McDonald's ex-CEO just revealed a terrifying reality for fast-food workers

[monkeydelmagico]

Deep 6 Bot brought to by Sysco!

 

[SMOGZINN]

Those big chains try their best to appear local and folksy, kiosks for ordering would break that. Also, are people going to tip a computer kiosk as much as a real waiter? I certainly wouldn't. Maybe 5% for the bus boy.

I'm telling you they are already starting to do it. For one the folksy and local trend is over, they are already starting to remodel and remove all that junk and modernizing. Next the evidence shows that people tip considerable more on the kiosks then they do otherwise. It has to do with it defaulting to a higher number and most people just clicking through because they can't really be bothered to read 3 pages of stuff to pay a bill.

 

[SMOGZINN]

More likely an entrepreneur will open a fast food robot arm service company, hire a few techs and get contracts with multiple franchises. This will allow fast food joints to share the cost of robot techs and make techs more efficient because when one store's robots are running properly, the tech can work at a different store rather than twiddling thumbs waiting for something to break.

Of course you are right about that. That means each of those techs can probably replace 60-80 people, or more.

BTW- My GF is a nurse, and she just found out that they will be outsourcing one of their tasks, scanning in all the paper documents they get, and cutting down on hours for the nurses because of it. Even if automation can't replace your main function, it can probably cut down your hours. No one is safe, no matter how skilled your job is.

 

[theeedude]

I am in tech, so I am all for automation. I hope you are right and we can get more fast food workers, truck drivers, manufacturing workers, etc, replaced with computers, so the profits go to the tech industry. But for me personally, I go out to eat for the atmosphere and service, and kiosk ordering would be a big no-no. I can order food on my computer from home.

 

[nickqt]

Can we just rename this thread:

"Capitalism just revealed a terrifying reality for workers", because capitalism doesn't seek to create jobs. Ever. Jobs are created only if needed, and ended whenever at all possible.

Although it is kinda fun watching people miss the big picture.

 

[theeedude]

Not working shitty job all your life is not a terrifying reality.