A scary trend

[td75]

We are seeing restaurants, shops, small businesses, factories, and many other places of employment really struggle to find workers. I live in rural Kentucky, it's starting to impact our local businesses.

The free government cheese seems to be driving this lazy mentality. What a country we are living in!! Are we going to be a lazy European style country, a la France?

I can't believe where we are headed. This country was made great on the working spirit of working class people, entrepreneurs, etc. It appears socialism has darkened our door step. This is exactly why 75 million Americans voted against the democrats. It wasn't because we loved Trump, not at all! It was to preserve the working spirit/integrity that made this country great in the first place. Staying at home scrolling the internet waiting on Joe's mailbox money is going to torpedo this country.

 

[UncleMark]

We are seeing restaurants, shops, small businesses, factories, and many other places of employment really struggle to find workers. I live in rural Kentucky, it's starting to impact our local businesses.

The free government cheese seems to be driving this lazy mentality. What a country we are living in!! Are we going to be a lazy European style country, a la France?

I can't believe where we are headed. This country was made great on the working spirit of working class people, entrepreneurs, etc. It appears socialism has darkened our door step. This is exactly why 75 million Americans voted against the democrats. It wasn't because we loved Trump, not at all! It was to preserve the working spirit/integrity that made this country great in the first place. Staying at home scrolling the internet waiting on Joe's mailbox money is going to torpedo this country.

How do you explain the tight labor market before the pandemic?

 

[CO. Hoosier]

We are seeing restaurants, shops, small businesses, factories, and many other places of employment really struggle to find workers. I live in rural Kentucky, it's starting to impact our local businesses.

The free government cheese seems to be driving this lazy mentality. What a country we are living in!! Are we going to be a lazy European style country, a la France?

I can't believe where we are headed. This country was made great on the working spirit of working class people, entrepreneurs, etc. It appears socialism has darkened our door step. This is exactly why 75 million Americans voted against the democrats. It wasn't because we loved Trump, not at all! It was to preserve the working spirit/integrity that made this country great in the first place. Staying at home scrolling the internet waiting on Joe's mailbox money is going to torpedo this country.

And UBI makes it worse. Human beings thrive when able to be creative and produce and then enjoy the fruits of both. Our public policy is systematically stripping away both.

Help wanted signs are all over Denver. I’ve been told to expect slower service at different establishments because of lack of workers.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

How do you explain the tight labor market before the pandemic?

Trumpism.

 

[BCCHoosier]

We are seeing restaurants, shops, small businesses, factories, and many other places of employment really struggle to find workers. I live in rural Kentucky, it's starting to impact our local businesses.

The free government cheese seems to be driving this lazy mentality. What a country we are living in!! Are we going to be a lazy European style country, a la France?

I can't believe where we are headed. This country was made great on the working spirit of working class people, entrepreneurs, etc. It appears socialism has darkened our door step. This is exactly why 75 million Americans voted against the democrats. It wasn't because we loved Trump, not at all! It was to preserve the working spirit/integrity that made this country great in the first place. Staying at home scrolling the internet waiting on Joe's mailbox money is going to torpedo this country.

This isn't a new issue to 2021. I have several friends with small businesses that started having issues middle of last year.

It is a combination of things from frontline workers waiting for vaccines/fear getting sick, to strong labor demand, to some general laziness

Not a simple Democrat vs Republican issue. Think a bit deeper.

 

[td75]

This isn't a new issue to 2021. I have several friends with small businesses that started having issues middle of last year.

It is a combination of things from frontline workers waiting for vaccines/fear getting sick, to strong labor demand, to some general laziness

Not a simple Democrat vs Republican issue. Think a bit deeper.

I wish it wasn't a dem vs pub issue but a large part of it certainly is. If the dems continue to expand mailbox money, it is obviously a bad policy that sets a HORRIBLE precedent.

People are lazy by nature, expanding on these bad policies only exaggerates their laziness.

 

[twenty02]

Labor market is tight and has been for some time now (weird covid year being ignored) ..... up and down the labor line. Workers have more leverage than they've had in a long while to negotiate for higher comp. I really don't think it's got much to do with some one off stimulus cash.

