Current Events > Why do people choose to work in fast food if other alternatives are available?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm not talking about those with low education levels or criminal histories that prevent them from obtaining other jobs, nor am I talking about those who may live in a small town where job opportunities are limited.

For someone who doesn't fit into those categories and living in a larger, thriving city, is there a reason they may want to work in the fast food industry (and not be a manager)?

Fast food jobs are notorious for minimum wage and little or no raises throughout years of service. I think they could be better off working at Target, Walmart, or a grocery store, or even a slightly more upscale place like Chipotle or a clothing retail outlet.

Are there benefits to working fast food? Or reasons I may be missing? A lot of people I see working there, I think to myself, "Okay that's cool. You're in highschool" or "I see why you may have to work here". But then there's some I see that seem capable of working in a job that pays a bit higher.

Fast food seems sort of fast paced and challenging. Or is it super easy??
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hey hey hey smoke weed every day
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maybe they don't have a car. fast food places are everywhere and proximity is important when you don't have much.
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rikasa posted...

maybe they don't have a car. fast food places are everywhere and proximity is important when you don't have much.

That's a good point. It makes sense if you rely on public transportation to choose a place near to where you live.
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Mainly because that's all they have. Where I live, it's either call centers, hotels or fast food. The city is a fairly big, but that's all there is without a college degree.
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AlephZero posted...

hey hey hey smoke weed every day

You could be a server at a restaurant. They don't generally drug test. And servers probably average at least $10+ an hour at lower tiered restaurants once it's all said and done.
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Flexible hours. Can basically make your own schedule, and that shit helps us college students
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Houston posted...

AlephZero posted...

hey hey hey smoke weed every day

You could be a server at a restaurant. They don't generally drug test. And servers probably average at least $10+ an hour at lower tiered restaurants once it's all said and done.

Gotta work up to server most of the time, I think.
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"I think they could be better off working at Target, Walmart, or a grocery store, or even a slightly more upscale place like Chipotle or a clothing retail outlet."

what is the incentive when they pay the exact same wage: minimum with little or no raises
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Roxborough4Ever posted...

"I think they could be better off working at Target, Walmart, or a grocery store, or even a slightly more upscale place like Chipotle or a clothing retail outlet."

what is the incentive when they pay the exact same wage: minimum with little or no raises

Quick google search: "Target to raise its minimum wage to $11 per hour, promising $15 by 2020. Target's minimum wage has been $10 per hour."

and "Walmart Is Raising Its Minimum Wage To $11 An Hour After Sweeping Tax Reform."
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So there's going to be a lot of competition to get hired at Target, then. They'll just pick the best looking and hardest working since they can be picky.
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Houston posted...

Roxborough4Ever posted...

"I think they could be better off working at Target, Walmart, or a grocery store, or even a slightly more upscale place like Chipotle or a clothing retail outlet."

what is the incentive when they pay the exact same wage: minimum with little or no raises

Quick google search: "Target to raise its minimum wage to $11 per hour, promising $15 by 2020. Target's minimum wage has been $10 per hour."

and "Walmart Is Raising Its Minimum Wage To $11 An Hour After Sweeping Tax Reform."

maybe where you live, but where I live all those jobs are on the same pay scale of 14 dollars a hour......sounds like a problem specific to places where the minimum wage is still in the single digits
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DrizztLink posted...

Houston posted...

AlephZero posted...

hey hey hey smoke weed every day

You could be a server at a restaurant. They don't generally drug test. And servers probably average at least $10+ an hour at lower tiered restaurants once it's all said and done.

Gotta work up to server most of the time, I think.

For one, you do have to be 18. So that excludes most high schoolers. I was able to find a job as a server during college after prior work experience that didn't include the food service industry. But it was at more of regional chain restaurant. Then I moved on to a national chain. I averaged about $12-$15 an hour once you include the lower tip lunch shifts and slower weekday evenings.
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Roxborough4Ever posted...

Houston posted...

Roxborough4Ever posted...

"I think they could be better off working at Target, Walmart, or a grocery store, or even a slightly more upscale place like Chipotle or a clothing retail outlet."

what is the incentive when they pay the exact same wage: minimum with little or no raises

Quick google search: "Target to raise its minimum wage to $11 per hour, promising $15 by 2020. Target's minimum wage has been $10 per hour."

and "Walmart Is Raising Its Minimum Wage To $11 An Hour After Sweeping Tax Reform."

maybe where you live, but where I live all those jobs are on the same pay scale of 14 dollars a hour......sounds like a problem specific to places where the minimum wage is still in the single digits

So you're saying where you live, someone that works at Taco Bell makes the same as working at Walmart or Chipotle? Or Best Buy? They could always become a server, I'm sure they would make more.
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Some fast food places pay a little above minimum wage. I believe In n' Out usually does, and I think Chick-fil-A does, too. If you're talking about older people working there, they may just be comfortable in that job and too scared or not willing to look elsewhere.

It could also just be a second income job for someone who gets bored at home, like a housewife, and the flexible scheduling still gives them time for their family. Sometimes a flexible schedule is worth more than money to some people.

stocking shelves or being some dipshit standing and doing nothing in a clothes store is infinitely better than working in any fastfood or restaurant minimum wage slop

They don't.
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Because you can make crazy off menu concoctions, and for free. Plus allnthe delicious Mr Pibb you can drink!
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FluttershyPony posted...

stocking shelves or being some dipshit standing and doing nothing in a clothes store is infinitely better than working in any fastfood or restaurant minimum wage slop

Actually working in a fast food restaurant can be pretty fun and social. Especially at the big ones. When I worked at McDonalds over an 8 hour shift I'd interact with at least 30-40 people, easily 100+ 150+ unique people a week. Most of those were around my age, (i was 17 at the time). You would have a lot of fun, laugh a lot, and meet a lot of new people, a few of them I'm still good friends with today. Rather that than just doing nothing in a clothing store, alone.
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Plus you get free lunch every shift.
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Lack of reliable transportation

Some places like Chick Fil A and Panda Express pay $13-$14/hr. Solid pay for a no skill job or a high schoolers expenses.

Some places also treat managers pretty well with perks and pay. Notably the same as mentioned above. I believe panda pays their managers $60k/yr.
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