Disabled workers paid just pennies an hour - and it's legal

[moonshaz]

Some Disabled Goodwill Workers Earn As Little As 22 Cents An Hour As Execs Earn Six Figures: Report

Comments

[vorquellyn]

GW is not a "job" it is much more an activity for the severely mentally ill that permits the clients more self-esteem and a far higher lifestyle than they would otherwise enjoy.When I was going through my state's program to show I was employable, I did my job assessment with Goodwill. This was a common thing with my state's Vocational Rehabilitation Services. I worked 20 hours a week for four weeks with no pay. It was a job. I had to show up at certain times, take breaks at certain times, demonstrate an ability and willingness to obey supervisors, and follow workplace dress codes and other rules. There were at least five other people going through job assessments at the same time I was. That's at least 100 hours a week unpaid labor

[escherzo]

GW isn't providing housing or medical care, no, but for some people on SSI being paid a minimum wage, or even anything close, would put them over the limit/disqualify them from some of the services they receive. My partner, for instance, can only have two grand in savings before he's required to pay back some of his monthly payments. A minimum wage job would put him over that limit in a month or two.

I'm not saying it's not fucked up that GW seems to be abusing the system, because it is--but part of the problem is SSI rules as well, imo.

[skellington1]

Yeah, I was wondering about that. There's a lot of room between "22 cents an hour" and 'minimum wage' that could be discussed, but not unless people are looking at the SSI rules too. Otherwise we're likely to try to do something good that ends up hurting people.

[escherzo]

Yeah. I think, if anything, the SSI rules need to be revised. Goodwill is, arguably, massively underpaying its workers, but at the same time it's working with a system that essentially necessitates underpayment of disabled people. It's easy to write them off but to actually address the issue--it's more complicated than many people are making it out to be.

[lovelokest]

Yep, this. The guys I take care of have periodical spend-downs because they have too much money in their accounts.

[escherzo]

My SO doesn't have a bank account for this reason--if he wants to save for anything (gifts for friends/family, games or movies so he has something to do) he keeps it in cash on his person. Anything he wants to get that's online, I end up having to buy for him.

[escherzo]

Yes, this. I've talked with my SO about programs like this, because one of his chief issues is that, with no transportation and very little disability money to work with, he isn't able to go anywhere or interact with the community, and he hates how isolated and bored he is--but he's severely mentally ill, and regular workplaces aren't willing to accommodate all that he would need, nevermind that a living wage would make him ineligible for the programs that allow him to afford his medications. I don't think many people realize how trapped individuals in these situations can be--it's not about the money necessarily, it's about being able to actually get out of the house and interact with others.