Business will have to adapt by increasing wages..... you can fill any job if you're willing to pay enough.

 

[Marvin the Martian]

Labor market is tight and has been for some time now (weird covid year being ignored) ..... up and down the labor line. Workers have more leverage than they've had in a long while to negotiate for higher comp. I really don't think it's got much to do with some one off stimulus cash.

Business will have to adapt by increasing wages..... you can fill any job if you're willing to pay enough.

It is good to know the market can work for laborers. That is all this is and has been.

 

[hoot1]

What exactly is the 'free government cheese" that is keeping workers at home and out of the job market?

Unemployment checks, stimulus payments, or what ?

 

[cosmickid]

I wish it wasn't a dem vs pub issue but a large part of it certainly is. If the dems continue to expand mailbox money, it is obviously a bad policy that sets a HORRIBLE precedent.

People are lazy by nature, expanding on these bad policies only exaggerates their laziness.

I'm sure incidents like this one have NO effect on people's reluctance to go back to dealing with "the public"...

"A Minnesota man accused of assaulting a store employee over a mask dispute led police on a slow-speed chase, then dragged an officer hanging from his vehicle before striking him in the head with a hammer, according to police and a criminal complaint.

A statement from the Hutchinson Police Department said the violence began April 14 at a Menards home improvement store, where 61-year-old Luke Oeltjenbruns argued with an employee over the store's mask policy, then assaulted the staff member with "some lumber."
Police said from there, officers found Oeltjenbruns in a parking lot, but he led them on a "slow-speed pursuit" before eventually stopping at a red light while officers attempted to arrest him.
But a criminal complaint cited by the Minneapolis Star Tribune said when officers approached and told Oeltjenbruns he was at gunpoint, Oeltjenbruns responded that "he did not care and to shoot him."
Eventually, police officer Steven Sickmann warned Oeltjenbruns he would have to break the truck's window to forcibly arrest him, then stepped up onto the truck's running board and reached through the window.
The complaint said Oeltjenbruns "grabbed Officer Sickmann's right arm and closed the window on it," trapping the officer, before driving away and crashing into police cruisers until the officer managed to extricate himself.
A video circulating online and taken by a bystander appeared to show the officer reaching into the driver's side window of a white pickup truck, then becoming stuck as the truck reversed then sped off."

A Minnesota man attacked a store employee over a mask policy then dragged a police officer with his vehicle and struck him with a hammer, police say

Luke Oeltjenbruns, 61, closed his truck window on a police officer reaching through it, then sped off, according to a criminal complaint.

www.yahoo.com

 

[mcmurtry66]

I'm sure incidents like this one have NO effect on people's reluctance to go back to dealing with "the public"...

"A Minnesota man accused of assaulting a store employee over a mask dispute led police on a slow-speed chase, then dragged an officer hanging from his vehicle before striking him in the head with a hammer, according to police and a criminal complaint.

A statement from the Hutchinson Police Department said the violence began April 14 at a Menards home improvement store, where 61-year-old Luke Oeltjenbruns argued with an employee over the store's mask policy, then assaulted the staff member with "some lumber."
Police said from there, officers found Oeltjenbruns in a parking lot, but he led them on a "slow-speed pursuit" before eventually stopping at a red light while officers attempted to arrest him.
But a criminal complaint cited by the Minneapolis Star Tribune said when officers approached and told Oeltjenbruns he was at gunpoint, Oeltjenbruns responded that "he did not care and to shoot him."
Eventually, police officer Steven Sickmann warned Oeltjenbruns he would have to break the truck's window to forcibly arrest him, then stepped up onto the truck's running board and reached through the window.
The complaint said Oeltjenbruns "grabbed Officer Sickmann's right arm and closed the window on it," trapping the officer, before driving away and crashing into police cruisers until the officer managed to extricate himself.
A video circulating online and taken by a bystander appeared to show the officer reaching into the driver's side window of a white pickup truck, then becoming stuck as the truck reversed then sped off."

