Comments on: Chemical Reaction

By: excantare

excantare — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 12:51:18 +0000

@ tronner – the minimum wage in Australia for a teenager in fast food is around $15-18 depending on your age and the state you work in. After 21, it levels out at around $20-24 depending on the state and industry you’re in (fast food, real restaurants, book stores etc).

But people don’t really tip in Australia, so we don’t have that income. Although, at 20, in a bar I was getting $23 an hour PLUS tips, but I was lucky.

By: dori

dori — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:24:16 +0000

oh! I never knew that this post was getting this much action! Thanks insomnia!

By: tronner

tronner — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:40:21 +0000

@ Someone. Seriously, apply a second of thought. Your comment has absolutely nothing to do with what I asked. I never said it was American dollars. I merely asked what the minimum wage in Australia is. Moreover, it isn’t as if she was complaining she was paid five less Mexican Pesos per hour than what minimum wage requires; the Au dollar and the US dollar are trading about 1:1 right now (and the Au dollar has been stronger in the recent past), so the impact of $5.00 less per hour translates pretty well.

By: Someone

Someone — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:33:55 +0000

@tronner, seriously, apply a second of thought. OP clearly says she’s Australian, hence $ is more than likely Australian dollars and not American dollars.

Story of a MVW comment thread
1. Perhaps an amusing comment
2. Brutal slating of OP
3. Self-righteous defending of OP
4. Pointless argument semi related to the original issue with a few trolls thrown into the mix.

Do not feed the trolls, people. Ignore them.

By: Claire

Claire — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 22:20:00 +0000

@ the OP; if you pursue legal action and there are video tapes, couldn’t your law enforcement officials get a warrant to view them? I’m not sure how it works in Australia, and even in the US, one person’s word would probably be insufficient for a warrant, but I’m sure there were others who were mistreated at this job as well.

By: Yan

Yan — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 14:23:29 +0000

Those who say “I don’t understand how people would put up with it!” or “I would never work fast food” have obviously not had to choose between working at a fast food joint and being penniless.

Get off your high horses, y’all.

By: Jonas

Jonas — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 01:45:04 +0000

OMG Ted is my absolute favourite commenter because he says the exact things I’m thinking. I don’t get why so many people tolerate jobs like this?! Thank you, Ted, for making me realize I’m not crazy for getting annoyed by hearing these same stories of people allowing themselves to be doormats.

By: Xan

Xan — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:54:29 +0000

If you’re not going to sue you should at least report it. People who never speak up are the reason this sort of thing continues. Other employees there are being abused in the same way, and you’re allowing it to happen by not doing anything.

By: tronner

tronner — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:22:57 +0000

Not trying to be a grammar snob but were you paid $5.00, which happened to be below the minimum wage, or $5.00 below the minimum wage? If it’s the latter, what the hell is the minimum wage in Australia?

By: JChief

JChief — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:00:30 +0000

Surreal:

As much as I despised the people who lorded over me, I can’t honestly say that they did anything illegal. But one can be perfectly legal and be a flaming asshole at the same time.

What I would tell kids these days is to stay the f*ck away from fast food joints. They’re always hiring because people are constantly jumping ship. The lowest level I would advise is a chain restaurant. They’re a pain in the ass, but you can learn skills and then apply to a REAL restaurant (an independent).

Be a dish washer. Believe it or not, I found that job more fun than being a prep cook, which is a step up from that. And you can hit on the waitresses. It’s actually part of the dish washer’s job.