Minimum Wage Management

[Ransom]

I see many states are implementing minimum wages, many Presidential candidates advocating for the same.

Are they aware of technology sweeping America?


Intelligent, interactive machines, once the stuff of sci-fi movies and futuristic fantasy, are quickly becoming a reality, especially in the fast food dining world, where repetition rules and improvisation is limited. In restaurants around the globe, machines are already taking orders, flipping burgers, preparing pizzas, pouring stiff drinks and cooking entire meals in full view of hungry customers.

AI drilling down into our everyday businesses


Fast food restaurants like Starbucks, Wendy's, Panera and McDonald's encourage customers to order using self-service kiosks or a mobile app. But Valyant AI appears to be one of the first companies to create a platform for taking orders via an interactive AI voice assistant - one who also happens to be the first company representative many customers will encounter.

I like Panera's Broc and cheese soup. Some good crackers and that's a good start with your sandwich.


The AI assistant has endured months of testing, but officially began handling the restaurant's breakfast orders at last week. If the fledgling assistant runs into any technical issues, the transaction is handed off to a human employee inside the restaurant.

"The system takes a lot of friction out of interactions between customers and employees," Carpenter said, noting that the AI was designed to sound like an amiable woman's voice. "The AI never gets offended and it will just keep talking to you in a very calm and friendly voice."


Are entrepreneurs going to allow government to dictate hourly wages or look to technology to handle tasks heretofore completed by an unskilled worker?

Government in trying to manage wage growth with their income redistribution schemes ignore technology at their own peril.

https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/At-this-fast-food-drive-through-the-person-13636317.php

[Peter1469]

Even without robotics and AI, studies of states that have enacted the $15 minimum wage show mixed results. It tends to lead into more part time workers and less low to no skill labor jobs.

[Ransom]

Even without robotics and AI, studies of states that have enacted the $15 minimum wage show mixed results. It tends to lead into more part time workers and less low to no skill labor jobs.
But there is a revolution of sorts occurring, Pete. And I pray US education standards are keeping up.

[Peter1469]

But there is a revolution of sorts occurring, Pete. And I pray US education standards are keeping up.

Me too. Unfortunately our K-12 system lags globally. However our university system is much better than its global competition (despite the fluff majors).

[Common]

The problem is this the federal govt has no business setting a minimum wage.

Each state should set their own by their cost of living, the difference in cost of living for example in NY, NJ and Calfifornia as opposed to alabama is incredible. Alabama small business cant possibly pay the same min wage as NY and survive.

Each state has duly elected officials each state should set their min wage if the "people" dont like it, elect new people

[DGUtley]

I was in a McDonald's a month or so ago. It had kiosks. You want $15? Take this....I heard Ray Kroc saying...

[Peter1469]

The problem is this the federal govt has no business setting a minimum wage.

Each state should set their own by their cost of living, the difference in cost of living for example in NY, NJ and Calfifornia as opposed to alabama is incredible. Alabama small business cant possibly pay the same min wage as NY and survive.

Each state has duly elected officials each state should set their min wage if the "people" dont like it, elect new people
I theory I am against a minimum wage, but if we are to have them, it should be set locally.

[Ransom]

From what I read and I admit to being no expert, artificial intelligence may be commonplace by 2030. From health care to farming. Same reading discussed cloning and then the inevitable clone that is in fact a machine. A walking talking human robot at your service, you could make him...or her look or react anyway you'd like. The article spoke of the legendary love affair between culture and machine that currently exists, the love of a human and their car for example. It's "their Ride." That's "my baby." Look to how your cell phone or Apple Watch is an extension of you.

Scary. Mankind on yet another precipice? My friends and I discussing over a meal lately, one of the wives asked me if I'd ever seen Weird Science. The comedy movie of two geek teens who 'create' Kelly LeBrock I think it is, the bombshell actress. I said "hold on.....yer telling me I can make a robot that would be an extension of me and it would look exactly like Kelly LeBrock?"

She said "I'm saying you could purchase a robot that looked and walked and talked, virtually was the exact replica of Kelly LeBrock."

I sat there blinking. Never one to be short of words.....I came up with absolutely nothing. I just sat there. Thinking. Apparently smiling is still the accusation, but I didn't say one word. They tell me I didn't have to.

A Kelly LeBrock robot, Pete. As she appears in the Weird Science movie. Price tag?

