Disabled workers paid just pennies an hour – and it's legal

[jody]

I worked at goodwill for minimum wage. I quit because I was upset at the way the managers divided up the really good stuff and took it home. That would not happen at a goodwill as large as the one in the video. The best most faithful worker who retired just before I moved, (still shopped around there after I left) probably made a lesser wage, because she was in a program of some kind. this offends me. not a lot offends me. That lady was the most honest one there. she probably should have been running the place.

I hope Lansdale pa goodwill has changed things, if not, Its all crap there, while the good shit goes out the back door. People donate because it is supposed to help people who need it. At least that is why I donated my car. (went to a deserving person) It was still a good car, but I made sure I researched where my donation went. through the church/shelter part. You can help specific people.

This was before both my house fires.

a lady who ran a private consignment shop, clothed us and if I went into her store today she would still about be a bff.
Salvation Army and the red cross put us up for a few days. fed us, and gave us a cash clothing and food voucher. these places are really important to displaced families, people coming out of prison, recovering drug addicts, foster children, disable people, Everyone working there is not paid too. some are volunteers because they aren't even worth the slave wage. Its is a really important organization, but it is old and maybe could use some Oiling and shining up. I don't know what I would have done without them though. I didn't even go to them. The lady who was probably paid less than her coworkers made it known I was in need. she was very valuable to the place, and should have been paid fairly if she wasn't.

[Patton57]

Goodwill's response:

http://www.goodwill.org/statement/al...filling-lives/

A big business protecting their goodwill

[lynnifer]

Goodwill's response:

http://www.goodwill.org/statement/al...filling-lives/

Thanks for posting that Scott ... I still think what they're doing it way wrong when the organization is so top-heavy salary-wise.

What they posted is how anyone feels when working - let alone the disabled or vulnerable.

[-scott-]

Thanks for posting that Scott ... I still think what they're doing it way wrong when the organization is so top-heavy salary-wise.

What they posted is how anyone feels when working - let alone the disabled or vulnerable.

The underlying message: "It doesn't matter what we pay them because we're giving them opportunity that others don't."

It speaks to a larger social problem.

[jody]

anyone notice there are no more greeters at walmart? At least none in south Carolina.
they were actually important. If there had been one yesterday, maybe that guy would not have been creeping around. the greeter would have been a presence not desired by a person up to no good. does walmart do the same sort of thing as far as pay and the disabled. I did checkout, an made seven bucks and hour. there were many disabled workers in the store I frequented. I could not keep up do to my physical probs. It was the only place who hired me after my accident, and before ssi/ssd

[lynnifer]

Certainly - did anyone else notice that Rock Center also opened the piece with how much change they've been able to bring around due to their exposure of some situations?

I wonder if this is the same in Canada ... I can't see it as we have impeccable employment laws ... I'll have to look into it.

[swh2007]

I thought it was interesting that during the real estate bust and Great Recession Goodwill was able to buy and upgrade many distressed buildings in my area of the Country. No one else was able to do that. Even the huge retailers stopped developing.

[lynnifer]

This is my brother John's sense of humour (he's the eldest at 54 and the one I started speaking to again, after twenty year of silence). Needless to say, humour and sarcasm run a strong gene in our family:


Me: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/r...88381481237582

The numbers in that article make me realize it's worse than I thought ... and these are tax payer funds! Disgusting!!! Finally it's coming to light!!!

Him:

instead of being angry and vengeful you should embrace his example and make me the CEO at millions per year

Me:

LOL - did you happen to see the story on Goodwill in America on Rock Centre Friday night? The CEO is blind and made $500,000 last year while 'the unemployable' (severely disabled physically and mentally) earned less than a dollar per hour.

#RiseUp #CivilRevolutionbytheMostVulnerable #WeNeverForget

Him:

I change the channel to wrestling

Me:

OMG!!!!

[Patton57]

I thought it was interesting that during the real estate bust and Great Recession Goodwill was able to buy and upgrade many distressed buildings in my area of the Country. No one else was able to do that. Even the huge retailers stopped developing.

I imagine their customer base has grown significantly since 2008 so this makes sense. They better up executive pay to keep this managerial talent from moving on to more profitable gigs.

[flicka]

Thanks for posting that Scott ... I still think what they're doing it way wrong when the organization is so top-heavy salary-wise.

What they posted is how anyone feels when working - let alone the disabled or vulnerable.

