$15.38/hr

[Jolly]

A person I know, works as a buyer for several foodbanks scattered across the Midwest. The following is an excerpt from an email she received yesterday:

As you're well aware, we are struggling to ship orders as quickly as we used to. This is not due to lack of effort nor concern on our end. We are just as bothered by it as you are. We have raised wages, created a more accommodating work schedule, etc yet it's not really helping.

The main factor for the delays is that we cannot get enough workers in the warehouse. The Covid enhanced unemployment benefits are causing many people to stay home rather than work. In the linked Bloomberg article below you'll see that people making $32k per year ($15.38/hr) or less will actually make the same amount via government assistance staying at home. The problem there is even if you took starting wages to $18/hr most people would rather get paid $15.38/hr to do nothing instead of work an 8-9 hour day.

We are by no means diminishing the seriousness of Covid, and people's fears of contracting the virus. We are just shedding some light on why we are struggling to keep up on shipping. Hopefully, people will get back to work soon, and we can catch up to pre-Covid shipping times.

We sincerely thank you for your business and understanding during this tough stretch that everyone in the world is facing.

Bloomberg Article: www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-06/companies-warn-of-u-s-labor-shortages-economists-call-temporary

[LuFins Dad]

@jolly Simple answer. $20 Minimum Wage FTW!

[taiwan_girl]

@lufins-dad said in $15.38/hr:

@jolly Simple answer. $20 Minimum Wage FTW!