I see this being mentioned a bit in American media. I understand why this can happen. Capital does not want to pay living wages to the working people and workers do not want to work for pennies. There is no such thing as labour shortage, only capital not willing to pay.
But if people are just walking away from jobs, how are they affording subsistence? I have seen restaurants being closed because they don’t have workers. So it is not only people who can afford savings who are quitting.
I can’t phrase the question very well but the bottom line is this: I don’t understand. So any insight you might want to share is welcome.
If you work minimum wage and unemployment is low then you can quit and go somewhere else, you’re sure you’ll be paid at least the same amount and possibly more.
From my experience even the bottom of the social strata in the US is far better off than some middle-low class in a third world country. I’ve seen people in /r/homeless who own cars, laptops, phones, tents, shit that would sound fucking impossible where I live for a homeless to be honest, so I’m guessing they have some sort of financial support, but I’m just guessing.
Having a phone or laptop but living in a car or tent isn’t better than having an actual residence. People in the US can become homeless (lose job, run out of savings) and when they do, they will try to hang onto laptops and phones, since they are portable, valuable and very useful (looking for jobs, housing, social services, etc. ). You can get a cheap pay as you go phone for like $30 and hang onto it for years. Here in Seattle you can get work as a day laborer making around $16 an hour, so a cheap phone is attainable for anyone well enough to show up in the morning and dig ditches for a day. Meanwhile, you’d have a hard time finding even the crappiest little studio apartment with a shared kitchen for less than $1000 per month. And you usually have to have 3 months of rent to move in.
And they do, that’s why resiging is becoming a viable option for workers, as far as I understand the US government gives you a financial support if you meet some criteria. And to be honest, if my country did the same thing I would rather have their financial support than being exploited for someone else’s profit, that way I can actually live my life and work on whatever I like at my own pace.
It is very hard to get assistance in the US. People with children can get some credits to buy groceries , but it isn’t very much. Depending of where you live, if you have kids you can get some small and limited help with housing or get a monthly check (again, really not much). if you have a serious documented disability you can get similar assistance. Injured or retired veterans also get payments, but that’s really just part of the payment for being a soldier. And a lot of folks come home from our endless wars with serious mental and physical health problems and end up living on the streets.
Sure, I’d do the same, I was just pointing out the level of privilege these people hold.
Indeed.