A Minnesota man attacked a store employee over a mask policy then dragged a police officer with his vehicle and struck him with a hammer, police say

Luke Oeltjenbruns, 61, closed his truck window on a police officer reaching through it, then sped off, according to a criminal complaint.

www.yahoo.com

View embedded media

No sane person should ever want to interact with the public

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

So, when all them "illegal aliens" move in and take those positions at the bait shops in rural Kentucky, will Billy Bob bitch about them stealing their jobs?

 

[td75]

So, when all them "illegal aliens" move in and take those positions at the bait shops in rural Kentucky, will Billy Bob bitch about them stealing their jobs?

Wrong...Nice try though. You'd be amazed at how self-sustaining those Billy Bob's are. Most of the ones around here can fix anything, don't need Joe's socialism money and many don't want it.

It's the lazy city folk that want Joe's government cheese...Could that be you??

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

Wrong...Nice try though. You'd be amazed at how self-sustaining those Billy Bob's are. Most of the ones around here can fix anything, don't need Joe's socialism money and many don't want it.

It's the lazy city folk that want Joe's government cheese...Could that be you??

Nothing like a sandwich of gov't cheese and spam, Mr. Elitist.

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

Labor market is tight and has been for some time now (weird covid year being ignored) ..... up and down the labor line. Workers have more leverage than they've had in a long while to negotiate for higher comp. I really don't think it's got much to do with some one off stimulus cash.

Business will have to adapt by increasing wages..... you can fill any job if you're willing to pay enough.

Imagine that - the market is actually raising wages ... without help from Washington (unless you call shut downs "help")

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

We are seeing restaurants, shops, small businesses, factories, and many other places of employment really struggle to find workers. I live in rural Kentucky, it's starting to impact our local businesses.

The free government cheese seems to be driving this lazy mentality. What a country we are living in!! Are we going to be a lazy European style country, a la France?

I can't believe where we are headed. This country was made great on the working spirit of working class people, entrepreneurs, etc. It appears socialism has darkened our door step. This is exactly why 75 million Americans voted against the democrats. It wasn't because we loved Trump, not at all! It was to preserve the working spirit/integrity that made this country great in the first place. Staying at home scrolling the internet waiting on Joe's mailbox money is going to torpedo this country.

A Kentucky prediction:

The Kentucky Unemployment system will prosecute claims against folks who unknowingly received undeserved unemployment payments BEFORE all people who were entitled to payments get theirs, and before you can call the unemployment offfice and talk to them without your call getting dropped, and before all the 4,000 unopened e-mail claims get processed.

Andy Beshear will lose the Democrat primary and the fourth Republican governor since the Civil War will get elected.

 

[F.Fletch]

So, when all them "illegal aliens" move in and take those positions at the bait shops in rural Kentucky, will Billy Bob bitch about them stealing their jobs?

Nice......with that condescension I take it you don't work in construction or any of the trades.

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

Nice......with that condescension I take it you don't work in construction or any of the trades.

Didn't realize bait shop worker was a trade.
And is my condescension really any worse than the OP's attitude towards poverty, Democrats, or the French?

 

[F.Fletch]

Didn't realize bait shop worker was a trade.
And is my condescension really any worse than the OP's issue with government cheese?

Yea, that's the only jobs illegals are taking. Bait shops........sure. I think his term of "government cheese" was an euphemistic term for all forms of welfare.

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

Yea, that's the only jobs illegals are taking. Bait shops........sure. I think his term of "government cheese" was an euphemistic term for all forms of welfare.

I guess my condescension went over your head. I was aiming it at rural Kentucky, not immigrants.

 

[FloatingHooz]

We are seeing restaurants, shops, small businesses, factories, and many other places of employment really struggle to find workers. I live in rural Kentucky, it's starting to impact our local businesses.

The free government cheese seems to be driving this lazy mentality. What a country we are living in!! Are we going to be a lazy European style country, a la France?

