Dream on, Tanya – I’m looking for work and see more and more jobs posted as part -time with below $8.00/hr wages (if they even post a salary -more and more have none posted) with no set schedule.

So, right off the bat, I do not know what I will be earning or how consistent it will be. My last landlord really appreciated that – many months of me being unable to tell him when I would have the rent.

EMPLOYERS – Do you ever consider that this type of low-wage, uncertain schedule employee policy is detrimental to your employees? It makes it hard to concentrate on my work when I am literally wondering whether I am going to lose car insurance, or not eat, or be unable to even get to work if the car fails – and knowing that starting each workweek, I will not make enough to cover expenses.

A McDonald’s corporate spokesman, in responding to the recent strike in NYC, defended McDoanld’s by saying (in part) that employees – and I quote – “had ACCESS to flexible schedules”. Nice touch – “access” . Yes, and they also have “access” to malnutrition, poverty, inability to pay bills, etc. due to the cheap wages of McDonalds and many other fast food and retail companies who are making large profits at the same time they squeeze their employees.

Not to mention medical debt. That can wipe out good credit and savings in a nanosecond.

but being consistent with their pay (which should happen anyway), being fair & paying them well will help them out financially. If they know what they make and can count on their paycheques, it saves them (hopefully) from going overboard with their spending.

Have you read Donna Ballman’s articles on wage theft? Here’s one:

http://employeeatty.blogspot.ch/2013/03/florida-companies-republicans-try-to.html

It’s a real problem.

That’s an EXCELLENT question. What’s really scary is that not only is it stupid and unethical to be late with payroll, it happens to be illegal.

I don’t think most employers think it’s ok. They just don’t think.

Well, duh.

But, it is sad how many employers thesedays think otherwise. The same is true for expenses.

I can’t be late to work; why do some employers think they can pay or reimburse late?

I’m not sure I agree. Look at the robo-signing scandal, where people that paid their mortgage on time (and in some cases owned their home outright) were foreclosed on. These people had nothing to do with their financial problems. Even getting a mortgage at a “good” band is insufficient, as mortgages are bought and sold all the time. Or how about people with relatives that are in default? Even though the worker isn’t responsible for another’s debt, that doesn’t stop unscrupulous debt agencies from harassing the innocent one (and in some cases placing liens on someone’s property.). All of these things take time to sort out, even if the worker was doing all the right things.
Your willingness to jump to conclusions so quickly is a little scary.