3 LA grocery stores run by Kroger to close after city OK’s ‘Hero Pay’ ordinance

[CaughtInThe]

from 2 days ago...

Kroger Is Flush With Cash | The Motley Fool

The supermarket giant could be gearing up for another big acquisition following a record sales year.

www.fool.com

 

[phoenix2020]

why dont the liberals get up in arms about the pay of celebrity's

Dwayne Johnson, also known as the Rock, tops the Forbes list of the world’s ten highest-paid actors, collecting $89.4 million between June 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019.

Great point. I fully agree that The Rock should pay his employees a fair living wage and if he doesn't, he should be castigated as much as the CEO of Kroger.

By the way, who in the employ of The Rock is being paid dirt for their hard work? I assume you know someone since you mentioned him. Please share so we can start a campaign to give that person some financial justice!

 

[NatMorton]

So the answer is to keep letting corporations scare us into not asking for the right thing by saying if we do, we will fire people to make a bad point?

You don’t understand what’s happening here. It’s not about preventing anyone from asking anything. It’s about return on investment. If with this labor cost hike it now costs more to run that store than it makes, the decision on its future is made.

It doesn’t even need to be that severe. You can invest money in that store or in high grade bonds, which will get you a better return?

 

[gdgyva]

Last time I checked, a lot of the richest people on the planet identify as liberal, so I'm not sure they are having a problem competing. As for me personally...I haven't been availed of the same opportunities as some. Not complaining, just stating facts.

Lots of liberals put up lots of thier own nickels and kick ass every day.

I never said running a business was easy. What i said was that not recognizing that the people who work for you are the only reason you are able to make more money is a terrible way to run a business.

The VAST majority of business people identify as GOP or independent

There are some who have struck it very rich who are liberal....i would guesstimate that number at maybe 10-15%

Bezos, Buffett, Gates, and a number of others i can easily name....but those are outliers (even they tell you in their writings that a LOT of their friends are stalwart GOP)

THis thread is a great example of WHY

 

[NatMorton]

At the end of the day, there won't be job losses. After all, at an aggregate level, there only will be job losses in the grocery sector if people stop buying and eating less food. Therefore, people who previously shopped at these stores will now direct their business to other stores. Those stores will see extra traffic and start hiring. In the end we have fewer, healthier stores that are more profitable and have higher paid employees.

There will be some who quickly get rehired and many who will not. If your logic were sound there would never be layoffs after a merger since the combined entity has double the volume, and yet ...

 

[bullseyelqcs]

There will be some who quickly get rehired and many who will not. If your logic were sound there would never be layoffs after a merger since the combined entity has double the volume, and yet ...

Thats hardly true.

If the company doing the acquisition has figured out a more streamlined way to do things, there wouldn't inherently be a need for all the people from the bloated absorbed business.

 

[Robertinfremont]

“The mandate will add an additional $20 million in operating costs over the next 120 days, making it financially unsustainable to continue operating underperforming locations,” Kroger said in a news release. “The Los Angeles City Council disregarded their own Economic Impact Report by not considering that grocery stores – even in a pandemic – operate on razor-thin profit margins in a very competitive landscape.”

Kroger grocery store closes three Los Angeles locations after city council mandates $5 hero pay hike

The list of Southern California stores that have been forced to close over government-implemented “hero pay” hikes has grown to five after three more

www.washingtonexaminer.com

Kroger, the country's largest grocery chain, says the hourly wage for a Ralph's or Food 4 Less employee is $18 on average and comes out to $24 an hour when benefits are factored in. The company says they have invested $2.5 billion in rewards to associates who work during the pandemic, securing pensions and implementing safety measures.

The Washington Examiner reached out to several members of the Los Angeles City Council but did not immediately receive a response.

 

[bullseyelqcs]

The VAST majority of business people identify as GOP or independent

There are some who have struck it very rich who are liberal....i would guesstimate that number at maybe 10-15%

Bezos, Buffett, Gates, and a number of others i can easily name....but those are outliers (even they tell you in their writings that a LOT of their friends are stalwart GOP)

THis thread is a great example of WHY

The three people you named alone hold more wealth that 53% of the nation total. Three. So while the uber rich liberals may only account for 10 or 15 percent of the rich, they account for significantly more in the grand scheme.

 

[phoenix2020]

There will be some who quickly get rehired and many who will not. If your logic were sound there would never be layoffs after a merger since the combined entity has double the volume, and yet ...