[Peter1469]

From what I read and I admit to being no expert, artificial intelligence may be commonplace by 2030. From health care to farming. Same reading discussed cloning and then the inevitable clone that is in fact a machine. A walking talking human robot at your service, you could make him...or her look or react anyway you'd like. The article spoke of the legendary love affair between culture and machine that currently exists, the love of a human and their car for example. It's "their Ride." That's "my baby." Look to how your cell phone or Apple Watch is an extension of you.

Scary. Mankind on yet another precipice? My friends and I discussing over a meal lately, one of the wives asked me if I'd ever seen Weird Science. The comedy movie of two geek teens who 'create' Kelly LeBrock I think it is, the bombshell actress. I said "hold on.....yer telling me I can make a robot that would be an extension of me and it would look exactly like Kelly LeBrock?"

She said "I'm saying you could purchase a robot that looked and walked and talked, virtually was the exact replica of Kelly LeBrock."

I sat there blinking. Never one to be short of words.....I came up with absolutely nothing. I just sat there. Thinking. Apparently smiling is still the accusation, but I didn't say one word. They tell me I didn't have to.

A Kelly LeBrock robot, Pete. As she appears in the Weird Science movie. Price tag?
Probably pretty expensive. I haven't looked into the market for the sex bots.:smiley:

[Ransom]

Probably pretty expensive. I haven't looked into the market for the sex bots.:smiley:

I would think a lawsuit would follow. Yer a lawyer Pete, would someone have a case there? One day, a robot-clone we'll have the ability to create in any mold or image I would reckon. If it is another's image....ramifications?

[Newpublius]

Are entrepreneurs going to allow government to dictate hourly wages or look to technology to handle tasks heretofore completed by an unskilled worker?

Foxconn automates Chinese labor tasks on iphones of course. I know people often think that a higher minimum wage will cause jobs to be automated and while it might exacerbate the process, I would suggest that automation will happen even at very, very, very low wages ANYWAY so I don't particularly see the US or various states' minimum wage as causing automation.


I was in a McDonald's a month or so ago. It had kiosks. You want $15? Take this....I heard Ray Kroc saying...


Well let's assume its a 24 hour McDonalds. 3 shifts at $7/hr = $61k per year to man a register.

How much can that kiosk cost?

https://www.pcmag.com/news/349707/mcdonalds-pilots-mobile-ordering-and-self-service-kiosks

"The machines, which reportedly cost upwards of $60,000 to install"

And once its in it has some kind of lifespan which really should be greater than one year of course.

[Peter1469]

I would think a lawsuit would follow. Yer a lawyer Pete, would someone have a case there? One day, a robot-clone we'll have the ability to create in any mold or image I would reckon. If it is another's image....ramifications?

I doubt that any current laws cover the issue.

[Newpublius]

Scary. Mankind on yet another precipice?

Want to know what's even scarier than AI? Natural Intelligence actually, people are really fucking scary actually. See: all of recorded history!

[MisterVeritis]

The problem is this the federal govt has no business setting a minimum wage.
True.

Each state should set their own by their cost of living, the difference in cost of living for example in NY, NJ and California as opposed to alabama is incredible. Alabama small business cant possibly pay the same min wage as NY and survive.

Each state has duly elected officials each state should set their min wage if the "people" dont like it, elect new people
No government has the right and authority to set up minimum wages for private businesses unless it is in their constitution.

[Cletus]

The problem is this the federal govt has no business setting a minimum wage.

Each state should set their own by their cost of living, the difference in cost of living for example in NY, NJ and Calfifornia as opposed to alabama is incredible. Alabama small business cant possibly pay the same min wage as NY and survive.

Each state has duly elected officials each state should set their min wage if the "people" dont like it, elect new people

There should be no minimum wage. Wages should be a contractual agreement between employer and employee and are no business of the state.

[Tahuyaman]

Even without robotics and AI, studies of states that have enacted the $15 minimum wage show mixed results. It tends to lead into more part time workers and less low to no skill labor jobs.

Here it's led to more low skill jobs moving to part time. It's also resulted in employers trimming their operation and reducing the number of jobs.

Minimum wage workers on average are actually taking home less money in their paychecks.

[Tahuyaman]

There should be no minimum wage. Wages should be a contractual agreement between employer and employee and are no business of the state.


Those who don't understand how things work will believe that all businesses will collide with each other and drive down wages.

[Newpublius]

There should be no minimum wage. Wages should be a contractual agreement between employer and employee and are no business of the state.

