Episode notes
How did the 1996 welfare reform act impact the American working poor?
In this episode, a food service industry veteran (of 20+ years!) shares the harsh realities of her life with me. She tells me all about working in fast food as a child, what it's like to be homeless, what happens when she wants to leave a job (but can't), surviving while living below the poverty line, and more.
Keywords
survivaltippingbaristaamerican povertythe working poorcapitalism nickel and dimedfast foodrestaurantfood service industry1996 welfare reform act unskilled laborlow wagelow wage workersminimum wagecycle of povertyAmerican work ethicwelfare-receiving poortipping culturesocial safetyprosperityevictedhomelessnesshomelesswaitresshotel maidcleaning womanAmerican social policy harsh realities of life