I can't believe where we are headed. This country was made great on the working spirit of working class people, entrepreneurs, etc. It appears socialism has darkened our door step. This is exactly why 75 million Americans voted against the democrats. It wasn't because we loved Trump, not at all! It was to preserve the working spirit/integrity that made this country great in the first place. Staying at home scrolling the internet waiting on Joe's mailbox money is going to torpedo this country.

ah, the poor-people-don’t-work myth the US tells itself to justify wildly unequal distribution of wealth. Boner alert. From Pat Buchanan’s lips to your ears...

Spoiler: it’s mostly distributed past your grubby little middle-class hands too but your overlords appreciate your support

 

[Marvin the Martian]

I saw a Facebook meme today, complaining unemployment insurance stops people from working is a strange way to say one pays poverty wages

 

[i'vegotwinners]

We are seeing restaurants, shops, small businesses, factories, and many other places of employment really struggle to find workers. I live in rural Kentucky, it's starting to impact our local businesses.

The free government cheese seems to be driving this lazy mentality. What a country we are living in!! Are we going to be a lazy European style country, a la France?

I can't believe where we are headed. This country was made great on the working spirit of working class people, entrepreneurs, etc. It appears socialism has darkened our door step. This is exactly why 75 million Americans voted against the democrats. It wasn't because we loved Trump, not at all! It was to preserve the working spirit/integrity that made this country great in the first place. Staying at home scrolling the internet waiting on Joe's mailbox money is going to torpedo this country.

i also hear there's a severe shortage of employers wanting to pay high wages.

i wonder if there's any correlation between offering low wages with zero benefits, and having difficulty filling positions.

why do you hate free market capitalism, where the solution is to just keep offering a higher wage, until all your jobs are filled?

this is why 150 million voting Americans hate both parties, and just vote for the lessor of the evils.

 

[UncleMark]

Labor market is tight and has been for some time now (weird covid year being ignored) ..... up and down the labor line. Workers have more leverage than they've had in a long while to negotiate for higher comp. I really don't think it's got much to do with some one off stimulus cash.

Business will have to adapt by increasing wages..... you can fill any job if you're willing to pay enough.

It's funny. The parts store needs another driver. Can't seem to be able to find anyone. Mind you, McDonald's is paying a higher starting wage. But of course, that's not the problem. It's because "nobody wants to work".

 

[hoot1]

i also hear there's a severe shortage of employers wanting to pay high wages.

i wonder if there's any correlation between offering low wages with zero benefits, and having difficulty filling positions.

why do you hate free market capitalism, where the solution is to just keep offering a higher wage, until all your jobs are filled?

this is why 150 million voting Americans hate both parties, and just vote for the lessor of the evils.

There does exist families where either a highly employable husband or wife is staying at home waiting for a high enough paying job to cover costs such as child care and the personal problems concerning turning children over to others.

Also we do have highly employable people earning a living being self employed who would work for others if the pay is right. Included in the right pay is of course benefits with health insurance being a prime attraction.

Believe it or not, our capitalist system does have folks who are self sufficient enough not to be at the mercy of the system.

 

[TommyCracker]

Unemployment rate is at 6%, the lowest its been in a year since the health crisis started.

If you're really worried about unemployment insurance payments then I'd suggest you do the things needed to get through this health crisis instead of exasperating it with dumb, emotional, non science based beliefs.

Oh, unemployment is a base level benefit. It's not a living wage.

Most people don't choose unemployment over a good paying job.

That's what the program is for, some job insurance while you find a job.

It actually helps the economy avoid economic catastrophies brought on by economic depressions. It's one reason why our economy has continued to grow as it shakes off recession after recession (because we collect job insurance in the good times which covers us for the bad times).

The real discussion is to take it away from the states and make it a federal responsibility. As it's currently managed at the state level but the fed had to kick in because of this past threat.

But keep on parroting right wing, fear mongering nonsense while probably understanding that these evil programs aren't a drop in the bucket to all of the subsidized corporate welfare programs for oil, farming, airline, auto, etc.

 

[td75]

Unemployment rate is at 6%, the lowest its been in a year since the health crisis started.

If you're really worried about unemployment insurance payments then I'd suggest you do the things needed to get through this health crisis instead of exasperating it with dumb, emotional, non science based beliefs.

Oh, unemployment is a base level benefit. It's not a living wage.

