Re:New York Gov. Cuomo Orders All Nonessential Workers in St...
by jfengel on Friday March 20, 2020 @01:06PM
(#22639224)
It would sure be nice if we remember that convenience store workers, bus drivers, and grocery store clerks are considered "essential". These jobs are commonly paid at or near the minimum wage, but they're out today exposing themselves to the public. Even if they're given hazard pay today (and many probably won't be), when all is said and done they'll be back out there during the next flu season.
At least in New York they'll be earning $15 an hour for it. That's $30,000 a year, if they can get the hours -- and many won't be given 40 hours per week in order to avoid having to give them health care insurance. How many of these people will end up becoming sick, and then have to pay for any care they get out of that $30k?
I'm skeptical that anybody will in fact remember this. People will go back to trying to push the stock market higher and fight minimum wage increases to ensure higher profits. But I hope somebody starts printing up "Essential" buttons to hand out to these workers -- and then wear them on the job for the future so that people remember.
At least in New York they'll be earning $15 an hour for it. That's $30,000 a year, if they can get the hours -- and many won't be given 40 hours per week in order to avoid having to give them health care insurance. How many of these people will end up becoming sick, and then have to pay for any care they get out of that $30k?
I'm skeptical that anybody will in fact remember this. People will go back to trying to push the stock market higher and fight minimum wage increases to ensure higher profits. But I hope somebody starts printing up "Essential" buttons to hand out to these workers -- and then wear them on the job for the future so that people remember.