Here’s The Reason Why So Many Companies Are Looking To Employ, But No One Really Wants To Work There, As Shared By This TikToker Online
InterviewThese recent times were not easy for all. Especially for those who lost their jobs and were left to face the unknown. It seems that this gave people time to think more about what they can do, how to get out of tough financial situations and understand whether they were provided with fair working conditions. Bored Panda has already covered some stories related to why some working places are struggling to find employees.
More Info: TikTok
A TikTok user created a video talking about why businesses are struggling to find workers
Image credits: j.dkon
TikTok user @pizam2000 addressed the headlines of news media outlets that show businesses struggling to find employers following the narrative of keeping the minimum wage low and stating that people are milking the welfare system. Even though there is a distinct division between businesses that don’t want to change some of the working conditions and people who don’t want to be exploited for the minimum wage, this could be not the only reason why there is a labor shortage.
Image credits: j.dkon
TikToker @j.dkon suggested a different point of view to this. When things became unclear, people were set free from their workplaces and did not get any benefits from the government, so the only way for them was to think of some other ways to make money. Some of them started creating small businesses or working as freelancers, giving things that were previously only a hobby for them a try. The TikTok creator admits that it is not easy to do this and make something out of it; however, even though people are struggling and working more, at least they’re doing this for themselves and they simply don’t want to go back to work for someone else. People are still working hard for things, but at least they see some improvement in their life.
Another TikTok user also commented on the situation, sharing his own beliefs of why the labor shortage occurred
Image credits: j.dkon
The video gained a lot of attention, receiving 271.3k views and 33k likes. Users in the comments agreed that this is the case as people finally understand their worth, the importance of their mental and physical health. Once again, people stressed things that businesses do and in this way abuse their employees. Small wages and constant confrontation with clients were only a few of them. It was time to take the advice of the “if you don’t like your job, then leave” mantra and make some new decisions.
Bored Panda contacted @j.dkon to ask him a few questions on the matter. He was surprised to see his video gain so much attention. He also stated that “Being able to speak with so many people about an important topic is the main reason I create this kind of content. If it can help even one person in their journey for a better understanding, it’s worth it.”
Since a lot of people are now thinking about doing and creating something on their own rather than getting back to working for big companies and businesses, @j.dkon was asked whether he can personally relate to this situation. He agreed that this situation is relatable and provided a few examples of companies that use their workers to an extent where they risk their mental and physical health, making modern slavery today’s reality: “it’s sickening to think this is where we are now, almost a modern-day serfdom.”
What can people expect in the future? Does it mean that everyone will become entrepreneurs or self-employed workers? Is labor shortage just a temporary setback? According to the TikTok user, “we’re entering a ‘new normal’ when it comes to labor and what individuals are willing to put up with.” He stated that during the tough times, when the pandemic hit, the government failed to help its citizen, so people had to think of how to get out of the situation on their own. This helped to realize that they don’t need to bow to “giant conglomerates.”
Image credits: j.dkon
“We’re not ready to surrender the true economic freedom that we’ve tasted,” said the TikToker. He continued that “the labor shortage is the result of the atrocities that had been levied on workers for decades, and it’s going to continue until businesses get the message, or we have a full workers’ strike.” So it seems that now is the time people have started to fight for their rights and work the way that suits their personal needs best.
How do you find this situation? Did you experience something similar? Leave your thoughts in the comments down below!
See the full video down below!
@j.dkon#stitch with @pizam2000 our workforce needs to change and the economy is going to evolve♬ Thirst (Eat the Rich) – Lil Guillotine
Here is what other users of TikTok had to say on the matter
70Kviews
Share on FacebookI am one of the people mentioned above. My mental health and happiness have improved so much, even though I am making a fraction of what I was. I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring all my options, and my second book is coming out on Tuesday :-).
Pay a living wage, guarantee hours, offer health insurance, have the employee's back. Then you'll have employees.
When you are working really long hours on barely survivable wages, you can't look for another job. You can't call out to go on an interview. You don't have the time to look up school programs and apply for scholarships or financial aid. Then you get laid off from your crappy job. You get a rest, some unemployment benefits, and the opportunity to find a better job so you do.
I had younger family members working for retail positions. They only got their schedule once a week and it changed from week to week. One day they'd be on opening and then the next day they'd be on closing and then the day after that they'd be back to opening. There was no regard for sleep schedules. Nobody got 40 hours worth of work, but nobody could go look for another part-time job to make ends meet either. Once these folks had money that would pay the bills without them having to kill themselves, they realized they could look for better options. And they did. Meanwhile the same employers are promoting the narrative that nobody wants to come back to work because they've been on "welfare."
