Robots will replace fast-food workers

[MarkmBha]

Human interaction will slowly fade, as "Big Brother" continues to invade our lives.

[gameboy1977]

It sound like that Mr. Burns ordered robots replace the workers at nuclear power from the Simpons' Them, Robot.

[xdot.tk]

If their is a silver lining in all of this is that at least robots wont spit in your food.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Here is my thing, if you are making Mcdonald's your nine to five for the rest of your life, there is indeed a problem. Instead of bitching, go apply for a scholarship and go to school, get a better job, and quit flipping burgers. But no... we are now living an entitlement age, give me give me give me, if they pay $15.00 fast food workers, I will be the first one to stop going to these places.

You do realise that a lot of people working in the customer service sector have degrees, right? Regardless, anybody who works should expect to be paid a living wage - it doesn't matter whether that's working in McDonald's or stacking shelves as Asda. These people are contributing to society and should be supported. One way to achieve that would be through a negative income tax, whereby people on lower incomes receive subsidies from those on high incomes.

 

It saddens me that so many people only find worth in themselves by seeing others suffer. Why would anyone want to see people working jobs that barely allow them to get by? Increasing the minimum wage would barely increase the price of products and would provide people with more money to invest into the economy. Modern society shouldn't be about working obscene hours in multiple jobs and struggling to get by.

 

The ones around here are filled with flies, have never been renovated and on certain days, the people behind the counter have a pissy attitude.

If that's true, which I highly doubt, then that speaks to a failure of the regulatory system and it's that which you should be outraged about. In the UK restaurants receives regular health inspections and are shut down if they don't meet the standards required. Consumers can look up the hygiene rating online, though it is legally required to be displayed in Wales. Most places display it prominently. As for living in an entitlement age, people should entitled to a living wage - it's a basic human right. Modern society doesn't allow people to opt-out, meaning that society has an obligation to serve the needs of all who live in it.

 

As for the OP, the problem with automating the economy is that it reduces the number of people engaging in it. The fewer people that have jobs the less people have to invest in the economy. At some point that will become unsustainable and the people will rise up and demand change, at which point the uber-capitalists at the top will lose out. Wealth inequality cannot continue to grow as it is doing. It's utterly wrong that 1% of the population has such obscene wealth and influence over society. Those at the top must be taxed heavily to prevent them corrupting the political system and hoarding money that could be improving the lives of millions. Since 1979, the bottom 90% of earners in the US have lost $900 in income, while the top 1% have seen earnings increase by $700,000 - that's abhorrent.

[McKay]

You do realise that a lot of people working in the customer service sector have degrees, right? Regardless, anybody who works should expect to be paid a living wage - it doesn't matter whether that's working in McDonald's or stacking shelves as Asda. These people are contributing to society and should be supported. One way to achieve that would be through a negative income tax, whereby people on lower incomes receive subsidies from those on high incomes.

 

It is liveable, but not if you're trying to support a wife, 3 kids and a mortgage. Which is what some people are.

[Brandon]

You do realise that a lot of people working in the customer service sector have degrees, right? Regardless, anybody who works should expect to be paid a living wage - it doesn't matter whether that's working in McDonald's or stacking shelves as Asda. These people are contributing to society and should be supported. One way to achieve that would be through a negative income tax, whereby people on lower incomes receive subsidies from those on high incomes.

 

It saddens me that so many people only find worth in themselves by seeing others suffer. Why would anyone want to see people working jobs that barely allow them to get by? Increasing the minimum wage would barely increase the price of products and would provide people with more money to invest into the economy. Modern society shouldn't be about working obscene hours in multiple jobs and struggling to get by.

 

 

All raising minimum wage will do is cause higher inflation thus pretty much wiping out the middle class entirely and devaluing any retirement savings people have gained over the years. I know a number of people who start in the mid 30's with a 4 year degree in professions such as teaching, marketing, supply chain, etc. You're telling me that a guy flipping burgers should make the same amount as the person who is educating your children?

 

But wait, the market compensates and inflation increases. So now teachers make $50k starting. But wait, that $100k you had saved all of the sudden became only "worth" $60k in 2013 dollars. It's a cycle. 

[Bertch]

I prefer the views of Constant Nieuwenhuys.

