Surviving on Minimum Wage | Hard Earned | ENDEVR Documentary

sure I have a home, today was another terrible day at Walgreens, just happy to get home and be with my little ones. I always wanted to be a midwife, but I can't be a full-time working student and mom sits there and almost tells me what. I have to make myself stand in a piggy line still far away but I know there is hope for me praying that someday change will come saying God can you please give me something to believe in? Oh, I'm tired of waking up early to say it. You, so I'm on the hunt.

I decided this week that I'm going to find a rich guy so I don't have to. I don't care if I still have to work. I just don't want to work early. Amelia Stancati. Yesterday he applied for jobs throughout the city. She interviewed at a new sports bar. The interview went great and then the guy says the uniform is shorts and a t-shirt. I said I won't do it and they said you could use it. shorts you have a figure for shorts I said I don't wear shorts I'm 50 years old you know what I mean I'm not going to pretend like I'm trying to compete with 20 and 30 year old guys so I left you, you said I don't wear shorts , it's not me maybe we should have told you Hi Todd, thanks for bringing the coffee, it's about time you did something.

Be anything else, it's okay, enjoy your food please. Emilia has been a waitress for most of her life for whom she worked. a few years in construction, but the 2008 recession put an end to that motorcycle insurance, my car payment, sprinkler installers, I still pay dues even though I don't work with a construction company, but you know, I live off my credit cards when I don't earn. enough money, so the last few months have been minimal balances. The longer Emilia goes without finding a better job, the more she goes into debt on her credit cards and the more she runs the risk of losing her house.

I'm immersed in this mortgage, that's my fear of not earning enough to be able to keep up with the things I have. She works full time at the breakfast spot, including all weekends and holidays like today. Thanksgiving Day. I went to work at 6:15. The manager didn't show up until seven to four. There was nothing to do. I had four cooks, 10 waiters, three busboys, you know, if you cut out some of your staff, you'd already be saving money if you trusted your staff enough to cut the floor. I'm going to leave this here so you have a great day and have a happy day.

Thanksgiving, thanksgiving and then he started cutting the floor around quarter to 11:30. And they sent me home early and I went home with 38 that I wrote there. I think it was 38 or 35 from what the owner said. Last week the guy who owns eight restaurants said he hopes this new law doesn't go into effect and I saw what, no lie, the

minimum

wage

says and says it would destroy businesses and I said really my opinion on it is completely different. because if you give your average worker a little more money, he'll probably be able to pay the bills, maybe one or two extra bills or maybe he'll spend a little more.

You know, that's what keeps the economy going. I have the impression. that it would help companies if everyone

earned

a little more or maybe went out to eat at the restaurant the battle over the

minimum

wage

has heated up across the country today workers are demanding a minimum wage of 15 an hour thousands of fast food restaurants Los Workers left their jobs at a time when 44 of the jobs created in the last four years are low-wage jobs. There has been a call to double the salary in at least 30 cities. It is expected to be the largest strike abroad. at 10 50 right now 1050 can't pay any bills DJ Jackson's concern about wages and working conditions has led him to become more involved in the fight for 15 campaign even as he tries to keep his job at Walgreens when I went back to work it was exactly what I expected attention a lot of people don't talk to you I hate going into work because I know something is going to be said I know something is going to be done I know they're watching me I know they're I'm looking for anything.

I know I have to be on time. I can't be a minute late. I know all those good things, but it's exhausting because I can't be the perfect territory. DJ, he believes in a fight for 15. But I'm. nervous, you know we can't afford for one of us to lose a job, they're going to make you miserable so you want to quit, you don't want to go to work every day like my boss is going to mess with me or I can. I don't see my family because now they have me locking up all these nights, he comes home with a headache or you know, he just doesn't want to talk, like this week when I came in, I was like, honey, I named employee of the month.

I know and he was happy and then at the same time I was like, What's wrong? And his boss had made a mess, so that made me depressed because I'm employee of the month, but then you had a bad day at work, so you're not happy like I'm happy DJ and Takita have Wednesdays off at Walgreens. I feel so exhausted. Yes, it's my day off. It doesn't feel like it's all day. Although it's like my second job. I know you better not play Tetris. You're sick but you're still addicted to Tetris. Hey, look, I just told you.

I'm trying to win this tournament once. We should have eaten something. You haven't eaten anything this morning. I'm not very good. Yes. However, I have an appetite until you cook dinner, cooking, no money, I have enough energy to do that, you know we work on our skills, you know our strengths and weaknesses, yeah, throw me under the bus, I didn't say that, look if I cook for you again. I'm not saying that I'm just saying I'm just saying what you're saying I'm just saying what I'm saying what you're saying nothing they're doomed to be heartbroken please welcome William to the show it's beautiful when you have a snow day when you work at school the kids They think they are the ones who get excited actually it's the staff members who get excited at their old school they pay us and we want to go to school Anna look come here kiss on the birds their own seagull there are no secrets in Florida thanks dad José Elizabeth and Aiden live with José's mother in her guest room for part of the week the other part they live with Elizabeth's parents six days ago José and I discovered that we hadn't got the house we wanted I was on my way home, I calls and I'm stuck in traffic.

