Wal-Mart Tries Out a New Wage: $0 per hour

[The Lorax]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20056614/site/...week/from/RS.5/

[Zceiv]

If the Mexican authorities don't like the practice, then why not pass a law against it? Personally, this story doesn't bother me in the least. It states that some people in Mexico scrape by on less than $4 per day. I would bet that by letting these teens bag groceries for tips, they come out better than hourly employees. In all likelihood, laws to force the store to pay them would cause them to lose income. Even in America, many restaurants pay waitresses salaries below the minimum wage, because of a loophole that allows them to do so based on the fact they receive tips. If I knew the person bagging my groceries was a volunteer, I would feel obligated to tip him or her, and I'm sure others are the same.

I know my sister works at a taco bell and she's payed below minimum wage And She cleans and takes orders

[Scarletprayers]

I think its a sad, sorry company that would make millions off of this, yet I understand what Butero says, its more than the kids would be making other wise.........................shows the sorry condition of the world today when you can't make a choice because both decisions are so vile.

[The Lorax]

Personally, this story doesn't bother me in the least.

No surprise there. After all, cheap prices are first and foremost for Butero.

It states that some people in Mexico scrape by on less than $4 per day. I would bet that by letting these teens bag groceries for tips, they come out better than hourly employees.

You are entirely missing the point. The employees WORK FOR WAL-MART. Ergo, they should be PAID BY WAL-MART. Also, as a sidenote, do you think Mexicans tip well?

In all likelihood, laws to force the store to pay them would cause them to lose income.

Are you nuts? You are essentially saying that ANY wages are too much money for Wal-Mart to pay. Check out their profit margin then get to me on that.

Even in America, many restaurants pay waitresses salaries below the minimum wage, because of a loophole that allows them to do so based on the fact they receive tips. If I knew the person bagging my groceries was a volunteer, I would feel obligated to tip him or her, and I'm sure others are the same.

In America, waiters/waitresses are played tip PLUS some kind of wage. The issue here is that Wal-Mart is paying NO wages. Your comparison is self-defeating.

[Zceiv]

One point I was wondering is how much does it cost to live in mexico?

I would acually be tempted to buy a house in costa rica. I was look at land in costa rica and You could buy a 2 bed 2 bath penthouse(with laundry room and living room) for 65,000$. And the doctors there make 10,000 per year. so my question is how much does the average family need for decent living there?

[The Lorax]

I know my sister works at a taco bell and she's payed below minimum wage And She cleans and takes orders

Is she also tipped? If not, she should call state immediately.

[Zceiv]

I know my sister works at a taco bell and she's payed below minimum wage And She cleans and takes orders

Is she also tipped? If not, she should call state immediately.

Well she been working there for about a month I think she received one tip...

[The Lorax]

In reality, I've never understood why a restaurant should be able to pay a waitress a salary below minimum wage simply because if she does a good job she will get a tip.

Here's why, and I'll use a personal example. I was a waiter at a fine dining joint and I was paid $4 per hour, plus tip. I would be tipped about $20 per hour on the average night, so I ultimately made big money, and it would have been unreasonable for my restaurant to pay me minimum wage in addition.

In Europe they do it differently. Tip is included in the check. This is bad, because waiters and waitresses don't have the same incentive to act nicely, and IT SHOWS. Service is much better in the US, because they know their earnings depends on their performance.

With regard to this story concerning Wal-Mart, the liberal solution would be to change the Mexican law or boycott Wal-Mart, but both practices would have the unintended consequence of hurting the very people they wish to help.

How would instituting SOME KIND of wage hurt the people being paid?

[Zceiv]

In reality, I've never understood why a restaurant should be able to pay a waitress a salary below minimum wage simply because if she does a good job she will get a tip.

Here's why, and I'll use a personal example. I was a waiter at a fine dining joint and I was paid $4 per hour, plus tip. I would be tipped about $20 per hour on the average night, so I ultimately made big money, and it would have been unreasonable for my restaurant to pay me minimum wage in addition.

In Europe they do it differently. Tip is included in the check. This is bad, because waiters and waitresses don't have the same incentive to act nicely, and IT SHOWS. Service is much better in the US, because they know their earnings depends on their performance.

With regard to this story concerning Wal-Mart, the liberal solution would be to change the Mexican law or boycott Wal-Mart, but both practices would have the unintended consequence of hurting the very people they wish to help.

How would instituting SOME KIND of wage hurt the people being paid?

I agree it would with you on the first part. But before they underpay the state sould set up a system to find how much people usally tip in certain cities.

[Zceiv]

I know my sister works at a taco bell and she's payed below minimum wage And She cleans and takes orders

Is she also tipped? If not, she should call state immediately.

Well she been working there for about a month I think she received one tip...

Most fast food restaurants I have seen are paying salaries above minimum wage because of a shortage of workers. I am surprised Taco Bell is paying a salary that low, and considering the fact they are a nationwide outfit, it would seem that they would know they would have to comply with federal law.

Ya the reason my sister doesnt speak up is mainly because she worked at some other places which were really rude. And this taco bell is really kind to her so she's willing to lose 40 cents per hour. I think the the minimum wage here is 7.20 and she get paid 6.80.