Episode 63 - The ‘We Quit” Movement & American Wages Part 3

Last week a Burger King in Lincoln Nebraska became internet-famous when the entire staff walked out. Then it happened again, at a Hardees. And again at Wendys. What gives?

We’d like to take credit here at The Re-Engineered You for making the connection between the rash of restaurant walk-outs, and the record rates of unemployment benefits. But an angry congressman in North Carolina beat us to it, albeit in a more inflammatory way. He saw the empty lobby at Hardees and a sign in the window saying “Due To No Staff, WE ARE CLOSED” and he took to twitter, saying “This is what happens when you extend unemployment benefits too long.”

So that’s our entire episode today. We want to explore the myths and misinformation surrounding Covid unemployment rates - and why it might be harder for you to buy a Big Mac or Whopper in the coming months. Then we’ll discuss why our reaction, as a nation, to the fast-food walkouts might be all wrong. Whether it’s righteous indignation on behalf of the laborer, or condemnation for those claiming unemployment benefits. We’ll also explore the landscape of wages in America, and how close this pandemic has come to proving “The Easterlin Paradox”. Then we’ll try to find a silver lining under this pandemic - a little hope for future workers of America - by looking at how the economy could rebound.

History:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/akgy7a/we-all-quit-how-americas-workers-are-taking-back-their-power

https://fortune.com/2016/11/08/china-automation-jobs/

https://slate.com/business/2017/07/why-cant-americans-get-a-raise.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_home_front_during_World_War_II

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterlin_paradox

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/stimulus-coronavirus-fears-labor-market-shortage

Science:

https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-health-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-business-1a44620557abcc82d57a29e572939de9#:~:text=The%20government's%20report%20Thursday%20showed,former%20recipients%20have%20found%20jobs.

https://economics.mit.edu/covid19policy https://www.ziprecruiter.com/blog/states-offering-return-to-work-bonuses/