Woman Joins Burger King At Promised Wages of $16/Hour Pay, Receives $13.25/Hour Pay
A viral TikTok video is bringing attention to the misleading practices of companies like Burger King. The video highlights TikTok user @baldhead_nay's account of applying for a job at the fast food chain enticed by the advertised hourly wage of $16. However, after working there for a week, they discovered that their pay was significantly lower at $13.25, exposing the company's false representation of wages. The video also highlights the reason behind the employee's extensive consumption of Burger King's menu items. With the pay gap discrepancy, they try to compensate in some way, humorously suggesting that indulging in Whoppers might be a suitable method but perhaps not opting for the chicken nuggets.
They explain in the video, "No, I didn't want to work here. I applied because it said $16 an hour. Why I found out a week after working, we only get paid $13.25?" Continuing to explore the menu, the annoyed worker enjoys a kid's meal, emphasizing their freedom to eat whatever they desire despite being an adult while expressing a fondness for apple juice. They then go on to discuss a coworker's challenging situation while consuming a fish sandwich. The coworker, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), faces the daily struggle of working at the establishment while dealing with the debilitating symptoms of the progressive lung disease that damages the lungs over time.
They then highlighted the distressing symptoms of COPD, including shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, fatigue, and susceptibility to respiratory infections. The TikToker lamented that individuals like their coworkers have to endure such a terrible disease while working on their feet throughout the day. Additionally, they mentioned living in an area with poor air quality and smoke, which likely exacerbates the coworker's condition.
Unfortunately, this bait-and-switch tactic is all too familiar in the fast food industry. Companies like Burger King often display enticing wage figures prominently in their advertisements, yet the fine print, indicated by a small asterisk, reveals the qualifier "up to." Many individuals overlook this detail, leading to unmet expectations and frustration. In the current landscape of the United States, even a wage of $16 is insufficient due to the significant increase in the cost of living, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paradoxically, while large corporations reaped substantial profits, the general population faced soaring expenses. These corporations often justified price increases by citing supply chain difficulties and other challenges.
However, it has become evident that these actions were primarily driven by their pursuit of exorbitant profits, leaving their workers to bear the brunt of the financial burden. Users on the platform empathized with the worker. @mwuahsheila commented, "I work at Burger King, lol. This is really how it be. Lemme tell you… I'm ready to quit for the 3rd time again." Another user, @carolyntaylor130, said, "We should all complain to burger king corporate for doing this." Despite these adversities, the employee states that they are determined to hang on and hope that things will improve over time.