10 Companies Paying Americans the Least

[thelakelander]

According to several groups, low- and minimum-wage workers are growing faster than any other group of earners.
24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 companies that employ the most low- and minimum wage workers.

10. Starbucks

9. TJX Companies (Marshalls, TJ Maxx, etc.)

8. Macy's

7. Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc.)

6. Sears Holdings

5. Yum! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, etc.)

4. Kroger

3. Target

2. McDonald's

1. Walmart

full article: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ten-companies-paying-americans-least-112523979.html

[JayBird]

None here are surprising ... But the list doesn't make a lot of sense. Olive Garden pays the same wage (and comparable tips) you'd get working at Carmine's in Riverside. Same for most of the others. I think it should be pointed out that these are entry level jobs, with no prior experience necessary. These are supposed to jobs that one enters/re-enters the job market in. Hopefully, the excel in such positions and move up or out to higher positions with larger pay. I'll say the same I did when McDonalds employees were striking, those positions were not and should not be intended as lifelong careers. They are part time positions to be used as a gateway or subsidy to other employment.

[thelakelander]

There's only one Carmines.  Darden is a F500 company with hundreds of restaurants. They make the list because they employ more low/minimum wage workers altogether. These companies make this list based on their overall size.

[spuwho]

I do know of someone who has worked at McDonalds for more than 20 years. (maybe 30)

After 8 years he hit the max hourly pay and could only get COLA's. So with the franchisee pushing him from behind he moved into the management program. He graduated from McDonalds University and after 6 months of managing a store he couldn't stand it and asked to go back to the cooking line.

The franchisee took him back but he lost his salary/benefits and went back to the previous hourly rate. He was still working a shift, and yes, still getting COLA's. No performance raises.

The last time I checked (~10 years ago) he was still there but ran into some problems because of a significant illness.

[JayBird]

There's only one Carmines.  Darden is a F500 company with hundreds of restaurants. They make the list because they employ more low/minimum wage workers altogether. These companies make this list based on their overall size.

Understandable but that's exactly my point, why are they singled out just because they are bigger? It is the one case where mon and pop places don't serve an advantage. I would look at it differently if local, single places paid more/less but they simply don't. It's like making a list about who sells more widgets. ABC widgets sells 1,000 out their 10 stores while XYZ sells 500 out of their 5 stores. Bottom line, each store sells 100 so comparison is moot.

@Spuwho, oh I know people like that as well. I don't understand it, but people who are happy there that is fine. It would be different had he wanted to keep the original job but get the management pay/benefits.

[I-10east]

^^^I agree Jay. I'm so sick of Wal-Mart being the only one that's blamed, when there's a host of other companies making a boatload of money, that no one says anything about; Like Target, Macy's, and the ultra-liberal Starbucks, which is basically a coffee monopoly. With all of that being said, I'm sure that we all agree that the minimum wage definitely should be raised.

[thelakelander]

JayBird, I get your point.  U-10, I get your point too. There is some type of Infatuation with throwing Walmart under the bus when most of the other guys operate the same exact way.

[vicupstate]

^^^I agree Jay. I'm so sick of Wal-Mart being the only one that's blamed, when there's a host of other companies making a boatload of money, that no one says anything about; Like Target, Macy's, and the ultra-liberal Starbucks, which is basically a coffee monopoly. With all of that being said, I'm sure that we all agree that the minimum wage definitely should be raised.

I don't know the details at all, but I think Starbucks provides some level of health insurance and maybe other benefits that most of the others don't.  Walmart does get made out to be the bad guy, whereas Target does not.  On the other hand, if Walmart took the lead to offer more benefits, it would probably increase the likelyhood of the others doing the same. 

One thing that I think is long overdue, is to create a sub-minimum wage for teens.  A high school kid living with his parents does not need to make the same as a self-supporting adult, and usually does not have the experience and maturity of someone older either.  All that would be required is to provide the next increase only to the older workers.   

Holding the wage down for teens would increase the likelyhood of them forgoing a job and spending that time on the schooling.   

[finehoe]

These companies are all "takers" as the teabag-types say.  They pay their employees low wages and the rest of us have to make up the difference via food stamps, housing subsidies, and medicaid. Corporate welfare, pure and simple.

[TheCat]

Wal-mart is not an unfortunate punching bag. They've earned their reputation for being terrible to their employees, and otherwise.

[thelakelander]

What makes a company like Target or Starbucks any better outside of having business models that cater to a different type of customer base?

[fsquid]

These companies are all "takers" as the teabag-types say.  They pay their employees low wages and the rest of us have to make up the difference via food stamps, housing subsidies, and medicaid. Corporate welfare, pure and simple.

and your solution would be what? 

[Lunican]

Walmart gets more attention because they are MUCH bigger. They employ 2.2 million people vs Target at 360,000.

Revenue for Walmart is $469 Billion vs Target at $73 Billion.

Walmart also has a reputation for squeezing their suppliers so they also have to make cuts.

[FSBA]

http://www.youtube.com/v/Ct1Moeaa-W8?version=3

[peestandingup]

None here are surprising ... But the list doesn't make a lot of sense. Olive Garden pays the same wage (and comparable tips) you'd get working at Carmine's in Riverside. Same for most of the others. I think it should be pointed out that these are entry level jobs, with no prior experience necessary. These are supposed to jobs that one enters/re-enters the job market in. Hopefully, the excel in such positions and move up or out to higher positions with larger pay. I'll say the same I did when McDonalds employees were striking, those positions were not and should not be intended as lifelong careers. They are part time positions to be used as a gateway or subsidy to other employment.

Yes, these should be entry level jobs. But more & more they're becoming just jobs for many people, with no avenue to move up or move on to something better. There's a reason why the wealth gap between young & old is the highest its ever been in history. Add some debt onto this, cost of living soaring, inflation, dollar value, etc & you can see why many young people are pissed & feel like they've been had. Opportunities are there sure, but they're fewer & far between. Its this lack of understanding between the young & old gens that tends to fuel comments such as yours.

Trust me. No one wants to make a life long career at Wal Mart, Target, etc, but what choices are the "job creators" giving them? We've killed local businesses for the most part, manufacturing, creating things, etc & let the corporate circus come right in & bend us all over. Now everyone's wondering why young people are so lazy & don't just "move up" the chain at a bunch of places that litter our cities which don't pay anything & only care about bottom lines & taking advantage of overseas slave labor? C mon.