The debate surrounding the cost of living and wages in the United States has once again come into the spotlight.
\nDiscussions on the matter have been spanning across news outlets, social media platforms, and even podcasts.
\nRecently, Fox News host Jesse Watters stirred controversy during an appearance on the PBD podcast with Patrick Bet-David while promoting his new book.
\nWatters sparked outrage online with his comments regarding the wages of fast-food workers.
\nJesse Watters\u2019 insensitive comment
\nOne particular statement of his raised eyebrows, when he said: \u201cIf you\u2019re making $20 an hour to work in a fast-food restaurant, is that six figures?\u201d<\/p>\n
This remark left many questioning Watters\u2019 grasp of basic arithmetic and his connection to the realities faced by hourly wage earners.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re very good at math, so see if you can do this in your head. You probably can. If you\u2019re making $20 an hour to work at a fast food restaurant, alright,\u201d Watters stated, \u201cIs that six figures? Are you making six figures?\u201d<\/p>\n
At which point, Bet-David said: \u201cNo, no, $40,000 a year.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Watters continued, adding: \u201cSo, if your husband or wife is also there, you\u2019re making $100,000 as a family. Both working at McDonald\u2019s.\u201d
\nHe continued: \u201cOK, that\u2019s crazy. That is crazy. Because that job really doesn\u2019t require much. So, it\u2019s inflating the entire, you know, labor sector and the Happy Meal.\u201d
\nNetizens watching the video were fuming, with one person calling Watters a \u201cwaste of skin\u201d for his comments on fast-food workers.<\/p>\n
Another person chimed in with: \u201cHe couldn\u2019t make his point with one person working at McDonald\u2019s, earning an inadequate $40K a year, so he had to change it to a two income family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Someone else wrote: \u201cHis job doesn\u2019t require much and he gets paid a crazy amount. So he would know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fast-food industry wages
\nThe conversation between Watters and Patrick Bet-David on the podcast shed light on the discrepancy in wages within the fast-food industry. While Watters suggested that $20 an hour was the norm, the reality is far from that \u2013 with wages for fast-food workers ranging from $12 to $20 per hour. Of course, these wages are dependent on factors such as location, experience, and job position.<\/p>\n
In a move to address wage disparities, California implemented a minimum wage law on April 1st of this year, setting the minimum salary for fast-food workers at $20 an hour, CNN reported.
\nThe co-chair of the Labor Center at the University of California, Berkeley, Ken Jacobs, told ABC News in a recent interview that this wage increase is now the new benchmark. \u201cWe went through the Fight for $15 and now $20 is out there as a new target wage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This long-awaited legislation has been hailed as a significant step towards ensuring fair compensation for workers in the fast-food sector. However, concerns have been raised about the potential repercussions of this law on non-fast-food franchise owners, who fear workforce shortages and operational challenges.
\nCritics have also taken aim at Watters\u2019 suggestion that working in fast-food chains \u201creally doesn\u2019t require much,\u201d and that, according to him, \u201cIt\u2019s inflating the labor sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
These comments are reflective of a broader societal stigma surrounding fast-food work, overlooking the physical demands and challenging conditions that employees in places like McDonald\u2019s face on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
Working in a fast-food restaurant entails more than just taking orders and serving food. It requires stamina, multitasking abilities, and the patience to deal with demanding customers. Despite the challenges, fast-food workers often find themselves on the receiving end of disrespect and ridicule, both in-person and online.<\/p>\n
The COVID pandemic further highlighted the essential role played by fast-food workers, who continued to serve their communities amid unprecedented challenges. Yet, their contributions are often undervalued and overshadowed by stereotypes and misconceptions.<\/p>\n
What do you think of Jesse Watters\u2019 comments on fast-food workers? Let us know in the comments!<\/p>\n