I have plenty to learn, as I am only 25, but in my short life and career I have learned many things about people, politics, jobs, responsibility, wage increases, motivation, etc. I have a fairly decent view of either side in these topics, as I have made something out of nothing, myself!
Anyway, I am happy this topic is pretty popular as I have some thought provoking information and hope some people can help encourage change for the better!!! So here goes my rant, thanks for reading :)
In the issue of minimum wage. I read a good point somewhere (reddit, let's be honest) these jobs minimum wage, but generally more so fast food jobs, are designed for people entering the work force for the first time, typically high school and college students. Those earning a dollar for the first time and learning how the economy works, in some cases (hopefully someday more) while attending a math or economics class, doesn't matter college or high school, just a class teaching you stretching your thinking. But this should not be a way of life, this should be a starting point. (FOR THE CRITICS; there's always a one off sad story, I feel for that, but let's think about this as it is, we are talking about the 'typical' fast food worker.) I'm not saying you can't learn things in fast food, especially in a supervisor or a manager role, you will learn so much about people, business, customer service, inventory... Sooo much, but it is all about how you absorb and use this going forward. How do you better yourself?
In my short career I have gone from bottom of the barrel to a key decision maker in a global organization. I have busted my ass to make sure that I am always trying to better myself. I work with people who do the same and I work with some people that try everything they can to do as little as possible. As I continue to try harder, better myself, better my individual situation; I receive a lot of snide comments from those who do not want to try harder. They want a better self and situation, but they do NOT want to try harder. Someone not trying harder to better their own situation, does not deserve the attention of those of us trying so hard to push forward and better ourselves.
In my short life of 25 years, I have coasted from a friends couch, to a car, back to a different couch, back to a car, etc. I dropped out of high school and began some bad habits. I got evicted, I got fired, laid off, quit, been on unemployment. Yet somehow, I wake up and decide to change my attitude, try to make myself better, make myself stand out in a positive way; because I felt myself going the wrong way and made an effort to do better.
Today, I manage a team at an awesome company. I own a home, that I bought and remodeled myself with absolutely no training; which I am about to sell to be able to build my beautiful wife and I a new home in the area where we grew up. We have two dogs, instead of kids, as we have made the responsible decision to wait to have kids until we are grown and have a better vision toward the future.
My only hope to this post is to encourage some people to think. I encourage those who do not try their best everyday, to try your best, EVERY DAY! I encourage those in discussions about unfair waged to look for the root cause of the issue, is it the wage, is it the company, is it the workers? CHALLENGE IT!!!!
At the same time, I encourage those points of views to remain factual and respectful; the true message you are trying to deliver gets lost in your asshole-ness. You may 'be right' or more importantly, be providing thought provoking insight and discussion, but you're still an asshole, according to the dude!
TL;DR try your best, be your best, be THE best. Make a choice to not be mediocre, boring, uneducated. Everyone had something happen once, but not everyone has something better happen later, make it happen!