The person who bagged your groceries may rely on tips to make a living, according to an article in Sunday's New York Times:
"In many [New York City] supermarkets, managers treat these baggers as volunteers, not paying them wages and making them rely on tips . . . many baggers are speaking up, insisting that they are employees and should be paid like other supermarket workers."
I'd thought baggers were now being paid a salary since the state attorney general's office settled with Gristedes and Food Emporium a few years ago. The article says some baggers, including those at smaller franchise supermarkets, are still not paid an hourly wage.
Bloggers were quick to pick up this story with reactions ranging from guilt to a call for halting the use of plastic supermarket bags.
I had no idea that baggers weren't paid a regular salary. I always thought it was a bit presumptuous of them to have a tip jar there. Now I feel terrible for never having given them a single red cent. How is this legal?
On the other hand, why work as a bagger at a place that doesn't pay? I know it's hard to get a job in this city for some people, but if you're a legal American, you should be able to find a legal paid job. It seems like a weird choice to "volunteer" at such a job. Am I being totally naive?
I hate shopping in supermarkets with 'baggers'. I thought it was to speed up the process of shopping not for my convenience now I hear they don't get paid, how demeaning.
No Laura, you're not the only one who finds the whole idea odd and sort of a sucker's bet. It's not like there's room to grow or new skills to learn as a bagger.
I don't think the consumer needs to feel guilty as much as they need to support the employee who isn't being paid for their work with a voice - this isn't volunteering for goodwill and I don't think that the consumer needs to foot the bill! It's a job. The supermarket should feel guilty. We are shopping in their market, they can afford to pay their employee's, so why don't they. Those companies are getting away with murder.