Most people don't choose unemployment over a good paying job.

That's what the program is for, some job insurance while you find a job.

It actually helps the economy avoid economic catastrophies brought on by economic depressions. It's one reason why our economy has continued to grow as it shakes off recession after recession (because we collect job insurance in the good times which covers us for the bad times).

The real discussion is to take it away from the states and make it a federal responsibility. As it's currently managed at the state level but the fed had to kick in because of this past threat.

But keep on parroting right wing, fear mongering nonsense while probably understanding that these evil programs aren't a drop in the bucket to all of the subsidized corporate welfare programs for oil, farming, airline, auto, etc.

I've talked with my judge executive and 3-4 small businesses in my area. They all said how difficult it is right now finding people willing to work.

I'll believe their assessments over your biased political agenda 7 days a week. Your party is killing this country a little more everyday. It's a damn shame.

 

[rocket_knight]

Wrong...Nice try though. You'd be amazed at how self-sustaining those Billy Bob's are. Most of the ones around here can fix anything, don't need Joe's socialism money and many don't want it.

It's the lazy city folk that want Joe's government cheese...Could that be you??

Rural Kentucky votes Republican to keep the government out of the disability check business.

 

[TheOriginalHappyGoat]

Anyone dumb enough to choose unemployment in this job market is someone too stupid enough for smart employers to want, anyway.

The real reason it's hard to find qualified workers is that unemployment is low...well, also that there are way too many unqualified workers.

 

[larsIU]

They all said how difficult it is right now finding people willing to work

A couple things.
1. I have no idea what these friends of yours are paying. Is it possible there is a large distribution center like an Amazon or Walmart nearby? Their starting pay is really competitive. I know this because I have problems hiring folks at $14/he to sit on their ass and make phone calls because they can start at $15 or so at Amazon plus an employee discount.
2. “Willing to work”. Seems like that would be entirely subjective and based on some kind of interview being completed. If they’re interviewing I can’t believe they can’t find employees.

 

[TommyCracker]

I've talked with my judge executive and 3-4 small businesses in my area. They all said how difficult it is right now finding people willing to work.

I'll believe their assessments over your biased political agenda 7 days a week. Your party is killing this country a little more everyday. It's a damn shame.

Killing the country, what the hell are you talking about?

The economy is coming back, the market continues to climb and our unemployment numbers are improving. 6% is the lowest it's been in over a year and it's trending positively month over month.

We are beating our vaccination goals (I just got vaxxed today as a 50 year old, I was originally told it would be August/September).

Plus we passed economic stimulus that has universally been praised by most everyone to help get us through the pandemic without going into a major economic depression.

Wanna know what is really bad for small business? A nationwide depression with double digits unemployment.

Otherwise known as the economic death spiral.

The biggest threat to the economy is the pandemic.

My guess is that is the bigger threat to your business owners who offer min wage, part time, shit jobs.

If you really want to help them, mask up, don't be dumb in public and get vaccinated.

It's free. You just have to schedule an appointment.

 

[DANC]

How do you explain the tight labor market before the pandemic?

The Trump economy.

 

[DANC]

I wish it wasn't a dem vs pub issue but a large part of it certainly is. If the dems continue to expand mailbox money, it is obviously a bad policy that sets a HORRIBLE precedent.

People are lazy by nature, expanding on these bad policies only exaggerates their laziness.

Democrats have never understood incentives and disincentives. It's why their social programs are such failures.

 

[DANC]

It's funny. The parts store needs another driver. Can't seem to be able to find anyone. Mind you, McDonald's is paying a higher starting wage. But of course, that's not the problem. It's because "nobody wants to work".

I don't know if you've noticed, but McDonald's is also having problems hiring.

If you can make $15 an hour on a job or sit on your ass and collect $300 weekly unemployment + $300 - $600 per week in stiumulus checks, which one would you take?

Stimulus money is a disincentive to work - the labor market was tight before the virus and government intervention has thrown everything off kilter - it's not 'capitalism'. The initial stiumulus was needed, but this latest go-round is a payoff to Leftists.

