more efficient than Sam's Club.