 

With New Babylon Constant envisioned a "world wide city for the future" where land is owned collectively, work is fully automated and the need to work replaced with a nomadic life of creative play. New Babylon is inhabited by homo ludens, who, freed from labor, will not have to make art, for he can be creative in the daily practice of his life.

 

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant_Nieuwenhuys

 

Bring on the robots!

[+primortal Subscriber²]

maybe now I wont get big mac sauce in my mcchicken sandwich

You'll be lucky if you even have a burger in that big mac :D 

 

The feeder that places the burger malfunctions and all you get you two buns, lettuce, tomato and big mac special sauce..  Or you'll get the burger on top of the buns.

[T3X4S]

So?

 

Robots do not have intelligence, they will just follow orders consistently.

 

I can't wait for these stores to become huge walk in vending machines once their quality turns to the same level as 7-11 they will lose dozens of customers as they could just have gone to 7-11.

 

I hope the days of cheap horrible food are numbered, tired of people being mistreated due to horribly wrong stereotypes.

Horribly wrong stereotypes - LOL

I have never heard of a horribly wrong stereotype - never.

There is truth in every stereotype - otherwise it would be dismissed.  It may not apply to everyone - but if it wasnt true - it wouldnt stick.

The majority of fast food workers in US are non-english speaking people in a job where they need to speak/understand english -

Why do you think they all went to pictures of food on the cash registers ?

If they were worth more - they would get more - its called a promotion - sorry to burst your bubble - (no Im not)

$15 / hour to constantly screw up the simplest of tasks ???   no - their pay is adequate - tell them to stop having so many kids

[astropheed Veteran]

Human interaction will slowly fade, as "Big Brother" continues to invade our lives.

 

Huh? I only have an older Sister. Speak for yourself.

[SierraSonic]

Horribly wrong stereotypes - LOL

I have never heard of a horribly wrong stereotype - never.

There is truth in every stereotype - otherwise it would be dismissed.  It may not apply to everyone - but if it wasnt true - it wouldnt stick.

The majority of fast food workers in US are non-english speaking people in a job where they need to speak/understand english -

Why do you think they all went to pictures of food on the cash registers ?

If they were worth more - they would get more - its called a promotion - sorry to burst your bubble - (no Im not)

$15 / hour to constantly screw up the simplest of tasks ???   no - their pay is adequate - tell them to stop having so many kids

The vast majority are women, the vast majority are adults, the vast majority have children. You seem to think that these are jobs teenagers want, they work here and then move on with their lives. The people who stay and try to be dedicated, are screwed over because they have no support, not from their bosses, not from their customers, and definitely not from low lives who care more about thinking they saved money when instead they are just going to pay more in taxes to support these very people they hate.

 

[Numbers in thousands] http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm

Occupation 2013 Total

employed Percent of total employed Women Black or

African

American Asian Hispanic

or Latino

Food preparation and serving related occupations

8,209 54.7 12.2 5.7 24.4

55% are women, 42% are minorities. Which means over 58% must be white according to statistics.

 

You just proved my point. Either way, what happens to all these people once these labor only jobs are taken over by robots, will you enjoy knowing you are going to pay to help these people out more than if they were working trying to support themselves? By all accounts, if these people are such horrid monsters that they can barely do these jobs, imagine forcing the easy jobs out of the market.

 

It's not called a promotion, it's called greed, and a lack of proper legislation. I'm just going to argue one since the other can't be regulated. The minimum wage as it stands with todays money is currently worth less than half of what it was worth during most of it's run. Minimum wage, for all jobs including fast food, used to pay people what equals $15 in todays money. For the same job, you made twice the amount of money. As time went one, and the dollar lost value, it was okay, as they always raise the minimum wage somewhat in line with inflation, so the value stayed near that $15 equivalent. Sometime after the 70s, the value of the minimum wage started to drop below that of inflation, so over the last 30 years we saw a decline in wage value as the minimum wage stagnated. It has come to the point where you are now working for less than half of what you parents were for equal work. This is compounded by the fact that 

http://20somethingfinance.com/american-hours-worked-productivity-vacation/

 

Not only that, we now have less benefits, less vacation time, and we have increased productivity 400%.

 

So we get 4 times the work done, at half the pay, and we are constantly asked to do more for less.

 

America is becoming backwards, and your ideals aren't helping push us forward.