I hear that from so many people I know, who say businesses are hurting for workers because people are lazy and want to live off welfare, and that getting rid of welfare altogether would solve everything by forcing people back to those crummy jobs. Or you know, maybe they spent the pandemic bettering themselves and found work elsewhere, and that's why.
Load More Replies...Agree with everything except his last line “people are not ready to go back to drowning away in a corporate office.” Trust and believe, the corporate office people are NOT the ones even being discussed. It’s the service industry workers and minimum wage workers. Not office people who were able to keep their jobs and work from home.
Agreed but office workers also realized that going to the office was worthless. A lot of companies decided to make their work from home positions permanent. I think covid revolutionized work for many people.
Load More Replies...It's serfdom under the banner of capitalism. While all the working classes did ridiculous hours for peanuts the 1% made crazy profits, so crazy that even a pandemic didn't slow them down. They can try to colour it up anyway they like but nobody is buying their spin anymore, enough is enough.
Well, there you have it. Who would walk away from mental health and a feeling of fulfilment?
There is no labor shortage. There is a wage shortage. There is a decent working condition shortage. Pay people living wages, create healthy work environments, and people will come work for you.
The McDonalds example is also weak --- they report you if you don't take the offer, so you lose whatever benefits you had... So they (probably!) don't guarantee you an amount of hours and various other issues, so you can't really risk going there to find out.
Load More Replies...It's about time corporations are being blasted for the way they treat employees like slaves and have the stupid people brainwashed into thinking people are lesser than bc they have to work these jobs
Companies were used to paying minimum wage by taking advantage of young kids working for pocket money. The idea is, I can pay them peanuts because it’s just pocket money. And most kids were ok with it.
Load More Replies...If your business can't survive without paying minimum wage, you shouldn't be in business. If your business can't afford to offer benefits, get behind the single payer system. Or go out of business. I hope everyone remembers the value they offer. I want the truth that the biggest welfare recipients are the wealthy and the corporations that underpay their employees to be ingrained in the working class. Ideally we could get to the point where the rich can't get what they want because no one will serve them (I know it's fantasy, but a boy can dream). I hope people remember that they don't need a lot of stuff and that they have more power than they realize. A national strike on low paying jobs would crush those businesses that fail to adapt and serve as a lesson to future businesses that the post-Reagan world where everything benefits the top is evil, wrong, and will not be tolerated.
So ma many of these places that can't fill their openings have really lousy managers. They all have to learn how to treat their workers better, how to improve the quality of the work environment, how to make more humane schedules, etc.
I've worked through the pandemic at a call center type job while my daughter didn't. Her mental health improved where mine had gotten worse. Entitlement, rudeness, and just nastiness from people is getting much worse.
Right now, if you're working at one of those places that responded to the "shortage" by working their employees harder, this is the best time to look for another job where you'll be paid more or treated better or both.
Absolutely, I saw that and cringed, so hard.
Load More Replies...One thing the pandemic did for the overworked-working class was give them time to think, which is something no one had time to do pre-pandemic.
So many states have unemployment and assistance programs that are 100% go/no go. If you work for one hour a week, all your benefits go away. But employers won't guarantee enough hours right off to make working at the wages they offer worth it. Most of the states decrying the worker shortage could go a long way in solving the problem if they were more progressive in their assistance programs.
Its even worse than that. In some states, if you go to an interview then decide not to take the job, you lose all your benefits. So McDonald's and other companies offering $50 per interview? They report that you interviewed to the unemployment offices, and if you don't accept working for them at minimum wage, no benefits and poor working conditions, they have your unemployment cut off.
Load More Replies...Got laid off (big corporate) at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Best thing that ever happened to me. Stress level went from a 99 to a 2 and I'm finally able to freelance full time 100% remote, which means I can move back to my hometown where all my family and friends live.
I used to teach until the beaded jewelry I made sold enough at crafts fairs on the weekend to be my salary for a month and my baby didn't have to go to daycare
I've been working the same job for 5.5 years now an I'm depressed, gained a lot of weight, my feet and back are wrecked. I do machinery finishing aka sandblasting in cabinets. So I stand in one spot for mostly 8 hrs a day. No raise. Work through plague but not "essential". Boss isn't keeping our ppe up because the N95 masks went to hpts an he never restocked after they were available again. Blue face masks are not comparable to the work masks for the environment I'm in. Coworkers just barely do work. I work non stop. I'm tired. I want to leave. I'd flip burgers but I've done that. I'd do retail but I've done that. I like challenging work. I don't have enough saved to leave or cover ins. So do I start my own company doing what I like an be my own boss. Highly considering.