You bet. Last paragraph of Goodwill's response:

Anyone who has ever enjoyed the satisfaction of earning a promotion at work or even just hearing the boss say, “Thanks for a job well done,” understands the fundamental value of work. Goodwill is among the largest employers of people with disabilities in the United States, and we are proud to help people like Michael and Christopher earn the dignity and sense of accomplishment that comes from work.

Our community has a lot of programs who find jobs for "special" people. I have never had one of them act unhappy to help me, take out my packages, or wash my car. I used to be ticked that nonprofit organizations made good money off of placing "special" people into jobs that paid low wages. (I'm sure the businesses who hire them get major tax 'atta boys' on top of it all.)

Most of them are probably better workers than ABs. I'll bet they are more dedicated workers, also.

[Scorpion]

Anyone who has ever enjoyed the satisfaction of earning a promotion at work or even just hearing the boss say, “Thanks for a job well done,” understands the fundamental value of work. Goodwill is among the largest employers of people with disabilities in the United States, and we are proud to help people like Michael and Christopher earn the dignity and sense of accomplishment that comes from work...

"...and they should be happy with the slave wages that we're within our legal rights to dole out instead of even paying minimum wage. They should be happy with a pat on the head and hearing 'Thanks for a job well done'."

Goodwill's closing paragraph is so condescending, I had to add the last part, that the must've accidentally omitted.

[flicka]

"...and they should be happy with the slave wages that we're within our legal rights to dole out instead of even paying minimum wage. They should be happy with a pat on the head and hearing 'Thanks for a job well done'."

Goodwill's closing paragraph is so condescending, I had to add the last part, that the must've accidentally omitted.

I felt the same as you, Rus, until I interacted with some of the "special" employees. And, although I still feel disgusted by the organizations and tax incentives given to employers who hire the handicapped, it's not about the money to the employees. They love their jobs and the independence they earn by being productive citizens.

[Scorpion]

I felt the same as you, Rus, until I interacted with some of the "special" employees. And, although I still feel disgusted by the organizations and tax incentives given to employers who hire the handicapped, it's not about the money to the employees. They love their jobs and the independence they earn by being productive citizens.

But because they're just happy with the jobs and it's not about the money for them, that makes the exploitation all the more deplorable, wouldn't you say? It's as if the employers (Good Will, etc) are saying, "They don't know any better, they're just happy with an 'Atta boy', so we'll just pay them pennies."

Years before my accident, in high school, I was a "bag boy" at a grocery store (Publix! ) and one of our bag boys, or Front Service Personel as Publix called us, was mentally disabled. He was a harder worker than most of the other guys and super nice. And Publix paid him at least minimum wage.

There's just no excuse for not paying the mentally disabled at least minimum wage. The laws need to change.

[crypticgimp]

But because they're just happy with the jobs and it's not about the money for them, that makes the exploitation all the more deplorable, wouldn't you say? It's as if the employers (Good Will, etc) are saying, "They don't know any better, they're just happy with an 'Atta boy', so we'll just pay them pennies."

Years before my accident, in high school, I was a "bag boy" at a grocery store (Publix! ) and one of our bag boys, or Front Service Personel as Publix called us, was mentally disabled. He was a harder worker than most of the other guys and super nice. And Publix paid him at least minimum wage.

There's just no excuse for not paying the mentally disabled at least minimum wage. The laws need to change.

exactly. i hate the "but they are happy" if they are happy, great, but still deserve regular pay.

[flicka]

But because they're just happy with the jobs and it's not about the money for them, that makes the exploitation all the more deplorable, wouldn't you say? It's as if the employers (Good Will, etc) are saying, "They don't know any better, they're just happy with an 'Atta boy', so we'll just pay them pennies."

Yes. It's disgusting

Years before my accident, in high school, I was a "bag boy" at a grocery store (Publix! ) and one of our bag boys, or Front Service Personel as Publix called us, was mentally disabled. He was a harder worker than most of the other guys and super nice. And Publix paid him at least minimum wage.

Good for Publix! Those type of jobs are mainly where "special" people are placed nowadays(bagging, carts, cleaning tables etc.). The employers and job placement businesses are considered altruistic and they want to ride that bandwagon.

Even sicker than these people being paid pennies are the ones who are unable to work without an AB coach. The coach stays/helps the employee until they are considered able to do the work independently, or unable to work the job. I'll bet the AB coach makes at least minimum wage. I agree with you that they should be paid minumum wage. I doubt the employers would be as altruistic if that was the case.