Hacker News Reader

Comment by ceejayoz | Hacker News Reader

Contractors still deserve a livable wage.

What if the job they do is only worth the wage they can get to do it? What if economic reality means that either they take the market rate for the job - or the job is no longer available?

Why should anyone pay more than the economic value for goods and services?

Then the economic system that allows this to pass is unnecessarily endangering human lives.

You can state that categorically? All full and part time employees and contractors deserve a ‘livable wage’ regardless of their role or the value they add to the company?

Yes.

What if their contract is to load paper into printer once every other week? Do they still deserve to be paid salary that'd allow them to rent property in one of the most expensive places in the country?

That seems a bit idealistic, don't you think? A business needs to make profits.

Wait, so all I gotta do is work 10 hours a week and I should be able to feed my family and afford a house? That’s an amazing world you live in.

Every discussion I've seen of livable wage starts from the concept of being able to meet reasonable necessities - food, shelter, transport, healthcare, etc. - from full-time employment.

I suspect you know full well that folks talking about a "livable wage" aren't saying "if you work an hour a week you should make $40k".

Nothing in the article indicates this woman has full time employment, and yet GP is upset that she can’t afford a home.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com