Indeed, the Contracts Clause needs to be reinvigorated.

[BenjaminO]

There should be no minimum wage. Wages should be a contractual agreement between employer and employee and are no business of the state.
Unions

[Sergeant Gleed]

But there is a revolution of sorts occurring, Pete. And I pray US education standards are keeping up.


The US has education standards?

Not since the 1960's.

Certainly not now. Now they measure success by "graduation rate"...and lower the standards to keep that rate as high as ever.

Educated honest people don't vote Rodent.

[Sergeant Gleed]

I theory I am against a minimum wage, but if we are to have them, it should be set locally.

I am a full and ardent supporter of the Natural Minimum Wage.

Nature sets it's minimum wage at $0.00 per hour and people who aren't motivated to work above that minimum don't eat. Then they die and don't propagate their genes, improving the species as a whole.

Other than that, it's supposed to be a free country with a free market in which employer and employee come to an agreement on what wages will be paid, because it's nobody's business but theirs what agreement they come to.

[Sergeant Gleed]

Foxconn automates Chinese labor tasks on iphones of course. I know people often think that a higher minimum wage will cause jobs to be automated and while it might exacerbate the process, I would suggest that automation will happen even at very, very, very low wages ANYWAY so I don't particularly see the US or various states' minimum wage as causing automation.




Well let's assume its a 24 hour McDonalds. 3 shifts at $7/hr = $61k per year to man a register.

How much can that kiosk cost?

https://www.pcmag.com/news/349707/mcdonalds-pilots-mobile-ordering-and-self-service-kiosks

"The machines, which reportedly cost upwards of $60,000 to install"

And once its in it has some kind of lifespan which really should be greater than one year of course.

$7 bucks an hour times 24 hours x 365 days = $61K

But...tack on 7.5% for the Socialist Security Ponzi Scheme..$4.6K

Tack on unemployment insurance, health insurance, mandatory vacation time, mandatory breeding bonding time, (about 8 weeks out of 52) for another 15-20K...

...tack on the risk of one these uneducated morons injuring themselves and suing...

...tack on the hassles of dealing with them...

and suddenly those kiosks are becoming very attractive...

...oh, and there are already encroaching 'bots to flip the burgers, cook the fries, assemble those egg-mcmuffins…

who needs employees at a place like that?

[Sergeant Gleed]

Unions


Good for goonions.

Goonions should not have the power to force employers to hire them (violation of Freedom of Association) nor should they have power to for employers to retain people who have walked off the job (a so-called "strike"), nor should they have the power to prevent employers from hiring permanent replacements for workers who have gone on "strike", since the employer's goal is to make product for sale to the market, not to provide sinecures for people refusing to work to create those products.

Goonions are very anti-American and anti-Constitutional.

[Captdon]

True.

No government has the right and authority to set up minimum wages for private businesses unless it is in their constitution.

State constitutions are easier to amend than the federal one.

[Captdon]

$7 bucks an hour times 24 hours x 365 days = $61K

But...tack on 7.5% for the Socialist Security Ponzi Scheme..$4.6K

Tack on unemployment insurance, health insurance, mandatory vacation time, mandatory breeding bonding time, (about 8 weeks out of 52) for another 15-20K...

...tack on the risk of one these uneducated morons injuring themselves and suing...

...tack on the hassles of dealing with them...

and suddenly those kiosks are becoming very attractive...

...oh, and there are already encroaching 'bots to flip the burgers, cook the fries, assemble those egg-mcmuffins…

who needs employees at a place like that?

Subtract the additional income tax and property tax and business taxes by the states and local governments. It would still be a winner by the business but npt to the extent you think.

Bear in mind that the kiosks are basically computers. They crash and need repaired or replaced. It won't be as profitable as people think. It will more tha now but it won't be what they think it will be.

[Captdon]

Good for goonions.

Goonions should not have the power to force employers to hire them (violation of Freedom of Association) nor should they have power to for employers to retain people who have walked off the job (a so-called "strike"), nor should they have the power to prevent employers from hiring permanent replacements for workers who have gone on "strike", since the employer's goal is to make product for sale to the market, not to provide sinecures for people refusing to work to create those products.

Goonions are very anti-American and anti-Constitutional.

Unions are also" Freedom of Association" groups. There is no such right in the Constitution to start with. No company has to negotiate with a union. That's federal law.

If you don't like unions so be it. Don't make up stuff.

[Cletus]

Unions

What about them?