abuse of the underpaid

Alexander is a counselor for the summer at a day camp about 25 miles away. He loves it.  Everyday he comes home with stories of his campers.

But he doesn’t get paid a lot, so he decides it would be nice to make some extra spending money. He applies for two, minimum-paying jobs.

Before starting his job as a counselor, Alexander applies for a job at Pinkberry.   He has many years of experience scooping ice-cream for himself, and on occasion, for his friends; he is well-qualified.  He is called in for an 8:30 am interview in lower Manhattan.  Alexander gets up early, dresses appropriately, and is there on time.  He is in a room with about 30 others. A person comes out and reads off about 15 names (not my son’s).  “Okay, these people come with me.  The rest of you please come back in two hours for your interview.”

My son chooses not to wait for two hours.  I don’t blame him.

Next he applies for a job at a local gourmet grocer in our neighborhood.  His grandfather knows the store’s owner who says he’d be happy to help.  It takes two weeks of back and forth emails for Alexander to connect with the HR person (I’ll call Ingrid).  She has lost the application Alexander submitted in person a few weeks ago.  He resubmits his resume and Ingrid agrees to meet with him.  She invites Alexander in for a midday interview.  My son explains again, as he already has via emails, that he is only available during the week after 5:30, and on weekends, as he is a camp counselor.   Alexander and Ingrid finally agree to a 5:15 interview.   Alexander explains to Ingrid that he will get off his bus early and get someone to cover for him so he can make it to the interview by 5:15.  I don’t understand why she couldn’t just say, “Get here as soon as you can.  5:30 is fine.”  Alexander arrives for the interview on time, 5:15.  “I’m sorry,” the receptionist says, “Ingrid left at 5:00.”

Apparently, people applying for low-paying jobs are not given any respect.  They are dispensable commodities.  In a city with so much wealth, it’s wrong that people willing to work should be paid so little and treated so poorly.

My son is a college student, so for him, it’s not a big deal.  But that’s not the case for so many others.