This topic is closed.
Does anyone know if companies such as Stern or Jersey Jack pay their employees at all levels a living wage, provide health insurance, sick time, and personal time off? Do assembly-line workers work reasonable hours? Is profit-sharing offered?
Most assembly line employees at Stern are through a temp agency. The temp agency thing has been documented and talked about previously on here.
-Mike
Quoted from Grizlyrig:Most assembly line employees at Stern are through a temp agency. The temp agency thing has been documented and talked about previously on here.
-Mike
Thank you, that helped me find a reddit post with some not-so-flattering stories that hopefully aren't really the case. Shame if it is.
Quoted from rai:Why do you care? Maybe you’d rather they were made in China and those folks would be unemployed.
Quoted from TVP:What, do you want to pay even more? WTF???
It's good to support businesses that take care of their employees. No, I'd rather the work not be exported to China. China doesn't exactly have a good reputation for treating their labor right.
I've been offered jobs by two companies recently. I didn't ask what they paid. I suspect at least some areas of the companies they are willing to pay a good wage. Since I would be incurring relocation costs just to get me there.
LTG : )
Quoted from LTG:I've been offered jobs by two companies recently. I didn't ask what they paid. I suspect at least some areas of the companies they are willing to pay a good wage. Since I would be incurring relocation costs just to get me there.
LTG : )
Good luck with wherever you end up or stay. I was debating walking a good 9 miles to visit SS earlier today, but it's too hot! Maybe tomorrow.
I've seen union local stickers within Bally EM pinball machines I've owned. An old-timer told me those were the only union-built pinball machines.
I find it interesting that people here want to know EVERYTHING about the current manufacture of pinball machines but bristle at this line of investigation.
I'd be curious as well about this type of information. It's not like it keeps me up at night, but hey, folks are just asking questions!
I understand they have a nice assortment of microwave ovens where their employees can heat their frozen burritos.
The “Remanufacturer” I work for is a real tight ass. No overtime pay,no company health benefits,no sick days ,no profit sharing only sharing the losses.
I am living the American dream. I own the company 
Seriously even when you are your own boss you don’t get all that stuff. These are jobs not a lifestyle adjustment.
Quoted from FlippyD:"Living wage" is a loaded political term primarily designed to virtue signal.
Ok, how about do they make enough to work 40 hours a week, pay rent, eat healthy, and have their medical needs taken care of? We're talking about producers of $5000-$8000 fun machines, I dont really see how this should be controversial.
Quoted from roffels:Ok, how about do they make enough to work 40 hours a week, pay rent, eat healthy, and have their medical needs taken care of? We're talking about producers of $5000-$8000 fun machines, I dont really see how this should be controversial.
FAKE NEWS FAKE NEWS
or something.
Quoted from Grizlyrig:Most assembly line employees at Stern are through a temp agency
Explains a lot !
Quoted from High_End_Pins:The “Remanufacturer” I work for is a real tight ass. No overtime pay,no company health benefits,no sick days ,no profit sharing only sharing the losses.
I am living the American dream. I own the company
Seriously even when you are your own boss you don’t get all that stuff. These are jobs not a lifestyle adjustments.
Yeah, being a business owner sounds like a tough gig and something we're not all cut out for. Hopefully if you have employees, you treat them well and that business stays good for you.
Stern requires all employees to play at least 30 minutes of pinball at work each day. Where I work now, they wouldn't tolerate that at all.
I need a better job.
Quoted from roffels:Ok, how about do they make enough to work 40 hours a week, pay rent, eat healthy, and have their medical needs taken care of? We're talking about producers of $5000-$8000 fun machines, I dont really see how this should be controversial.
But who gets to define "living wage for pinball producer"? And why do they get that power to define that? And will that wage be the same for each individual or if I have a family with six kids do I get paid six times as much because I would need that much for it be livable?
The idea that people should be paid fairly sounds wonderful. The controversy is in the details.
Quoted from FlippyD:But who gets to define "living wage for pinball producer"? And why do they get that power to define that? And will that wage be the same for each individual or if I have a family with six kids do I get paid six times as much because I would need that much for it be livable?