The reason people don't want to work in hospitality is because employers for years got away with not paying a fair wage.
It is amazing that so many businesses are willing to cut back their operating hours and consequently reduce their business/profits, rather than pay good wages. Unfortunately, I know that many small franchise owners are, with franchise fees, royalties, etc., are caught between a financial rock and a hard place.
My employer came through for us after a hard 2020. No increases, but all jobs were kept. This year they made good on their promises. Month 16, still working from home on full salary
They seem to ignore the fact that there were a lot of Baby Boomers who were around the normal retirement age during lockdown. Not working, working too much, or working limited hours were the impetus for a lot of people to just retire. Sooner or later we were going to have some labor issues because of the Boomers retiring. In this case we just got a bunch of them retiring all at once. Obviously the other issues are also at play. It's the combination of everything that is making it a labor market. Plenty of businesses and corporations are trying their hardest to avoid cutting their profits instead of just sucking it up and paying labor what they should have been paying them for a long time.
How about (at least in retail and service industries) you start by putting customers in their proper place. The customer is NOT always right and the customer NEVER has a right to be rude to or harass your employees. You should have a very blunt and direct get out and never come back policy for those people.
When I was growing up, fast food drive ins were just starting to come into fashion. Only teenagers worked the shifts after school hours. Just for extra money. They weren't working to raise a family or rent or own homes. Now all the workers are full time adults that need more money. I don't know why or when the change came about. OR WHY!
The author, a TikTokker is telling them what everybody already knew for ages... People should have started caring about working for almost nothing years ago but I guess it's not them complaining now but the lazy ones that are better of missing their services. And selling crap on Etsy, Twitch and becoming an artist won't actually pay your bills when no-one can afford it. Twitch and TikTok are even more of the 'please look at me social media crap'
Or, the liberal government kept things closed for SO long, that people took their unemployment, and kept taking it even when things opened up...now, they don't want to work because Dementia Pedo Beijing Burden just keeps spending working people's money on them...hmmm
Hmm I don’t see him citing any actual statistics to back his viewpoint. We can have a quick look before it’s beauty disappears like frost in the trees in the first rays of dawn: labor reaching its actual market value. But right now the army of the Professional Managerial Class is valiantly re-rigging the system on favor of the Ownership Class, because they deserve those nice cars and high-end groceries more than you schlubs need affordable housing and healthcare.
The bad part is that effects small businesses as well. The small businesses can't compete with big business so what employees you do have you have to hang on to.
I own a small business pay my employees 20$ and hr w benefits. Been open 15 yrs most of my employees have been w me since the start. Did well during the pandemic too. I have competitive prices too. I just don't take a huge salary at the end of every season I pay me debt.
Load More Replies...Don't know about other places, but in the UK it's laziness and fear. The government has wasted billions paying people to stay at home, and now they've got used to it and don't want to go back to work. They'll wake up when it all stops. Making things worse is the government propaganda that's made people believe that contact with anyone could result in death so people don't want to be part of busy work places again. Looking forward to the independent investigation of this whole mess!!
Ah yes, the idiot reply. Blame the workers because they must be lazy. True idiot in life is Neil Bidle. Either you are an aged pensioner and doesn't have to worry about money next week, or you have job security. Or you are just an idiot. My guess, you are an idiot.
Load More Replies...Yes it's actually happening. You're witnessing it w your own eyes and whether you like it or not tiktok is a great place for information it's not only teenagers. The world is changing. Mediums change w every generation. Idk how you're going to survive the next ten years things are going to change very fast.
Load More Replies...It's important not to dismiss information just because you're too snobby for the platform.
Load More Replies...Says the person commenting on BoredPanda. The mddia that someone uses to convey their message is irrelevant unless you're a snob.
Load More Replies...Way to miss the point. In general people *want* to work and to contribute to sociey, but the American system is so rigged against the worker that a worker's life is borderline unliveable.
Load More Replies...I am one of the people mentioned above. My mental health and happiness have improved so much, even though I am making a fraction of what I was. I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring all my options, and my second book is coming out on Tuesday :-).
Pay a living wage, guarantee hours, offer health insurance, have the employee's back. Then you'll have employees.
When you are working really long hours on barely survivable wages, you can't look for another job. You can't call out to go on an interview. You don't have the time to look up school programs and apply for scholarships or financial aid. Then you get laid off from your crappy job. You get a rest, some unemployment benefits, and the opportunity to find a better job so you do.
