Chick fil A posts a cashier job in my area for $16-17 and hour. It is above minimum wage by approximately $3 an hour on the low end. Apartments (1 bedroom) going for 1,100 it certainly isn't enough for them. Anyway…
I worked for a large medical company/hospital for nearly 9 years. I made $18 an hour when I left. I left with so much knowledge, proper techniques, and extremely low error rates that benefitted patient outcomes. I could even assist with short staffing in 2 other departments which I was made to do during certain times with COVID. I dealt with biopsies (bone marrow, thyroid, peritoneal, etc)/cancerous tissues/on adults and children. Cutting specimens, preparing slides, processing samples (shipping, staining, cutting, etc). I loved my work and I loved ensuring patients received the care they deserve.
Making a cancer diagnosis as soon as possible can have great impacts on patients, especially children. Any abnormalities noted on biological specimens is better to know sooner than later. I left. It was just not worth how important my job was compared to the wage I left at. I'd asked for raises multiple times, yet the company was cheap. Patient care is still compromised due to staffing issues (incorrect time of blood draw- especially important for certain medications-, samples being processed past the time they should be, procedures being canceled, you name it).
There are people still working there for way less than they are worth. It is duel owned by 2 companies, one with a slightly greater share. The nonprofit side CEO made 11 MILLION in 2019, but made approximately 20 MILLION in 2017. It is public knowledge, you can look up non profit company salaries for their highest paid employees.
Another person working in the department I left makes $19 an hour with FIFTEEN YEARS of experience. One makes $17 an hour with two years experience. What is going on? People can't live on these wages and you certainly are not getting the experienced employees that will give the best results for these wages either.
I serve alcohol now and I haven't made less than $25 an hour since. People need enough money to live. I don't care if you work fast food/any other job that some people consider insignificant. High schoolers aren't going to serve your lunch–they are in school. Give us a living wage and an appropriate one at that.