[benthebear]

All raising minimum wage will do is cause higher inflation thus pretty much wiping out the middle class entirely and devaluing any retirement savings people have gained over the years. I know a number of people who start in the mid 30's with a 4 year degree in professions such as teaching, marketing, supply chain, etc. You're telling me that a guy flipping burgers should make the same amount as the person who is educating your children?

 

But wait, the market compensates and inflation increases. So now teachers make $50k starting. But wait, that $100k you had saved all of the sudden became only "worth" $60k in 2013 dollars. It's a cycle. 

 

This comparison always bothers me because it is apples and oranges. You're comparing a private sector job to a public sector job. Different sources of revenue. I mean, the NFL pays guys in the millions to run around a field and catch a ball. Does that person deserve more than the person who is educating your child? Does that person deserve more than the person defending your country?

 

See what I mean?

 

If you work for a company while giving it your all, and that company has billions and billions of dollars in profit just sitting there, then what's the harm in asking for a livable wage? 

[T3X4S]

The vast majority are women, the vast majority are adults, the vast majority have children. You seem to think that these are jobs teenagers want, they work here and then move on with their lives. The people who stay and try to be dedicated, are screwed over because they have no support, not from their bosses, not from their customers, and definitely not from low lives who care more about thinking they saved money when instead they are just going to pay more in taxes to support these very people they hate.

 

[Numbers in thousands] http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm

Occupation 2013 Total

employed Percent of total employed Women Black or

African

American Asian Hispanic

or Latino

Food preparation and serving related occupations

8,209 54.7 12.2 5.7 24.4

55% are women, 42% are minorities. Which means over 58% must be white according to statistics.

 

You just proved my point. Either way, what happens to all these people once these labor only jobs are taken over by robots, will you enjoy knowing you are going to pay to help these people out more than if they were working trying to support themselves? By all accounts, if these people are such horrid monsters that they can barely do these jobs, imagine forcing the easy jobs out of the market.

 

It's not called a promotion, it's called greed, and a lack of proper legislation. I'm just going to argue one since the other can't be regulated. The minimum wage as it stands with todays money is currently worth less than half of what it was worth during most of it's run. Minimum wage, for all jobs including fast food, used to pay people what equals $15 in todays money. For the same job, you made twice the amount of money. As time went one, and the dollar lost value, it was okay, as they always raise the minimum wage somewhat in line with inflation, so the value stayed near that $15 equivalent. Sometime after the 70s, the value of the minimum wage started to drop below that of inflation, so over the last 30 years we saw a decline in wage value as the minimum wage stagnated. It has come to the point where you are now working for less than half of what you parents were for equal work. This is compounded by the fact that 

http://20somethingfinance.com/american-hours-worked-productivity-vacation/

 

Not only that, we now have less benefits, less vacation time, and we have increased productivity 400%.

 

So we get 4 times the work done, at half the pay, and we are constantly asked to do more for less.

 

America is becoming backwards, and your ideals aren't helping push us forward.

You are right about minimum wage not being adjusted for current dollar value - that is wrong.

Your comment did raise an eyebrow though about a couple things...

You said teenagers start @ fast food, then move on --   And the reason some people get better jobs is because of greed ?  Doesnt make sense.

If teenagers start there then move on -- why aren't others ?  Teenagers have some special sauce that makes them more marketable ?  They are the exact opposite.

What is the reason for some moving up the ladder ?  Getting out of fast food altogether ?

In Texas, the break down of minorities in fast food is much different than your national stats -

You think Productivity being up 400% is the result of the grunt workers on the front line ??   Tell me how you got to that conclusion.  I'd like to hear your reasoning.  (Dont you think technology, proper mgmt, innovation, are contributing factors ?

If 400% productivity is increased, then how much did the work force increase ?

In Texas, min wage is $7.25 I think - not much, thats why you start there and work your way up.  My first job was working at a golf course - cleaning golf carts in the cart barn.  It sucked, but I tried everyday to do it faster and better than everyone.  Second month of employment - I got employee of the month, 4th month was made supervisor.  During the first year I improved my golfing abilities enough and was asked to be one of the Asst. golf pros in the pro shop, giving lessons, schmoozing with customers, and basically get paid to hang out and talk golf and watch Golf Channel all day - granted it wasn't a lot of money - but I think you get my point.  I busted my ass, and kept getting promotions - thats the name of the game --- not demanding government to mandate something.

