Inside the low wage economy..

[Mister M]

We hear from the Conservative politicians that there are more people in work in Britain today than ever before, however many of them have found themselves in low paid, 0 hours and temporary work. 1 in 5 adults is now officially classed as low waged, and over half the working population earn less than £20,000, and many of those are well below that figure.

 

None of this surprises me, I've been saying it for a long time, but even I have been shocked at what it actually means to be in this kind of work. I have had my eyes opened watching a TV programme called 'Britain's hardest workers; inside the low wage economy,' (BBC2 7.0pm all this week.)

 

It's dressed up as a kind of elimination game show, but the reality is truly awful. Slave labour springs to mind. I urge everyone to watch it (and catch the important first 2 programmes on iplayer. There's also another programme following it on Wednesday at 8.0pm called 'Can Britain afford a pay rise' just to throw something else into the mix.) If ever anyone thought that low waged people are feckless, lazy, and lacking in drive, they have to see this. I just wish a few politicians would watch it as well.

 

It seems this is the way work is going to be from now on - unless we do something about it.

 

Thanks for the 'heads up', I didn't know this was on telly.

 

For a couple of years I was a social care worker with a variety of different client groups (elderly, learning disabled), and it doesn't surprise me about the nature of low paid work. Sometimes it's gruelling - not necessarily the personal care aspect of the job, which people wrinkle their noses at; but the emotional impact of doing such work. Dealing with client's mental health difficulties, and loneliness was knackering. I think it's the unseen parts of the work which are difficult - partly because it's unrecognised, and partly because people look down on it with the attitude that 'anyone can do it because it's low paid'. Particularly by my employers

I disagree. It requires a high level of interpersonal skills, tenacity and insight. I'm glad I no longer do that job as I ended up completely burnt out.

 

---------- Post added 24-08-2016 at 11:55 ----------

 

Why? Cyclone and myself earn above the average wage. What do we care about the poor? Walked 18 miles you say? What ho, the feckless oaf ought to buy a bicycle!

 

Well there is such a thing as empathy

[Love2print]

He could have got a taxi like the 2 women in front of him did...

 

Do you know how much Taxis cost? When I worked for minimum wage if I had paid for a taxi it wouldn't have been worth working.

[Santo]

Thanks for the 'heads up', I didn't know this was on telly.

 

For a couple of years I was a social care worker with a variety of different client groups (elderly, learning disabled), and it doesn't surprise me about the nature of low paid work. Sometimes it's gruelling - not necessarily the personal care aspect of the job, which people wrinkle their noses at; but the emotional impact of doing such work. Dealing with client's mental health difficulties, and loneliness was knackering. I think it's the unseen parts of the work which are difficult - partly because it's unrecognised, and partly because people look down on it with the attitude that 'anyone can do it because it's low paid'. Particularly by my employers

I disagree. It requires a high level of interpersonal skills, tenacity and insight. I'm glad I no longer do that job as I ended up completely burnt out.

 

---------- Post added 24-08-2016 at 11:55 ----------

 

 

Well there is such a thing as empathy

 

Empathy is for the weak!!

 

(I'm being sarcastic by the way, based on what Anna wrote which you just quoted)

[truman]

Do you know how much Taxis cost? When I worked for minimum wage if I had paid for a taxi it wouldn't have been worth working.

 

The two women in front of him in the queue managed it.. it was for the one day only..did you watch the programme?

[Cyclone]

Why? Cyclone and myself earn above the average wage. What do we care about the poor? Walked 18 miles you say? What ho, the feckless oaf ought to buy a bicycle!

 

I care about income inequality and general living standards. Countries with higher income disparity are typically less happy and healthy.

 

I'm sure the TV program is edited to shock though, it will obviously show the worst cases it can find (and depending on the channel it might not be beyond making a few up if it can't find them). It's not necessarily representative of any real problem.

 

---------- Post added 24-08-2016 at 12:23 ----------

 

The IFS have produced quite a useful tool for the distribution of income & where people fit in:

https://www.ifs.org.uk/wheredoyoufitin/

 

Why does it make a deduction for council tax but nothing else? Isn't that a bit weird?

 

Surely if you're going to take out costs then water, gas and electricity are just as unavoidable as CT... What about rent/mortgage? How about transport costs to work?

It seems very arbitrary to subtract CT and nothing else...

[samssong]

And in reality the poor today are much better off than the poor (or the rich) in the past.

The standard of living, even for the 50% earning below 22k is the highest it's ever been.

 

I don't think that earning less than the median immediately qualifies someone as poor anyway, otherwise 50% of the population will always be poor, no matter how well off they are.

 

But in the UK even the poor have most likely got a mobile phone, and a TV and multiple channels to watch, they have access to leisure facilities, somewhere to live and something to eat.

 

Deprivation exists, but simply earning less than the average doesn't mean you are deprived.

Twenty two thousand Many are on half of that , pensioners are also on less than £10,000 for a couple , the gap between the haves and have nots gets bigger year by year ,.

[Santo]

Twenty two thousand Many are on half of that , pensioners are also on less than £10,000 for a couple , the gap between the haves and have nots gets bigger year by year ,.

 

Source?

 

I've read that only the gap between the have lots and have an awful lots has grown....

[samssong]

You'd seriously put someone who cant count how full a train is in charge of the economy and hope it got better?

 

My gerbil could do a better job of running the economy.

Corbyn was set up has as been shown after the conductor removed reserved tickets from seats.

Further to this Sheffields so called labour Council showed just who they support when failing to show up at Cobyn"s recent visit to the City Hall steps.

They are a disgrace to this once proud Socialist area, the problem is that the less well off have now no one to represent them in this City .

Edited August 24, 2016 by samssong

[Obelix]

Twenty two thousand Many are on half of that , pensioners are also on less than £10,000 for a couple , the gap between the haves and have nots gets bigger year by year ,.

 

So why is the Gini coefficient not climbing then? If there was this mass runaway in inequality then why is the Gini coeff staying the same?

[samssong]

No those empty seats weren't empty; children were sat there or they had been quote, 'reserved by luggage.' According to a Momentum activist that was with him anyway.

 

This is just another example of anti-Corbyn conspiracy from the MSM. Which Blairite gave Branson his honours???

And now we are selling OUR:hihi: Country to China.