African American Personal Finance Gurus?

[TexasHusker]

We had dinner at Red Robin the other night. They have computer terminals on every table where you can order and pay, among other things. We didn't use it to order but I did use it to pay.

I'm sure that if enough customers make use of those, the number of servers needed decreases since they are each able to cover more tables. Plus, I loved it as a customer because as soon as we were done our meal, I swiped my credit card to pay the bill and we left. I didn't have to wait for the server to come back with a check, then come back to get my card, then come back to return my card and receipt.

Yes I noticed that at Chilis, too. I like it for the same reasons. Of course, employers are doing this so that they are less reliant on a lazy worker as much as the cost savings. I am sure the lazy worker would improve his performance markedly if his wage went to $10 an hour. Never mind he was giving basically NOTHING for his $7.75 an hour.

[disneysteve]

employers are doing this so that they are less reliant on a lazy worker

I don't think it's for that. I think it's so they don't need as many workers in the first place.

Stick to using humans for work that can't be automated. You need a person to bring the food out from the kitchen and deliver it to the table. You need a person to come refill drinks. You need a person to clear empty dishes from the table. You don't need a person to take the order or process the payment.

[rennigade]

I am sure the lazy worker would improve his performance markedly if his wage went to $10 an hour.

Not according to the book 7 habits of highly effective people. Money isnt a motivator. It will be for about a week then it will be business as usual. Whether you do more work or not if minimum wage goes up several dollars they will receive that amount no matter how much work they do.

I think the only way money is a motivator is if its based on paying the employee by how much they get done in a day. More production/output = more money.

[TexasHusker]

Not according to the book 7 habits of highly effective people. Money isnt a motivator. It will be for about a week then it will be business as usual. Whether you do more work or not if minimum wage goes up several dollars they will receive that amount no matter how much work they do.

I think the only way money is a motivator is if its based on paying the employee by how much they get done in a day. More production/output = more money.

Yes, my post was tongue in cheek.

[Nutria]

I don't think it's for that. I think it's so they don't need as many workers in the first place.

I think it's both.

Stick to using humans for work that can't be automated. You need a person to bring the food out from the kitchen and deliver it to the table. You need a person to come refill drinks.

For now. Automation is rolling in much faster than you think. Pharmacists are being replaced by bar coding and industrial robots, and new lawyers have a hard time finding jobs because the scut work typically assigned to young associates can now done by OCR and AI.

You -- or your young colleagues -- are definitely next.

[disneysteve]

For now. Automation is rolling in much faster than you think.

Oh, I agree. I think it would be pretty simple to largely eliminate servers. There's no reason that a robot couldn't carry a tray to a designated table. So we could sit down, order on a tablet, have the food brought over by a robot, and then pay on the tablet.

Some of the Royal Caribbean cruise ships have a bar with a robotic bartender mixing and serving the drinks.

[rennigade]

Would it be such a bad thing to eliminate servers in restaurants? Their only purpose is to bring you stuff. If that can be automated you could receive your food quicker. You can order quicker, pay quicker, get refills on demand, etc etc.

What else does a server do? When is the last time you asked a server what they recommend? Never! If you can read you can see what the specials are. God this whole automation thing in restaurants would be a dream for me. Also...you could eliminate tips!!

[Nutria]

Would it be such a bad thing to eliminate servers in restaurants? Their only purpose is to bring you stuff. If that can be automated you could receive your food quicker. You can order quicker, pay quicker, get refills on demand, etc etc.

What else does a server do? When is the last time you asked a server what they recommend? Never! If you can read you can see what the specials are. God this whole automation thing in restaurants would be a dream for me. Also...you could eliminate tips!!

There's the fundamental question of what the vast majority of people are going to do when there's no need for them to work for a living. Not for no reason does the Book of Proverbs say, "A worthless man digs up evil" (aka "Idle hands are the Devil's workshop").

This wasn't a problem when buggy whip makers were put out of jobs, because the economy was growing quickly, and so there was other work for them to do. That won't be the case when almost everything is automated.

[disneysteve]

Would it be such a bad thing to eliminate servers in restaurants? Their only purpose is to bring you stuff. If that can be automated you could receive your food quicker. You can order quicker, pay quicker, get refills on demand, etc etc.

What else does a server do? When is the last time you asked a server what they recommend? Never! If you can read you can see what the specials are. God this whole automation thing in restaurants would be a dream for me. Also...you could eliminate tips!!

I'm sure it wouldn't eliminate tips because in most places, tips get pooled for the wait staff, the hosts, the bus staff, etc.

I think servers serve a purpose especially when you have special requests, dietary restrictions, etc, but if you automate what you can, one server could easily cover a lot more tables.

[Nutria]

I'm sure it wouldn't eliminate tips because in most places, tips get pooled for the wait staff, the hosts, the bus staff, etc.

No wait staff, no bus staff... no tips. It's as simple as that.

[rennigade]

There's the fundamental question of what the vast majority of people are going to do when there's no need for them to work for a living.

Or the complete opposite. If most of our daily tasks that we have to do are being done for us...couldnt that open up the door for an explosion of innovation and new ideas? Why do we have this idea that people need to be workers and not thinkers?

Heres another one...what is the #1 complaint for people not working out? They have no time. Wonder what their excuse would be then?

[Nutria]

Or the complete opposite. If most of our daily tasks that we have to do are being done for us...couldnt that open up the door for an explosion of innovation and new ideas? Why do we have this idea that people need to be workers and not thinkers?

Foolishly assumes that most people are thinkers, much less innovative thinkers.

[Thrif-t]

Or the complete opposite. If most of our daily tasks that we have to do are being done for us...couldnt that open up the door for an explosion of innovation and new ideas? Why do we have this idea that people need to be workers and not thinkers?

Heres another one...what is the #1 complaint for people not working out? They have no time. Wonder what their excuse would be then?

But not everyone is a "thinker". We need those manual labor jobs for a whole lot of the general population. What will they all do?

Ugh, civil unrest I'm afraid if more people are put out of jobs with no other work to take its place.

[rennigade]

Foolishly assumes that most people are thinkers, much less innovative thinkers.

Yeah its foolish rooting for the human race to innovate. You're right though...everyone keep your heads down...report to the office and sit in a cube for 40 years. Dont ask questions...just do what you're told. Awesome!

Thankfully there are those who do not share your mentality...or we would still be using blacksmiths to made horse shoes for our mode of transportation, lol.

[Nutria]

But not everyone is a "thinker". We need those manual labor jobs for a whole lot of the general population. What will they all do?

Most Americans now think they are too good for manual labor. That's why illegal Mexicans get so much work.

Ugh, civil unrest I'm afraid if more people are put out of jobs with no other work to take its place.

That term has pretty specific connotations. I guess when you don't have a job you have more time for the occasional weekday riot, but more likely is a general deterioration.