I am quite sure you were lumping me in the "low life" description in your post - thats kinda uncalled for dont you think ?

 

[Klownicle]

Sometimes its better to keep your mouth shut, then to complain.  I for one welcome our new robot overlords.

[SierraSonic]

You are right about minimum wage not being adjusted for current dollar value - that is wrong.

Your comment did raise an eyebrow though about a couple things...

You said teenagers start @ fast food, then move on --   And the reason some people get better jobs is because of greed ?  Doesnt make sense.

If teenagers start there then move on -- why aren't others ?  Teenagers have some special sauce that makes them more marketable ?  They are the exact opposite.

What is the reason for some moving up the ladder ?  Getting out of fast food altogether ?

In Texas, the break down of minorities in fast food is much different than your national stats -

You think Productivity being up 400% is the result of the grunt workers on the front line ??   Tell me how you got to that conclusion.  I'd like to hear your reasoning.  (Dont you think technology, proper mgmt, innovation, are contributing factors ?

If 400% productivity is increased, then how much did the work force increase ?

In Texas, min wage is $7.25 I think - not much, thats why you start there and work your way up.  My first job was working at a golf course - cleaning golf carts in the cart barn.  It sucked, but I tried everyday to do it faster and better than everyone.  Second month of employment - I got employee of the month, 4th month was made supervisor.  During the first year I improved my golfing abilities enough and was asked to be one of the Asst. golf pros in the pro shop, giving lessons, schmoozing with customers, and basically get paid to hang out and talk golf and watch Golf Channel all day - granted it wasn't a lot of money - but I think you get my point.  I busted my ass, and kept getting promotions - thats the name of the game --- not demanding government to mandate something.

I am quite sure you were lumping me in the "low life" description in your post - thats kinda uncalled for dont you think ?

 

I gave numerical figures for the national average, sure states vary greatly from each other, but the base national level should equal a living wage based across all the states, then it should be up to individual state to raise it above that level if their cost of living is greater. A blank all for one approach is something I never stated would be the best way to do anything.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_productivity_and_real_wages.jpg

Productivity per hours worked, the 400% came in relation to how we worked compared to ourselves in the past, and it did not include that data because work productivity in general hasn't been affected by computers and automation until the late 90s. Yet the divide in wages started happening in the early-mid 70s, the exact same time minimum wage started to drastically stagnate.

 

Low life? No, well not unless you fit the criteria I specified. Do you think you will be paying less if people earn less and live on the system more? If yes, then yes, if no then congrats.

 

There is a difference between belittling your effort to work, and trying to get you a proper wage for the work that you do. Everyone who makes less than $15 an hour right now is technically getting ###### pay and deserves more. Anyone making more than that deserves to have their pay moved to the proper value also. Yet, there is currently no law that protects those that make above the minimum wage, and no one is going to call for all wages to be adjusted to inflation in line with the minimum wage. SO yes, people in the middle will lose out if their bosses do not compensate eventually. Which then those people living above poverty should move on to where they are better suit for pay.

 

You are asking those who are struggling to live, to add more burden to their lives to try to get formal education for a field, which takes time. Just because everyone is given a legally equal chance at successful life doesn't mean that their personal hardships wont make it more difficult if not near impossible to move to a better career, specifically if they have dependants that rely on them. It's easier if say you are young and alone than if you are old with a family to feed, which is why most older people who stay at fast food are getting screwed by these stereotypes. Yes there is always a chance at success, but there is no guarantee that any amount of hard work and training will pay off, if they are accessible at all.

 

To say "screw people because of the mistakes they made" is basically saying "they deserve it". And it costs everyone if we cant even setup a system where people could support themselves.

 

I agree, promotions to get ahead in life, regulations to get started fairly are required though. Again, I'm sorry that you feel that all your hard work was for nothing when minimum wage rises. But this is a problem caused by lax regulation that is only going to get worse if we don't fix it soon. You should be trying to "punish" those who caused the problem, and not those suffering because of it.

[MDboyz]

At least I know robots won't split into my buggers :) ...

[+primortal Subscriber²]

At least I know robots won't split into my buggers :) ...

How about a little hydraulic fluid or metal shavings from a defective joint  :x

[MDboyz]

A lot of foods are already prepared in automated assembly.  Do not think this is even a case.

 

How about a little hydraulic fluid or metal shavings from a defective joint  :x