The idea that people should be paid fairly sounds wonderful. The controversy is in the details.
So you support paying them more?
Would it be better if I asked if Stern or JJP pays enough for their line worker or receptionist or whatever to work 40 hours, pay for a 2 bedroom apartment within 10 miles of the business, and be able to afford food and medical?
Quoted from FlippyD:But who gets to define "living wage for pinball producer"? And why do they get that power to define that? And will that wage be the same for each individual or if I have a family with six kids do I get paid six times as much because I would need that much for it be livable?
The idea that people should be paid fairly sounds wonderful. The controversy is in the details.
Agreed.
If every job paid the same, what job would you choose? How many of us would choose a job that ends at the whistle, instead of spending extended hours, plus taking work home.
Just food for thought OP.
Quoted from RonSS:Agreed.
If every job paid the same, what job would you choose? How many of us would choose a job that ends at the whistle, instead of spending extended hours, plus taking work home.
Just food for thought OP.
I'm talking about the bare minimum here to survive.
Quoted from roffels:So you support paying them more?
The idea sounds wonderful doesn't it?
The reality of wage fairness is not a yes or no question. If pinball employees are paid too much than the games become too expensive. If they are paid too little the quality of the construction drops. If they have wonderful healthcare and healthcare costs skyrocket than the companies will have to lay people off.
Do you support simplifying complex issues down to easily digestible sound bites and buzz words?
Quoted from FlippyD:The idea sounds wonderful doesn't it?
The reality of wage fairness is not a yes or no question. If pinball employees are paid too much than the games become too expensive. If they are paid too little the quality of the construction drops. If they have wonderful healthcare and healthcare costs skyrocket than the companies will have to lay people off.
Do you support simplifying complex issues down to easily digestible sound bites and buzz words?
Those aren't the only options. Gary Stern could take a smaller cut, for example. And if a business cant afford to take care of their employees, maybe they shouldn't exist as an entity.
Quoted from roffels:I'm talking about the bare minimum here.
People have a choice. Those working at Stern, JJP, etc have decided the work and pay meets their needs. No one is forcing them to work there. In short, it’s none of your business.
Quoted from roffels:...cant afford to take care of their employees, maybe they shouldn't exist as an entity.
This is a very extreme perspective you have. I refer back to my original reply to this thread.
Quoted from kmoore88:People have a choice. Those working at Stern, JJP, etc have decided the work and pay meets their needs. No one is forcing them to work there. In short, it’s none of your business.
Sure it is my business, who we support and why matters.
I work in sourcing of product, and its frightening how much exploitation is in our supply chain. I do my best to avoid working with businesses using slave labor and give businesses to those taking care of their employees and suppliers. Same should apply to who I support outside of work.
Quoted from roffels:I'm talking about the bare minimum here to survive.
Define bare minimum. One might assume that would be called minimum wage.
If you spent $80,000 and 5 years learning a profession, and I started working right out of school doing a general labor job, should we be paid the same?
I think you are truly over simplifying this
Quoted from roffels:Yeah, being a business owner sounds like a tough gig and something we're not all cut out for. Hopefully if you have employees, you treat them well.
It is just me these days but what a lot of people don’t always understand about the expense of employees is that it goes well beyond the hourly wage and benefits.
You have to match their social security and Medicare.
So a guy that brings home say $600 probably truly cost a company close to $1200 with all these additional things like insurance,workman’s comp and deductions but he feels he only makes $600 because that is what he can deposit or cash and his motivation might reflect as such.
Point being is employees pay their bills and live a lifestyle with their net pay but employers hire and manage employees based on true cost and expenses so there will be a disconnect.
Quoted from RonSS:Define bare minimum. One might assume that would be called minimum wage.
If you spent $80,000 and 5 years learning a profession, and I started working right out of school doing a general labor job, should we be paid the same?
I think you are truly over simplifying this
You should both have access to healthcare and housing you can afford. If you have high technical skill and your work is in demand, you should be compensated more.
Quoted from High_End_Pins:It is just me these days but what a lot of people don’t always understand about the expense of employees is that it goes well beyond the hourly wage and benefits.
You have to match their social security and Medicade.
