Antiwork

I have to spend money to eat lunch, this means that I'm waiting to continue work and I spend my money while on the clock, but I don't get paid for this time, while still shackled to either my working facilities or nearby in the vicinity. This isn't free time. I need compensation. In that same sense, my commute to work isn't my free time, it is necessary for my job, as is my commute home, which is also not free time. I need to be compensated for this time, as it is part of the job. Either my job needs to calculate my transportation costs and reimburse me AND ALSO pay for my lunch, or they need to pay my hourly rates for commutes and breaks. Every job should have to adopt these policies. Thoughts?

Last week I saw a job that said it paid $28 per hour so I applied to it. It was a quality role which I have a decade of experience in. They called me Monday and said they were interested in me. All was going well until they asked what I wanted for pay. I said the ad said $28 so I want that. They said that’s for experience. I responded I have a decade experience. They asked what the lowest I would be willing to go was which I said $25. They asked if I could go lower. Finally, I grew impatient and told them this wasn’t going to work because if they didn’t want to pay what the ad said they shouldn’t have offered it to begin with. The call ended shortly after.

Back in December, I refused a drug test after I was extended a job offer. I knew it would be positive for THC, which is still a disqualifier even though I live in a legal state. I just checked today and the position is still open. They could have just hired me. I use THC recreationally in my personal time. I never go to work intoxicated, and could pass a field sobriety test any day. But they will continue to push the “nobody wants to work” narrative while trying to dictate what workers can do in their free time.