My Mrs is on minimum wage, more or less. She’d probably been as well off on the PUP, truth be told. There are actual weeks now where she’s earning less than on PUP. We are relatively lucky in that I’ve a solid job and pay.
Service industries and retail pay shit wages. I’d say a fair few here if they were told they could have their salary paid for a while, and not have to go and work unsociable hours and have their weekends off, would take that. There’s a lot of sneering from people who are doing well financially towards those who are not, and the rhetoric of people in lower-paid employment being spongers, lazy, etc. masks over significantly bigger problems, such as the cost of living versus the minimum wage as well as the general working conditions and abuse from an increasingly intolerant society. If I asked my Mrs would she like to be at home on a Friday night getting paid by the state or be at work until 9:30pm wearing a face covering for 8.5 hours with a broken air conditioning unit in her workplace, she’d probably opt for the former and I wouldn’t blame her. I think the PUP was the first time she ever received any social welfare.
They’re poor because they’re stupid\feckless\lazy\drunkards\addicts etc etc. Why can’t they get a job, work hard and pull themselves up by their bootstraps …
There was a lad on radio last week who owns cosmetic clinics who pays (it seems) a good package including health insurance who was suggesting that there was scope for people to be paid more money in service industry even if it meant an extra few euro for customer. He was making point that a chef wages haven’t changed much in 15 years.
Gross Margins must be high in things like coffee shops. Maybe they are killed on rent and insurance
I was in The Clayton in Sligo on the bank holiday weekend. A load of young staff members alright but adequate supervision of them and they themselves had been obviously trained. A grand experience in a lovely county.
We had looked at Bunratty Castle but there were so many restrictions Archbishop Tony would have been proud.
Oh I would - even assuming a paycut - for a while anyways. Not having a pop at anyone on the PUP - if you’re entitled to it, and it’s paying your bills, going back to the grind is a hard sell. Depends on the job of course.
The government are hell bent on introducing a living wage next year. I’d say they are under heavy fire from all trade orgs in opposition to it. Would be a good move but likely lead to price inflation
I was also in MJ this weekend (Sunday and Monday). Might we have crossed paths?
Agree on the staff thing but they were very apologetic and at least explained a load of them were working there for the very first time. And they were great with the kids too.
Its a smashing place in my opinion. A 5 star place with no airs or graces about it and makes everyone feel comfortable.
Giving all places a pass this week and have been tipping all round me. Hotel service has been abysmal at times but you can clearly see they’re a) brand new b) adhering to strict Covid rules and c) only open two weeks. I’m just glad someone else is making my dinner and I can drink a pint indoors in a glass without pre booking.
If the money doesn’t go on goods, it’ll just go into inflating the housing market either through purchase price or rent in any case. A living wage should be a legal requirement.
