Wage slaves

 

Unless we own our company we are all wage slaves subject to the whims of our masters. Okay, some of us are well-paid slaves, but we are still hampered by the corporations we work for. We can say we sell our talents and skills to the highest bidder, and if we don't like it, we can change jobs.

Not so fast. 

We are still limited. The new employer will ask what we want for salaries. They may be thinking $100,000 but even if you have all the skills they need but you were making $80,000 most offers would be well under the $100,000. There is a good chance that the boost offered would be higher than your wage progression in your current company.

What do you do? Take the job with the higher salary, knowing if you want another salary leap, you may have to change jobs again. 

On a lower level think of the poor employees at Frito-Lay in Topeka 500+ of whom are on strike. Wages have been relative stagnant and have not kept up with cost of living changes. Although paid overtime, some employees are forced to work overtime up to seven days.  Yes they may make money, but time off is necessary for health and well being. A wage slave doesn't have a choice.

The company has paid lump sum amount in place of raises in the past.

More than once a company has been bought out or moved overseas. Top management does well, lower employees to middle management suddenly find themselves out of a job with little back up.

President Biden just signed an executive order doing away with non-compete requirements. Tens of millions of Americans cannot legally work in a similar company if let go or quit. Now they can. This is progress.

Ideally I think of business as a three-legged stool. One leg is capital, one is employees and the third is customers. The seat could be the marketplace. Without any one of the legs, the stool cannot serve the marketplace. All three legs need to be cared for and treated fairly.