Correct. It's called Regulated Capitalism - the goal is neither 100% employment with everyone forced to work for free (that's communism / slavery / feudalism...) nor 0% employment because everyone should have a 7-figure salary. We pick a balance that keeps unemployment low (but not zero) and wages reasonable. Over the long haul we get a healthier system. The course you're advocating -- get rid of all regulation -- is a great feudal model with companies replacing Lords and Dukes I suppose, but it's not the one we practice in this country. If you want that you'll have to find another nation that practices that system of production and governance. I'm not sure where feudal-like systems are still in place. Perhaps you can check out some places in the Middle East?

 

[gdgyva]

The three people you named alone hold more wealth that 53% of the nation total. Three. So while the uber rich liberals may only account for 10 or 15 percent of the rich, they account for significantly more in the grand scheme.

they dont account for the JOBS

who employs America?

do you know? really know?


The average number of employees in a small business is about 10. This is the average for small businesses that have at least one employee.

Out of the small businesses in the United States that have employees, here is the breakdown by size:

• 5,305,960 small businesses have 1 to 19 employees.
• 629,025 small businesses have 20 to 499 employees.

Understanding What Is a Stealth Startup: The Secrets Behind Discreet Innovation

Discover what a stealth startup is and explore the secrets behind discreet innovation. Learn how these hidden ventures operate, their strategies for success, and why they choose to remain under the radar in the competitive business landscape.

smallbiztrends.com

this is who employs America.....and w/o the SMALL businessman, there is no US economy

 

[bullseyelqcs]

they dont account for the JOBS

who employs America?

do you know? really know?


The average number of employees in a small business is about 10. This is the average for small businesses that have at least one employee.

Out of the small businesses in the United States that have employees, here is the breakdown by size:

• 5,305,960 small businesses have 1 to 19 employees.
• 629,025 small businesses have 20 to 499 employees.

Understanding What Is a Stealth Startup: The Secrets Behind Discreet Innovation

Discover what a stealth startup is and explore the secrets behind discreet innovation. Learn how these hidden ventures operate, their strategies for success, and why they choose to remain under the radar in the competitive business landscape.

smallbiztrends.com

this is who employs America.....and w/o the SMALL businessman, there is no US economy

So again I ask.....

Is the plan to allow small businesspeople to take advantage of the very people who are allowing them to make more money than they otherwise would? If you and your wife open a restaurant, how many people can you functionally serve at a time before service suffers and you start losing business? But if you hire another person, you can serve more people and increase your income, right? But apparently, it would be a bridge too far to ask that you pay those people a wage that doesn't have them also eligible to apply for government assistance.

That is the problem I am talking about.

 

[KLATTU]

Yes, the fact is that

The CEO or Kroger doesn't exist without the baggers, stockers, cashiers and truck drivers.. K
Sure they do. That's the difference . baggers , stockers and truck drivers are a dime a dozen. CEO's not so much.
That's why they make so much.
The facts of life are conservative.

 

[KLATTU]

So are all the elements of greed. Whats you point?

Liberal definition of greed. "anybody who makes more than me"

LAFFRIOT

Everybody's greedy. Why do you think the lines are long when those poweball 's go up to the hundreds of millions.

The facts of life are conservative.

 

[bullseyelqcs]

Liberal definition of greed. "anybody who makes more than me"

LAFFRIOT

Everybody's greedy. Why do you think the lines are long when those poweball 's go up to the hundreds of millions.

The facts of life are conservative.

I prefer the dictionary definition of greed, but you do you.

You can make more than I do, and I probably don't care. If you make more than I do by ****ing over those that work for you, then I have a problem. If I work for you and you tell me that I'm not getting my raise this year and you aren't going to match 401K's this year, but you also give yourself a 15% raise, I don't think I'm out of line for calling you a greedy bastard.

Like I said, so are the elements of greed.

 

[gdgyva]

So again I ask.....

Is the plan to allow small businesspeople to take advantage of the very people who are allowing them to make more money than they otherwise would? If you and your wife open a restaurant, how many people can you functionally serve at a time before service suffers and you start losing business? But if you hire another person, you can serve more people and increase your income, right? But apparently, it would be a bridge too far to ask that you pay those people a wage that doesn't have them also eligible to apply for government assistance.

That is the problem I am talking about.

your statement is asinine

Allowing them to make more money than they otherwise could?

