reub
Junior Member
Posts: 84 
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Post by reub on May 26, 2016 14:04:52 GMT
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corto
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by corto on May 26, 2016 14:35:49 GMT
Absolutely will lead to more automation.
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Wendy's is getting ready to change the fast-food industry. The fast-food giant plans to install self-service kiosks at its restaurants because of growing labor costs linked to minimum-wage increases.
California and New York are both raising minimum wages to $15 per hour over the next several years and fast-food workers in other states are pushing for similar wages.
The fast-food giant says it plans to start installing the kiosks by the end of the year. They will be in company-owned outlets, but individual franchisees will decide on their own whether to invest in the kiosks. There are more than 6,000 Wendy's restaurants, but the majority of them are owned by franchisees.
In addition to using the technology to cut down on labor costs, Wendy's President Todd Penegor noted on the company's quarterly conference call, that some of its franchise locations have been raising prices to offset the minimum-wage increase, according to Investor's Business Daily.
In addition to the self-serve kiosks, Wendy's is also getting ready to begin mobile ordering and mobile payments.
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Post by pointedstick on May 26, 2016 14:40:34 GMT
Probably fast food restaurants in general will go out of business. Which maybe isn't the worst thing in the world since most of these places serve terrible, unhealthy, low quality food that in most cases isn't actually all that much cheaper than much healthier food at other places.
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deuxlsteau
New Member
"and everyone would gather / on the 24th of May"
Posts: 42
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Post by deuxlsteau on May 26, 2016 15:30:36 GMT
I saw that McDonald's ex-exec article, too. It was on my screen at the same time as a headline about Adidas moving manufacturing back home from Asia, but to robots.
Unskilled minimum wage jobs like those at McD's were meant to be a stepping stone, not a lifetime career.
I don't think so. I think they will spring for that robotic arm mentioned in the article, to replace inefficient fry cooks.
Looking forward to the self-serve style of service that I enjoy at CVS.
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Post by pugchief on May 26, 2016 15:56:30 GMT
McD closed its suburban Chicago headquarters yesterday and today, telling employees to work from home. Protesters gathering outside to coincide with the annual shareholder meeting made working difficult if not impossible.
There is no doubt the min wage people will be automated out of their jobs sooner rather than later.
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Post by sophie on May 26, 2016 16:33:59 GMT
Interesting about McDonald's going down. I think they're trying to reinvent their menu, but they're so far behind places like Chipotle that I can't see them pulling through.
Definitely agree about automation taking care of the minimum wage "problem", and minimum wage increases will only speed up the process. Part of me says "Bring it on! I am SO tired of dealing with surly cashiers!", but the rest of me worries what will become of unskilled laborers who have nowhere to turn for employment. I suppose they can houseclean and mow lawns and things, for which they'll get sub-minimum wages paid under the table, but they have a lot of "new immigrants" to compete with for that.
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Post by machineghost on May 26, 2016 16:50:30 GMT
The "high minimum wage" problem begetting the "unskilled unemployed labor" problem will all lead us to the promised land of the Citizen's Dividend. And that's a wonderful problem to have!
The Millennials have lost all the crucial socialization cues anyway. They're no longer cut out to be clerks, cashiers, ushers, etc. and other Nice People Jobs. A robot would be a much more pleasing experience and better yet, actually understand and speak English.
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Post by pointedstick on May 26, 2016 17:17:20 GMT
I foresee that eventually the unskilled labor problem will be "solved" by some sort of government guaranteed jobs program doing necessary manual labor that's exempted from the minimum wage. Cities might pay few bucks an hour and provide free meals for people to pick up garbage, paint over graffiti, mow grass at the park, trim the hedges, and things like that.
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Post by technovelist on May 26, 2016 17:34:18 GMT
Obviously if $15 is good, then $150 is much better!
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deuxlsteau
New Member
"and everyone would gather / on the 24th of May"
Posts: 42
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Post by deuxlsteau on May 26, 2016 18:24:22 GMT
Obviously if $15 is good, then $150 is much better! Oh, you are here! Great! |
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reub
Junior Member
Posts: 84
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Post by reub on May 26, 2016 21:28:59 GMT
I was on a cruise last year where there was a bar with robotic bartenders. I don't drink, but if I did I would definitely have ordered something. Much cooler than a mere mortal!
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Post by machineghost on May 27, 2016 0:14:59 GMT
I foresee that eventually the unskilled labor problem will be "solved" by some sort of government guaranteed jobs program doing necessary manual labor that's exempted from the minimum wage. Cities might pay few bucks an hour and provide free meals for people to pick up garbage, paint over graffiti, mow grass at the park, trim the hedges, and things like that. What's wrong with the current prison slave force? |
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Post by technovelist on May 27, 2016 3:39:43 GMT
Obviously if $15 is good, then $150 is much better! Oh, you are here! Great! Thanks! I set up an emergency backup wordpress "forum" but I agree this is better. |
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deuxlsteau
New Member
"and everyone would gather / on the 24th of May"
Posts: 42
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Post by deuxlsteau on May 27, 2016 15:05:34 GMT
Yeah, I was kind of surprised when your wordpress backup went poof.
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Post by technovelist on May 27, 2016 19:05:10 GMT
Yeah, I was kind of surprised when your wordpress backup went poof. It's still there. No one seems to be using it though. |
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