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Supermarkets make billions of pounds profit while paying staff minimal wages...


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Indeed it's not. But minimum wage = minimum motivation.

 

I doubt Tesco (or any other supermarket) care about whether a shelf stacker feels particularly motivated! Their business model is to get the product out of the box and onto the shelf a cheaply as possible. As already mentioned, someone will always be willing to do it.

 

That's what makes me laugh about people moaning about immigrants "taking" jobs (its a very tired argument), the jobs are their for the taking because some individual feel its their god given right to have more and will sit on the dole until it arrives - people need to wise up, get off their bums and make something for themselves!

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Yes the employers seem to think the minimum wage is compulsory.

Minimum means that the "least" you can pay employees but its not against the law to give a little bit more.

But it is against the law to give less and there are people on minimum wage who aren't worth it.

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I've said earlier that the model for a department store is completely different. You're not comparing like with like.

 

I wasn't making any comparisons - just pointing out that the profit sharing model works but greedy profiteers won't use it; and why should they when they see the govt. supports their avarice.

 

Shelf-stackers are essential to supermarkets in the same way that cleaners are to hospitals; it seems a bit crazy to me to pay the critical elements of your workforce the absolute minimum you can get away with.

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I wasn't making any comparisons - just pointing out that the profit sharing model works but greedy profiteers won't use it; and why should they when they see the govt. supports their avarice.

 

Shelf-stackers are essential to supermarkets in the same way that cleaners are to hospitals; it seems a bit crazy to me to pay the critical elements of your workforce the absolute minimum you can get away with.

 

Tescos have a very successful share scheme, as do Dixons and I imagine most of the big chains.

 

JL is different because they do not employ shelf stackers or cashiers as such. The interview process is fairly stringent and the staff are generally of a higher calibre than you get in most stores.

 

For the job that they do and the responsibilities they hold, JL staff are not well rewarded and the profit sharing doesn't really get anyone particularly excited either. In fact the only really good thing about working for JL was that the canteen was a cut above.

 

Shelf stackers aren't critical though. You'll never have any problems replacing the ones you have. Cashiers are a slightly different kettle of fish.

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Shelf stackers aren't critical though. You'll never have any problems replacing the ones you have. Cashiers are a slightly different kettle of fish.

 

Earlier you said of both ^^^ "You need someone honest, reliable, accurate, numerate, pleasant and capable of withstanding mind-numbing boredom."

 

If such people are so easy to find then the country isn't as far down the road to the dogs as some would have us believe.

 

But anyway I'll continue to maintain the minimum wage is thoroughly demeaning so long as the govt. acknowledge it is insufficient to support a single parent.

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With all due respect, £5 an hour is enough for a supermarket worker. I used to work in one, and although the labour can be quite demanding, pretty much anyone can do the work and therefore loads of people are available to take your job if you decide to quit.

 

That's the difference between specialised work and supermarket work - it's not about how demanding the work is but instead, how many people can do the job.

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Earlier you said of both ^^^ "You need someone honest, reliable, accurate, numerate, pleasant and capable of withstanding mind-numbing boredom."

 

 

Sorry, I was thinking about cashiers when I wrote that.

 

Shelf stackers don't need so much of each of the quoted attributes, though they are an advantage obviously.

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