McDonald’s Just Changed Its Mind About Minimum Wage

Back when I was a kid, it was taboo to talk about wages. When I finally started working at the age of 16, I was more than happy with the minimum wage. And, that’s because that money went straight to stores like FYE and Sam Goody, with a little bit leftover for college savings. I was lucky enough to live with my parents and have a roof over my head, so the amount on the check wasn’t life or death. But for some people out there, that’s all they have — and McDonald’s is trying to make things better.

As you’ve probably heard, McDonald’s employees have been fighting for higher wages. For them, $15 an hour seems reasonable. People who view them as nothing more than burger flippers have been pretty vocal on why that amount seems a little ridiculous, but truth be told, even that would be a wage that’s hard to survive on in a single-income household.

The fight started back in 2015. But now, instead of rallying against those looking to expand their paychecks, it seems like McDonald’s is backing down. According to Politico, the old minimum wage for hourly labor was $7.25. But after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said they’d be open to changing that around and making it higher, McDonald’s seemed to be on board.

That said, it likely won’t go up to $15. That’s a huge jump. But it’s better than nothing.

In a big boost to the Fight for $15, McDonald's say it will no longer fight against minimum wage increases at the federal, state or local level.https://t.co/PIwlfAHrBl

— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) March 27, 2019

Most people are happy over the fact that it’ll be easier for McDonald’s employees to pay their bills. Happier employees are also a little more serious about their work.

This isn't generosity. It's surrender.

Huge props to @fightfor15 and the fast food workers who kept up the pressure and made this happen.

Next up: No union-busting either. #1u https://t.co/Vf8B6d1KY5

— RWDSU (@RWDSU) March 27, 2019

However, a lot of people are noticing a few interesting changes. For one, just the other day it was announced that McDonald’s was acquiring a technology company that’ll help increase sales.

And if you’ve been in a McDonald’s within the past few years, you’ll probably see a bunch of ordering kiosks. When customers can order digitally, it lessens the need for cashiers. They’ve also been pushing their app, which allows customers to order through their phone.

This is very similar to E-Z Pass. If you take a lot of road trips, E-Z Pass is almost mandatory to have in your car.

But as it got more popular, actual tollbooth employees lessened. They’re still around, as some people don’t trust technology mixing with their finances, but there’s less of a need.

So, yes — McDonald’s can definitely afford to pay employees more money if they have less employees on their payroll.

Is it a step in the right direction? Sure, robots are going to take over a bunch of jobs in the future, but it doesn’t mean that humans won’t be important in aiding the process along. Especially since there’s a lot of stuff happening all at once when you place that order.

“By sticking together and taking action on the job, courageous workers in the Fight for $15 and a Union have forced McDonald’s — the second-biggest employer in the world — to drop its relentless opposition to higher pay,” SEIU President Mary Kay Henry wrote in a statement, according to Politico.

The reason McDonalds stopped fighting the increase to $15/hr because they're just going to get rid of cashiers and automate orders.

The reality is a cashier is not worth $15/hr. Kiosks cost... https://t.co/XdcxduX8an

— Stephen Courson (@LandofAzzaria) March 27, 2019

It’s sad to think that McDonald’s may not be making this move in the better interest of their employees. But if they’re planning on someday using technology in most of their locations, it does make sense.

But it’s important to know that rolling out those functions in all of those locations will take a long time. So, actual employees may still be able to feel a financial boost if all goes well.

Minimum wage sucks from my prior experience, i couldn't even rent a place around here if i made $15/hr. 😕

— c1c2c3c4c (@c1c2c3c4c) March 27, 2019

There are a lot of benefits to having a kiosk around. For one, you can ensure your order is correct. You can also get to check out the full McDonald’s menu without having to squint in line at the menu above the counter.

But even though we as people value a fast experience and sometimes (let’s be honest) don’t want to deal with the human interaction of placing an order, something would be missing if cashiers weren’t around.

Cashiers help give personality to the franchise in a way a machine just can’t.

Politico also mentioned that McDonald’s stated that many of their corporate-owned locations had a starting minimum wage of $10, which is slightly better but still hard to live on. They also believe that many of their locations that are franchised out have a starting rate that’s similar. Really, it all depends on location.

Even if they’re only looking out for themselves, it’s important for the fast food giant to recognize that their employees should be treated better. Some of the most highly regarded companies out there are successful because they stand by their employees and want them to thrive.

No matter what, it’s apparent that McDonald’s is thinking hard about how to be sustainable in the future.

Aside from the kiosks and acquiring the data company Dynamic Yield, they’ve also been changing up their menus to offer healthier, family-friendly meals.

It’s pretty amazing to see how far they’ve come.

Even if the McDonald’s experience is completely different than the way it is today, it’s a guarantee they’ll still find a lot of success with their innovative thinking.