My living situation is pretty simple. I have no pets, no kids, and one romantic partner. I also have no loans, and I rent. So him and I pretty much split the costs of living and pay for our own food and phone bills. As a result, I don't need a lot of money to make ends meet, so I've been saving a bit. Enough to feel comfortable to order take out.
This happened over 2 years ago, so I've long forgotten what we ordered that night, but all I can say is it was shocking and awkward when we got a knock at the door to tell us our food had arrived and who should be holding our pizza/burgers/whatever but my very own team lead who I just bid a good night at the end of my shift that very same day?
At the time, I didn't think much of it. I was still very ignorant about the state of our economy and just how greedy rich people could be.
Now that I better understand the situation, I can break it down in ways I hadn't been able to before.
At the time (2020) , Washington State minimum wage was $13.50/hour. That was what I was currently getting paid in my position. My team lead, as our company is amazingly transparent about wages, was presumably making $15/hour.
It took a while, but I finally realized that she was making a buck fifty more than me and still had to work a second job to make ends meet.
Here, I will now call out my shitty *EX* employer so everyone who lives in the area knows NOT to apply, or, since the situation has probably changed in 2 years, to do more research:
I worked at a warehouse called World Class Distribution, also knowns as WCD. It was contracted by Trader Joe's to store goods for shipping to stores in the PNW. I was hired through a staffing agency that was called Full Steam Staffing, later renamed to Express Train Staffing. They are located in Lacey, WA.