The Heroes of the American Economy Need Our Love & Attention

Because you hold up the tent poles

According to Waldman, Starbucks workers are some of the worst exploited.

​You're on the job. But you need more hours to pay your bills. Last week, you got them. Not this week. It’s a crap shoot--though it shouldn’t be--and incredibly stressful.

I've been there

​I was on commission, running the shop for an absentee boss. He brought in the business, I did the work installing window tint on cars. And everything else, like bookkeeping, ordering product. All the way down to scrubbing the floors and the toilette. When he decided to take time off, work slowed down. 

You need to do more advertising, I said. Talk to car dealerships to bring their cars to us. He just didn’t do it.

I wasn’t making enough commission to pay my bills and nobody else was hiring. That's when I pocketed some of the few jobs that did come in. I was afraid I'd get caught. Ashamed to be a thief. 

I wanted to work for the money, not steal it. But I was desperate. Rent, food, gas.  I didn't have enough work for my commission to pay for those things. 

Then a recommendation got me another job, and I was able to pull out of the hole.

My story is one example of the nightmare of wanting to work but not getting enough of it to make ends meet. For tens of millions of people this is their reality, though for completely different reasons.

Labor shenanigans

For those who aren’t aware of the scourge of part time work, in her New York Times piece, ‘It’s not Just Wages. Retailers Are Mistreating Workers in a More Insidious Way,’¹ author Adelle Waldman sheds light on the epidemic of not enough work and people getting trapped into those situations.

The scheme is called “part-time.”

Employers avoid offering benefits and paying for downtime by only hiring part-timers. Walmart is an example — half their workforce is part-time.²

There are several problems with that. From week to week, you don’t know if you’re going to get enough hours to pay your bills. And unpredictable schedules keep you hanging on in case you’re called in, which is why it’s super hard to get a good second job.

People want to work!

Take one of my Facebook friends. Her crazy hours made it impossible to commit to a specific schedule at a second job she might have otherwise landed.
​
If you’re an involuntary part-timer, I am so sorry big business is doing this to you. You deserve so much better, my friend.

Is there hope in a new law?​​

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and others introduced the “Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act”³ that requires employers to make more predictable and stable work schedules. And to offer available hours to part-timers before hiring additional workers.

This bill needs support for it to get pushed through. You can bet, I’ll call my representative and tell them to get behind it. 
​
You can, too, here and click on “contact your member.” It’ll connect you with your representative.

A love letter ​

Reading the Waldman article, being reminded of that bad job, made me want to reach out to you with love.

If you’re getting worked over by your job, I want to tell you I see you.

This isn’t your fault. By forcing you to work part-time and taking you off the clock when business slows down, companies are circumventing labor laws to increase their profits.

You are doing everything you can. Showing up instead of giving up. I admire you so much! You’re not a “basic worker.” You're the backbone of the economy. 

If it’s picking and packing in a warehouse, working as a home health aide, in a call center, through gig work platforms, or delivering food, I respect you, and appreciate you and the work you do.

Your contribution is important. It’s invaluable. 

And you need to hear this: That you still have integrity, professionalism and pride in your work under these demoralizing conditions is impressive. 

How you infuse your work with your unique talent and expertise is inspiring and humbling. Your continued good will is…I don’t even have the words for how amazing that is.

It’s time we recognize you, value and cherish you for the contribution you make day in and day out. Your pay needs to include healthcare, sick days, paid vacation time and enough to build a nest egg. That’s the truth.

So many blessings on you and your family. On your heart that still musters compassion and dignity, even now.

With respect.
Henry ♡

***

Thanks so much for taking the time to read. It’s you who make my Medium journey special.

If you want to support, here’s that link again to point your representative to the new part-time labor law. Click on “contact your member.

Your story is being told.
¹New York Times Piece by Adelle Waldman
²The Center for Popular Democracy: Trapped In Part-Time
³Proposed law: S 2850 & S 2851 (118th Congress) Proposed law
• A powerful movie, Nomadland, shows the struggle 
• A brand-new book argues that it doesn’t have to be this way: The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy

Henry India was born in W. Germany and lives in Seattle, Washington with their soulmate, hummingbirds, squirrels, rabbits, chickadees, sparrows, robins, jays, plum, cherry and apple trees, a very old pear tree, and magnificent laurels. Also, ants, snails, a few rats, and a raccoon family. They are a nonbinary writer and soul coach.