I have 8 employees....if i could do it by myself with my wife, we would have ZERO

no businessman or woman is going to OVERHIRE or overpay for the service the employee provides

What you and so many FAIL TO UNDERSTAND is that many many businesses are run on rail thin margins and there is no room for more more pay

And your response is "well you shouldnt be in business then"

And again, i say to that....do you want 3-4% unemployment, or 20% unemployment ( it is your choice)

I have my money....my employees work for me because they NEED the job.....

I do this because i love doing it, not because i am making money (in fact i lost money last year because of COVID)

there are thousands of businesses like mine....with little room if any for additional labor costs

but it doesnt stop crazy liberals from trying to put them out of business

 

[Deuce]

A business that cannot afford to pay its employees enough to put a roof over their heads is, by definition, a failing business.

A company propping itself up by stealing from its workers' labor is no more moral than a construction company propping itself up by stealing lumber.

 

[Deuce]

You don’t understand what’s happening here. It’s not about preventing anyone from asking anything. It’s about return on investment. If with this labor cost hike it now costs more to run that store than it makes, the decision on its future is made.

It doesn’t even need to be that severe. You can invest money in that store or in high grade bonds, which will get you a better return?

If they can't afford these pathetic wages, the market has dictated that their services are not valuable enough to exist.

 

[KLATTU]

I prefer the dictionary definition of greed, but you do you.

You can make more than I do, and I probably don't care. If you make more than I do by ****ing over those that work for you, then I have a problem. If I work for you and you tell me that I'm not getting my raise this year and you aren't going to match 401K's this year, but you also give yourself a 15% raise, I don't think I'm out of line for calling you a greedy bastard.

Like I said, so are the elements of greed.

people eff over people all the time.

Fact of life-> Conservative.

 

[Deuce]

people eff over people all the time.

Fact of life-> Conservative.

People murder people all the time, that doesn't mean we should just accept it.

 

[bullseyelqcs]

people eff over people all the time.

Fact of life-> Conservative.

The question is should we be condoning it?

 

[SCrider]

May I ask where you are getting your information from? I have been deeply involved with the industry for a loooong time and its the number I have always been told is the standard.

Even high end markets operate at that margin or very close to it.

A life time of experience in the industry.

 

[trouble13]

A life time of experience in the industry.

Thats interesting because I do as well.

I was specifically in charge of refrigeration and energy management

 

[SCrider]

Thats interesting because I do as well.

Old school guys talk about it being a pennies business new leadership is pushing higher and higher margins.

 

[bullseyelqcs]

your statement is asinine

Allowing them to make more money than they otherwise could?

I have 8 employees....if i could do it by myself with my wife, we would have ZERO

no businessman or woman is going to OVERHIRE or overpay for the service the employee provides

What you and so many FAIL TO UNDERSTAND is that many many businesses are run on rail thin margins and there is no room for more more pay

And your response is "well you shouldnt be in business then"

And again, i say to that....do you want 3-4% unemployment, or 20% unemployment ( it is your choice)

I have my money....my employees work for me because they NEED the job.....

I do this because i love doing it, not because i am making money (in fact i lost money last year because of COVID)

there are thousands of businesses like mine....with little room if any for additional labor costs

but it doesnt stop crazy liberals from trying to put them out of business

Lets take this by color, shall we...

To the part in blue......if you and your wife could make the money you make right now without employees, you said you would. Thank you for making my point for me. You are making more money because of your employees than you and your wife could make without them. I'm no sure why pointing this out pisses so many business owners off, but it really seems to. While I don't agree with Obama's statement that you didn't build that, I do agree with what I think is the underlying sentiment of that statement, which is that you didn't get there alone.

To the section in red......someone else made the point better than I ever could have when they said that a business that props itself up by stealing from the labor of its employees is no better than a contractor who steals lumber. If you can't afford to or pay the people who work for you a functional wage, then you need to downsize or quit. Lining your pockets off of the work of others is bullshit.

To the green.....you are a damned liar if you say you don't do what you do to make money, or you wouldn't be charging for the service or product. I'll be you aren though. And I would also bet dollars to donuts that you wouldn't be willing to make less money to do the same thing, so again, I call bull on your assertion. That said, in order to maintain the level of income you currently enjoy, you NEED your employees as much as they need you. You said as much in the part highlighted in red. If you could do it with just you and your wife, you wouldn't have hired anybody, but you can't, so you did. You need them as much as they need you.

 

[SCrider]

Liberal definition of greed. "anybody who makes more than me"

LAFFRIOT

Everybody's greedy. Why do you think the lines are long when those poweball 's go up to the hundreds of millions.

The facts of life are conservative.

Hence the root of your problems. You live by imaginary definitions.