Exploitation of the Dumb

[DanielXY]

So we have this dumb teenager coming over to the supermarket where I work regulary. He asked a couple of times if he can get some cents free, when he again had not enough money on him. Its not that he trys to cheat us. He just cant count or read. He has some mental illness. You couldnt hold a normal conversation with him. Dont know the right english word so I describe it as dumb...
Of course we dont give a single cent for free. My boss someday thought it would be a good idea to give him a small job. He has to go out on the parking lot to clean the garbage (takes him about 1h) in return he gets a pack of chips or a coke (about 50cents worth).
He agreed to it... but oh well he isnt really an economic mastermind. I mean he cant even count money! (he always gives me all the money he has on him, when he buys something, and looks at every cent he gets back as a surprise packet, asking what he could buy from that, and runs of to get it.)

So dunno. What do you think where this goes on the moral scale? Is it one nice example of the usuall and all so healthy common capitalist practice? Or is it evil exploitation?
My boss thinks it is pretty funny....

[MrFun]

That boss is one mean fvcker.

[JohnT]

Nothing wrong with giving him the occasional task here or there, but your boss really should pay him more than a bag of chips and soda. I also suspect that the authorities (both the government and your bosses boss) would frown on such a thing - I know here in the US they would: they don't call it a "minimum wage" for nothing.

[Ming]

Exploitation... no... The fact that you and your boss probably find it funny... sick and disgusting.

The sad part is... while your boss thinks it a joke, it probably means a lot to the poor kid. He has a chance to do what he probably thinks is a real job... and get paid for it. Even though it amounts to only 50 cents an hour... It probably means a great deal to the kid. Kids like that don't get many chances to do "something"... and he's probably very proud that he has a "job".

So cut the kid some slack...

[JohnT]

Precisely, Ming.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Ming
Exploitation... no... The fact that you and your boss probably find it funny... sick and disgusting.

The sad part is... while your boss thinks it a joke, it probably means a lot to the poor kid. He has a chance to do what he probably thinks is a real job... and get paid for it. Even though it amounts to only 50 cents an hour... It probably means a great deal to the kid. Kids like that don't get many chances to do "something"... and he's probably very proud that he has a "job".

So cut the kid some slack...

I don't find this funny in the least -- I think it is exploitation.

[JohnT]

MrFun, you're missing the point. From our perspective the boss is being exploitive, but from the kids perspective he's performing a valuable service and doing something worthwhile.

It really depends upon the attitudes and the motives of the people who give the job, and not the job itself.

[Ming]

I've worked with "disadvantaged" young adults. It's very important to them to be able to "do something". It takes away a lot of their frustrations... and gives them a feeling of self worth. Something that is VERY IMPORTANT to them. Granted, as JT says... some might view it as unfair, and that he should be paid a minimum wage... but we all know if that was the case, the kid wouldn't have a "job"... so yeah, unfair... but in my opinion... a GREAT THING for the kid. I would hope nobody would step in to "protect his rights" and in reality, screw him.

Let the kid work for an hour a day for a drink and chips.
Make him feel useful... Make his day.

[Solly]

Correct Ming.

[DanielXY]

I though about it as evil exploitation, too. But the kid is indeed happy that he can do something. Exactly like Ming describes. So when I talked about it with the boss, I asked him why he wouldnt give him a bit more of a wage... (being fair and all)
He basicly replied, the kid gets what the work is worth to my boss. Sure he would have to send some of our workers out to do it, but you can always find a timeframe where someone is not occupied at the moment (depending on costumer-rushs). A normal worker also does it in only 15mins. When I think the kid deserves more money Im always free to give him some of my own money... (grins and laughs about my concern for the poor kid)

hmmm....

[Verres]

As much as it pains me to say this...I agree, Ming I reckon the boss probably is exploiting this kid...but maybe it is just the fact that he treats it as a joke that makes me feel this way towards him.

[General Ludd]

Why would he be unable to do that at minimum wage? If it only takes him an hour to clean the parking lot, it's not like he's going to be making a 5 digit income.

It is exploitation, that the kid doesn't think so is the entire point, otherwise it wouldn't be exploitation.

[Solly]

Yay, we just earned our 50 cents for the day

[Verres]

Hmmm...i'm inclined to agree, Osweld (this really is not like me. I cant stand not arguing with you all!). The whole exploitation issue is a difficult one. Yes, the fact the boy does not see anything unfair in his treatment is the reason the boss is able to exploit him, and he should be entitled to the same minimum wage as everybody else. However, if this is a job which would normally be done by another member of staff for no extra money (and in 1/4 of the time) then perhaps this man is in fact doing him a favour by employing him at all.

[David Floyd]

I agree with Ming. There's nothing wrong with letting the kid pick up trash for an hour and giving him some chips and a coke that he couldn't have otherwise afforded.