10 votes

Hot dog hustle: Long nights, low pay, and exploitation

11 comments

  1. [11]
    vord
    Link
    Going off their numbers, assuming a 10 hour shift, that works out to about $20 to $40 an hour. Considering it's likely under-the-table untaxed wages, that's pretty good in the realm of the...

    Going off their numbers, assuming a 10 hour shift, that works out to about $20 to $40 an hour. Considering it's likely under-the-table untaxed wages, that's pretty good in the realm of the restaurant business. Most human-trafficking related professions are lucky if they're getting below-minimum wage. I'll caveat all that with "I don't know what an actual living wage in SF looks like".

    This does not negate all of the other problems stated in the article, but on the surface "low pay" doesn't seem to be that bad.

    7 votes
    1. [7]
      ahatlikethat
      Link Parent
      Here you go. TLDL, for a single earner with 2 children, a living wage in San Fransisco would be $77.04 an hour. For a single individual it would be $28.74, according to M.I.T's living wage calculator.

      Here you go. TLDL, for a single earner with 2 children, a living wage in San Fransisco would be $77.04 an hour. For a single individual it would be $28.74, according to M.I.T's living wage calculator.

      7 votes
      1. [4]
        ebonGavia
        Link Parent
        Too Long; Didn't Listen (for anyone who thought it was some statistical acronym, like me).

        Too Long; Didn't Listen (for anyone who thought it was some statistical acronym, like me).

        4 votes
        1. [3]
          ahatlikethat
          Link Parent
          Well thanks, I am really sorry, I thought I typed TLDR (too long didnt read). You make the very good point I should have written it out. Sorry again.

          Well thanks, I am really sorry, I thought I typed TLDR (too long didnt read). You make the very good point I should have written it out. Sorry again.

          3 votes
          1. [2]
            ebonGavia
            Link Parent
            No, not at all! I didn't even know TLDL was a thing, so I'm one of today's lucky 10000. Sorry if I came across the wrong way!

            No, not at all! I didn't even know TLDL was a thing, so I'm one of today's lucky 10000. Sorry if I came across the wrong way!

            3 votes
            1. ahatlikethat
              Link Parent
              You didn't come across any way but trying to be helpful, and thanks for that.

              You didn't come across any way but trying to be helpful, and thanks for that.

              4 votes
      2. [2]
        teaearlgraycold
        Link Parent
        So, optimistically, 2 parents could do this and make a living wage while raising kids. That's pretty crazy.

        So, optimistically, 2 parents could do this and make a living wage while raising kids. That's pretty crazy.

        3 votes
        1. ahatlikethat
          Link Parent
          According to the MIT site,2 adults with 2 kids would each need to be working full time and making $40.76 an hour EACH. Edited for typo: changed 3 to 2 adults

          According to the MIT site,2 adults with 2 kids would each need to be working full time and making $40.76 an hour EACH.
          Edited for typo: changed 3 to 2 adults

          4 votes
    2. [2]
      stu2b50
      Link Parent
      You can live on $30/hour in SF, although it’ll be tight. That being said, if you’re peddling hotdogs in Embarcadero there’s not really a reason to live in SF. You’d probably live in Richmond or...

      You can live on $30/hour in SF, although it’ll be tight. That being said, if you’re peddling hotdogs in Embarcadero there’s not really a reason to live in SF. You’d probably live in Richmond or something.

      6 votes
      1. ahatlikethat
        Link Parent
        Pointing out both vendors have children.

        Pointing out both vendors have children.

        4 votes
    3. skybrian
      Link Parent
      Are you taking into account expenses and other losses? They claim otherwise: I suspect that they have good days and bad days.

      Are you taking into account expenses and other losses? They claim otherwise:

      As a hot dog vendor, her life has become only marginally safer. With a hoodie pulled over her head to protect her from the sun, the 32-year-old said that since she started selling hot dogs, she’s been robbed at gunpoint and had wages stolen by her previous employer.

      “Sometimes the business barely makes anything,” she said in Spanish.

      I suspect that they have good days and bad days.

      6 votes