I had younger family members working for retail positions. They only got their schedule once a week and it changed from week to week. One day they'd be on opening and then the next day they'd be on closing and then the day after that they'd be back to opening. There was no regard for sleep schedules. Nobody got 40 hours worth of work, but nobody could go look for another part-time job to make ends meet either. Once these folks had money that would pay the bills without them having to kill themselves, they realized they could look for better options. And they did. Meanwhile the same employers are promoting the narrative that nobody wants to come back to work because they've been on "welfare."
I hear that from so many people I know, who say businesses are hurting for workers because people are lazy and want to live off welfare, and that getting rid of welfare altogether would solve everything by forcing people back to those crummy jobs. Or you know, maybe they spent the pandemic bettering themselves and found work elsewhere, and that's why.
Load More Replies...Agree with everything except his last line “people are not ready to go back to drowning away in a corporate office.” Trust and believe, the corporate office people are NOT the ones even being discussed. It’s the service industry workers and minimum wage workers. Not office people who were able to keep their jobs and work from home.
Agreed but office workers also realized that going to the office was worthless. A lot of companies decided to make their work from home positions permanent. I think covid revolutionized work for many people.
Load More Replies...It's serfdom under the banner of capitalism. While all the working classes did ridiculous hours for peanuts the 1% made crazy profits, so crazy that even a pandemic didn't slow them down. They can try to colour it up anyway they like but nobody is buying their spin anymore, enough is enough.
Well, there you have it. Who would walk away from mental health and a feeling of fulfilment?
There is no labor shortage. There is a wage shortage. There is a decent working condition shortage. Pay people living wages, create healthy work environments, and people will come work for you.
The McDonalds example is also weak --- they report you if you don't take the offer, so you lose whatever benefits you had... So they (probably!) don't guarantee you an amount of hours and various other issues, so you can't really risk going there to find out.
Load More Replies...It's about time corporations are being blasted for the way they treat employees like slaves and have the stupid people brainwashed into thinking people are lesser than bc they have to work these jobs
Companies were used to paying minimum wage by taking advantage of young kids working for pocket money. The idea is, I can pay them peanuts because it’s just pocket money. And most kids were ok with it.
Load More Replies...If your business can't survive without paying minimum wage, you shouldn't be in business. If your business can't afford to offer benefits, get behind the single payer system. Or go out of business. I hope everyone remembers the value they offer. I want the truth that the biggest welfare recipients are the wealthy and the corporations that underpay their employees to be ingrained in the working class. Ideally we could get to the point where the rich can't get what they want because no one will serve them (I know it's fantasy, but a boy can dream). I hope people remember that they don't need a lot of stuff and that they have more power than they realize. A national strike on low paying jobs would crush those businesses that fail to adapt and serve as a lesson to future businesses that the post-Reagan world where everything benefits the top is evil, wrong, and will not be tolerated.
So ma many of these places that can't fill their openings have really lousy managers. They all have to learn how to treat their workers better, how to improve the quality of the work environment, how to make more humane schedules, etc.
I've worked through the pandemic at a call center type job while my daughter didn't. Her mental health improved where mine had gotten worse. Entitlement, rudeness, and just nastiness from people is getting much worse.
Right now, if you're working at one of those places that responded to the "shortage" by working their employees harder, this is the best time to look for another job where you'll be paid more or treated better or both.
Absolutely, I saw that and cringed, so hard.
Load More Replies...One thing the pandemic did for the overworked-working class was give them time to think, which is something no one had time to do pre-pandemic.
So many states have unemployment and assistance programs that are 100% go/no go. If you work for one hour a week, all your benefits go away. But employers won't guarantee enough hours right off to make working at the wages they offer worth it. Most of the states decrying the worker shortage could go a long way in solving the problem if they were more progressive in their assistance programs.
Its even worse than that. In some states, if you go to an interview then decide not to take the job, you lose all your benefits. So McDonald's and other companies offering $50 per interview? They report that you interviewed to the unemployment offices, and if you don't accept working for them at minimum wage, no benefits and poor working conditions, they have your unemployment cut off.
Load More Replies...Got laid off (big corporate) at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Best thing that ever happened to me. Stress level went from a 99 to a 2 and I'm finally able to freelance full time 100% remote, which means I can move back to my hometown where all my family and friends live.
