Re:Turning the Labor Shortage Up to 11
by Frost1x on Wednesday September 08, 2021 @08:52PM
(#28464946)
I think when people mention ideas like taking a hit to business profit margins vs the new boiler plate "it will increase consumer costs" they're typically not talking about Bill's Steak House down the street, they're talking about businesses with massive profit margins that are ruling over larger and generalized markets, at least that's what I read.
With that said the resutraunt labor rate is a bit misleading because businesses are required to pay the standard minimum wage or more in some areas. $2.13 is only what's paid if $2.13 + total tips average out to more or above what the person would earn at minimum wage. This means it's returaunt goers subsidizing business labor expenses. Now, one could argue if that's good/not or if the minimum wage is too low and I'd agree with them but the whole $2.13 or whatever figure touted around is misleading, it's absolutely not that low and if it is, it's illegal and wage theft.
My opinion is that the US has an oversupply of restaurants. It’s fundamentally a luxury service. People have come to expect to eat out often at rock bottom prices. We have even bent our labor laws ($2.13) to perpetuate the current market equilibrium.