this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2024
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Wait, what? That's not wage theft at all. It's fucked up and something we need to fix, but wage theft is a different thing entirely
I feel like this is among the loosest definitions of it. Like, it fits the spirit of it and should be considered as a type of wage theft but it’s bottom of the list after things like not paying people what they’re literally contractually obligated to recieve.
"at all" seems a bit far fetched
I am amazed at how many people think that "being paid what you are contractually owed" and "being paid what you deserve" are entirely different. I feel like in many instances even if there is breach of contractual obligations (such as not paying at all or enough for overtime etc), the amount of money employers steal by not paying people what they deserve (based on profits and what not) is orders of magnitude higher than what they fail to pay contractually.
...what? Yes, the writing on the contract is different from whatever set of ethics you happen to ascribe to. You can make philosophical arguments that they should be the same, but expressing disbelief at two clearly different things being different is... well, it's insane.
If you want to discuss definition in the formal sense, it suffices to say "that is not the definition of wage theft here it is bla bla". Instead when you say "Wait, what? they are entirely different you insane lunatic" most reasonable people will think that you are completely against even using the two concepts in the same sentence. As an example someone says "Donald Trump is a champion of democracy" and I say "Wait, what? Are you insane? Donald trump and democracy are entirely unrelated".
You used quotes but somehow avoided quoting anyone 🤔 odd
you're thinking of the legal definition of wage theft. This meme is about how all profit is made by stealing the surplus value of workers.
I like the idea behind the comic, but I had the same initial thought as the previous commenter. I think maybe the comic shouldn't have used a very well known phrase that has a different legal definition.
It's about Marxism, but yeah.
I can understand that, though I feel like that's part of what makes it funny, subverting expectations.
Subverting the fact that Sesame Street teaches accurate things?
Don't conflate a legal problem that is already not taken seriously and addressed enough with another thing entirely. Real wage theft is already illegal and pathways to remedy that wage theft exist as long as people take it very seriously. What is described in this meme is also a problem and also needs addressed. However it is entirely, 1000% legal to keep wages low while you rack in rescord profits, and many capitalists would argue that you should. By conflating an actual legal issue wish a subjective moral one, you make it easier to excuse the legal issue as just another subjective moral issue that can be ignored and exploited.
They are different things that have different remedies and different access to those remedies right now. You're not strengthening the definition of wage theft to give more power to this new issue. You're weakening both.
Very well said
This is the kind of meme people point to when they go, "See how stupid the left is? They don't even know what wage theft is."
It does a disservice to workers and the left.
I'm not going to debate the nuances of propaganda on a meme. I disagree with your assessment, and hope you have a good day.
Fediverse is full of communists, they have no idea how market works
This isnt r*ddit but it is hard for me to resist telling you that you got wooshed. This twisted definition is clearly the joke and intended to bring attention to the fact that corporations regularily effectively steal from employees without repercussions.
Boss makes a dollar, i make a dime, thats why i poop on company time.
Dont feel bad about wage theft. Its the morally correct thing to do. Just dont get caught :)
I think you meant "time theft" in your comment as wage theft is definitely morally wrong.
Oh nice. Thats just embarressing now. Maybe i should look up word definitions for english words more often.
No worries bud, happens to me all the time and English is my first language lol
~~I am not sure s/he meant that~~ nope s/he did sorry