I used to teach until the beaded jewelry I made sold enough at crafts fairs on the weekend to be my salary for a month and my baby didn't have to go to daycare
I've been working the same job for 5.5 years now an I'm depressed, gained a lot of weight, my feet and back are wrecked. I do machinery finishing aka sandblasting in cabinets. So I stand in one spot for mostly 8 hrs a day. No raise. Work through plague but not "essential". Boss isn't keeping our ppe up because the N95 masks went to hpts an he never restocked after they were available again. Blue face masks are not comparable to the work masks for the environment I'm in. Coworkers just barely do work. I work non stop. I'm tired. I want to leave. I'd flip burgers but I've done that. I'd do retail but I've done that. I like challenging work. I don't have enough saved to leave or cover ins. So do I start my own company doing what I like an be my own boss. Highly considering.
The reason people don't want to work in hospitality is because employers for years got away with not paying a fair wage.
It is amazing that so many businesses are willing to cut back their operating hours and consequently reduce their business/profits, rather than pay good wages. Unfortunately, I know that many small franchise owners are, with franchise fees, royalties, etc., are caught between a financial rock and a hard place.
My employer came through for us after a hard 2020. No increases, but all jobs were kept. This year they made good on their promises. Month 16, still working from home on full salary
They seem to ignore the fact that there were a lot of Baby Boomers who were around the normal retirement age during lockdown. Not working, working too much, or working limited hours were the impetus for a lot of people to just retire. Sooner or later we were going to have some labor issues because of the Boomers retiring. In this case we just got a bunch of them retiring all at once. Obviously the other issues are also at play. It's the combination of everything that is making it a labor market. Plenty of businesses and corporations are trying their hardest to avoid cutting their profits instead of just sucking it up and paying labor what they should have been paying them for a long time.
How about (at least in retail and service industries) you start by putting customers in their proper place. The customer is NOT always right and the customer NEVER has a right to be rude to or harass your employees. You should have a very blunt and direct get out and never come back policy for those people.
When I was growing up, fast food drive ins were just starting to come into fashion. Only teenagers worked the shifts after school hours. Just for extra money. They weren't working to raise a family or rent or own homes. Now all the workers are full time adults that need more money. I don't know why or when the change came about. OR WHY!
The author, a TikTokker is telling them what everybody already knew for ages... People should have started caring about working for almost nothing years ago but I guess it's not them complaining now but the lazy ones that are better of missing their services. And selling crap on Etsy, Twitch and becoming an artist won't actually pay your bills when no-one can afford it. Twitch and TikTok are even more of the 'please look at me social media crap'
Or, the liberal government kept things closed for SO long, that people took their unemployment, and kept taking it even when things opened up...now, they don't want to work because Dementia Pedo Beijing Burden just keeps spending working people's money on them...hmmm
Hmm I don’t see him citing any actual statistics to back his viewpoint. We can have a quick look before it’s beauty disappears like frost in the trees in the first rays of dawn: labor reaching its actual market value. But right now the army of the Professional Managerial Class is valiantly re-rigging the system on favor of the Ownership Class, because they deserve those nice cars and high-end groceries more than you schlubs need affordable housing and healthcare.
The bad part is that effects small businesses as well. The small businesses can't compete with big business so what employees you do have you have to hang on to.
I own a small business pay my employees 20$ and hr w benefits. Been open 15 yrs most of my employees have been w me since the start. Did well during the pandemic too. I have competitive prices too. I just don't take a huge salary at the end of every season I pay me debt.
Load More Replies...Don't know about other places, but in the UK it's laziness and fear. The government has wasted billions paying people to stay at home, and now they've got used to it and don't want to go back to work. They'll wake up when it all stops. Making things worse is the government propaganda that's made people believe that contact with anyone could result in death so people don't want to be part of busy work places again. Looking forward to the independent investigation of this whole mess!!
Ah yes, the idiot reply. Blame the workers because they must be lazy. True idiot in life is Neil Bidle. Either you are an aged pensioner and doesn't have to worry about money next week, or you have job security. Or you are just an idiot. My guess, you are an idiot.
Load More Replies...Yes it's actually happening. You're witnessing it w your own eyes and whether you like it or not tiktok is a great place for information it's not only teenagers. The world is changing. Mediums change w every generation. Idk how you're going to survive the next ten years things are going to change very fast.
Load More Replies...It's important not to dismiss information just because you're too snobby for the platform.
Load More Replies...Says the person commenting on BoredPanda. The mddia that someone uses to convey their message is irrelevant unless you're a snob.
Load More Replies...Way to miss the point. In general people *want* to work and to contribute to sociey, but the American system is so rigged against the worker that a worker's life is borderline unliveable.
Load More Replies...
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