 

[twenty02]

The pandemic has created a very weird labor market. Like extremely weird.

People that work public facing service level jobs still have a big headwind. I was downtown Indy tonight for a game..... it's still a bit of a ghost town. Nothing like a year ago, but still nowhere near normal.

Yet every other industry outside of entertainment is booming. These things will all find their level again.

Labor is short and wages will rise. We've got a lot of warts in our system..... but both the Trump and Biden admins have/ are doing the right thing by flooding money out. That's why we have govt, and IMHO, govt has answered the bell pretty well for all we bitch about it.

We may not have handled the health side great, but we've handled the economic side surprisingly well by going big. And we're leading the world in vax, which will only help.

If the biggest issue we have is business not being able to find enough labor to meet demand...... pretty good problem to have.

Go USA

 

[JamieDimonsBalls]

It's funny. The parts store needs another driver. Can't seem to be able to find anyone. Mind you, McDonald's is paying a higher starting wage. But of course, that's not the problem. It's because "nobody wants to work".

if you look at the gap between U3 and U6 employment, my sense is that there are a few issues going on, which include business not paying good enough wages, people unwilling to work and people that are unemployable (drug addiction, etc)

 

[Cortez88]

if you look at the gap between U3 and U6 employment, my sense is that there are a few issues going on, which include business not paying good enough wages, people unwilling to work and people that are unemployable (drug addiction, etc)

The unemployable are also the uneducated. A Ball State economist has been writing a series on Indianas education policies and the effects. Short story is that Indiana is closer to Mississippi in educational attainment than the national average. The result is a poor quality workforce that attracts low pay, low skill jobs. It’s a cycle.

 

[Marvin the Martian]

if you look at the gap between U3 and U6 employment, my sense is that there are a few issues going on, which include business not paying good enough wages, people unwilling to work and people that are unemployable (drug addiction, etc)

I think you have it. But a question for those complaining. Those people not wanting to work, how badly do you want them to come work for you?

Some of the issue is still a labor mismatch. Restaurants and hotels, airlines and cruise ships are no where close to 100%. In some cities people might wait on their sector to return and turn down assembly line (as an example). Why is that a bad thing?

I had a coworker lose his accounting job when his work closed down. He took the first job he could get, out IT job. He hated it, he was desperate to get back to accounting. But suddenly no one would hire him, his most recent job experience was IT and that meant he wasn't an accountant. Never mind the degree, nor older work experience. So I get why some people may be hesitant to just take the first job.

But yes, some are just lazy. A long ago coworker's husband flat out refused to work. Frankly he was doing perspective employers a favor.

 

[twenty02]

I think you have it. But a question for those complaining. Those people not wanting to work, how badly do you want them to come work for you?

Some of the issue is still a labor mismatch. Restaurants and hotels, airlines and cruise ships are no where close to 100%. In some cities people might wait on their sector to return and turn down assembly line (as an example). Why is that a bad thing?

I had a coworker lose his accounting job when his work closed down. He took the first job he could get, out IT job. He hated it, he was desperate to get back to accounting. But suddenly no one would hire him, his most recent job experience was IT and that meant he wasn't an accountant. Never mind the degree, nor older work experience. So I get why some people may be hesitant to just take the first job.

But yes, some are just lazy. A long ago coworker's husband flat out refused to work. Frankly he was doing perspective employers a favor.

Service jobs (like retail/ restaurants) are typically where you find these transient workers. They may work for a while until they have enough cash for a bit, then quit..... or quit showing up. Restaurant business was notorious for that, when I was serving tables in college. Most of the non-student aged folks were never the type that were going to get a grown up job. Most were only sober a handful of hours per day

 

[Marvin the Martian]

Service jobs (like retail/ restaurants) are typically where you find these transient workers. They may work for a while until they have enough cash for a bit, then quit..... or quit showing up. Restaurant business was notorious for that, when I was serving tables in college. Most of the non-student aged folks were never the type that were going to get a grown up job. Most were only sober a handful of hours per day

At one of my college jobs, people would take off (perhaps even quit if not given extended time away) when their tax refunds came.