So a guy that brings home say $600 probably truly cost a company close to $1200 with all these additional things like insurance,workman’s comp and deductions but he feels he only makes $600 because that is what he can deposit or cash and his motivation might reflect as such.
Point being is employees pay their bills and live a lifestyle with their net pay but employers hire and manage employees based on true cost and expenses so there will be a disconnect.
True. I work in pricing and sourcing, this is my day to day. I am grateful I work for a business that pays a living wage to entry level employees, and know it's incredibly tough to do.
Yes they do. If they didn't make a living wage they wouldn't work there. This kind of talk isn't good for pinball.
Quoted from TechnicalSteam:Yes they do. If they didn't make a living wage they wouldn't work there. This kind of talk isn't good for pinball.
What? Lots of people hold jobs without living wages. It’s a big problem right now.
Quoted from roffels:Sure it is my business, who we support and why matters.
I work in sourcing of product, and its frightening how much exploitation is in our supply chain. I do my best to avoid working with businesses using slave labor and give businesses to those taking care of their employees and suppliers. Same should apply to who I support outside of work.
You obviously don't support The Walt Disney Company then.
Quoted from High_End_Pins:It is just me these days but what a lot of people don’t always understand about the expense of employees is that it goes well beyond the hourly wage and benefits.
You have to match their social security and Medicade.
So a guy that brings home say $600 probably truly cost a company close to $1200 with all these additional things like insurance,workman’s comp and deductions but he feels he only makes $600 because that is what he can deposit or cash and his motivation might reflect as such.
Point being is employees pay their bills and live a lifestyle with their net pay but employers hire and manage employees based on true cost and expenses so there will be a disconnect.
It's Medicare. Medicaid is part of the welfare system.
Quoted from MrBally:It's Medicare. Medicaid is part of the welfare system.
Thanks I know phone has a mind of its own with the typing.
Quoted from roffels:Thank you, that helped me find a reddit post with some not-so-flattering stories that hopefully aren't really the case. Shame if it is.
Link please?
I for one would drive a Zamboni as my full time job provided everyone was paid the same hahaha
Quoted from RonSS:Agreed.
If every job paid the same, what job would you choose? How many of us would choose a job that ends at the whistle, instead of spending extended hours, plus taking work home.
Just food for thought OP.
Quoted from Darcy:If you mentioned PINSIDE in the job interview, chances are you are not getting a call back
So are you saying it would be best to not mention pinside when applying here?
I believe that an employee that works 40 hrs a week should be payed above the poverty level in that area.
Why don't you go apply for a job at Stern and let us know. How the F would we know how much money people make that works there? They obviously are making enough or they would quit and go find another job. Jobs arent hard to come by right now as long as you can pass a drug test.
Quoted from Who-Dey:Why don't you go apply for a job at Stern and let us know. How the F would we know how much money people make that works there? They obviously are making enough or they would quit and go find another job. Jobs arent hard to come by right now as long as you can pass a drug test.
They're probably hard to come by if you only speak Spanish. Only job openings I saw at Stern were line supervisors that are bilingual.
Quoted from Who-Dey:Why don't you go apply for a job at Stern and let us know. How the F would we know how much money people make that works there? They obviously are making enough or they would quit and go find another job. Jobs arent hard to come by right now as long as you can pass a drug test.
You are spot-on. I remember a few years ago taking my son to a "Automobile recycling center"on the quote and pointed out the several people working there whose job was to go out in the yard and pull the parts that customers needed as well as general labor jobs. I told him to look at them, those are people who can't pass a drug test.
Quoted from roffels:Sure it is my business, who we support and why matters.
Same should apply to who I support outside of work.
Understand.
Question- how many Stern machines do you own?
Quoted from Who-Dey:Why don't you go apply for a job at Stern and let us know. How the F would we know how much money people make that works there? They obviously are making enough or they would quit and go find another job. Jobs arent hard to come by right now as long as you can pass a drug test.
Wow, you are out of touch with reality... sad
Quoted from roffels:They're probably hard to come by if you only speak Spanish. Only job openings I saw at Stern were line supervisors that are bilingual.
Maybe learning to speak English would help get better paying jobs 
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