I said: What do you want? Do not Cry. I told him: Leave me alone. I mean, let me know. Cry in peace and him. He told me, let's just get married. I said what he said, yes, marry me. I said it's for. I was like crying. I said shut up, José. I told him this is not the time to play and he said if we are going to make the purchase of our lives with two different last names I would like you to take mine and that was it I said yes I said hell yes I didn't think twice I was on the phone yeah on the phone in the middle of the middle of the Montgomery Montgomery Mall while my mom was at the Sprint kiosk, I didn't do it the right way like I wanted to, I wanted to have the ring and then get down on one knee or even be put on a Jumbotron or something like that , but then I felt it was a time to make money brother on the phone how much should I move them? okay, okay, done a little 1500 from you José asks Elizabeth to move money from her savings account to pay for the rings that are trying to cover the wedding expenses without using what they have saved for a house she is very happy , very nice, yes, yes, what all women look at is the size of the thing.

Do you like it. I love it. Thank you so much. So how much would it be? Our total is we are in the program of three thousand one hundred thirty-one dollars José, we do not transfer enough. I'm kind of happy but I'm nervous about the wedding, yeah I know if you turn that off it doesn't say yes, no. no man, it's okay, yeah, you're still mad at me, frustrated with me there. I'm sorry if I came out like that. I'm sure it should be happy for us. You know you can do it. It's okay, I just have enough money.

Honey, I know we're cutting out a lot of things that I want, okay, I mean, I'm paying, I'm paying for my own dress, I'm paying for my own things, I should feel happier, but I'm not a big buy. I guess when someone would have to spend that much money if you don't have that much money to spend it, it dampens the mood a bit, the price was more than we expected. I said, well, I want that ring that I won. more money than José so I came and paid the other half of the ring in my personal account foreigner foreigner you tell me yes why not but I have a problem and I speak English I'm sorry, that was to go, that was to go, can you No, Yes, if you won, yes.

Hilton Kennedy was born in the US but raised in Mexico as an American citizen. He returned a year and a half ago in search of better opportunities. They ask him about coupons all the time while he was trying to study what a coupon looked like. or what he was supposed to do in certain situations, he was very afraid of similar coupons. I looked at him and told him. I told him that when I see Hilton working, I know I can trust YouTube. I can't teach work ethic and I can't teach someone to be loyal. English is something anyone can learn tonight.

Make sure you check the cash. Thank you. Hilton still works as a dishwasher at Google along with this new job at Sweet Tomatoes. He now works more than 80 hours a week. Hello, my friends, for you, they will pay you ten dollars. He will receive a two dollar raise. He'll make it a little easier, but I mean Silicon Valley, he's very expensive. I mean, I'm a general manager myself and I live. in a one-bedroom apartment with my wife, so I can't imagine someone like Hilton's friend Diana Gonzalez living in a garage in a trailer park with communal bathrooms.

Everyone Diana is in her second trimester expecting foreign twins, foreigners, goodbye, we're leaving. to stalk a restaurant on my days off I go to restaurants that might interest me and I have a cup of coffee and I get friendly with the waitress and I ask questions that come up empty in her job search Emilia keeps pounding the pavement I've never been here you know places I've worked I've never had shrimp omelettes Savannah you know there are a lot of black bean cakes fresh carrot beets celery apple ginger juice red eggs what is a red egg? I don't know how long you've been working here.

I've been here for about a month, what do you think makes this place so busy on the weekends and during the mornings? This is more of a southern menu, so we have a lot of southern people who are raised like corn muffins. I know okay, I'm being nosy, it's on the outskirts of Chicago, okay, this is what you use even on the weekends, yeah, it's an awesome place to do your work, but This would be the best for me, you know where it's quiet, but you're still making money. I mean, you still are. You can usually tell if it's a decent place to work by how the servers act for a long time providing service.

They are talking to the guests but there is not much conversation between the employees, which always indicates that it is a stressful place to work. If the staff is friendly and they talk to each other, you can tell that there is not much tension. I'm betting 6 30 7. o'clock, this place gets pretty complicated. Actually, I'm just going to go to Snoop on your menu. It's okay, you don't care. I can't get you a snack or anything. What do you get for snacks? making chocolate, honey, I'm too much chocolate for you, I love it, you can't drive this truck, no, I can't, you're right, I just ate a big lunch, so I definitely can't handle that foreign salary of chocolate for everyone. the other industries are eight dollars and I think 65 cents or whatever, but in the restaurant industry it's 4.85, that's my minimum wage abroad, it's not much, I mean, I don't know how anyone can live on 20,000 a year, but that's your, you know, between 20 and 30,000 is what a restaurant worker makes.

I'm always trying to make more money. I'm not afraid to try anything. My girlfriend owns an insurance company and she is going to teach me how to make phone calls and see. how is she doing her in sales because she thinks I have the perfect personality, I'm not sure about that Hello, how are you? Emilia comes here a few afternoons a week in the hopes that one day it will pay off in commissions. I have absolutely no experience with insurance quotes. I mean, she has to do it. show me how to open the computer oh she has the comfortable seat hello what's going on it's the same thing it's the same setup as the other one she's willing to give me a chance and that's more than most people have done for me and then you I can enter your username look how quickly I forgot no, it's okay she's just getting started.

I'm transitioning from bartending and construction and restaurants to an office job. I'm sitting at a desk and I look around and think, wow! It gets pretty boring, but if it's going to pay my bills and be easier on my body, I'd be willing to do it. You know, I'm always impressed with those girls who can do this and this but can't ride a motorcycle. so I'd like to think I'm ready for something new, but I don't know, I don't know if it's my thing, insurance, butI need a new job at Walgreens. I'm the SBA, which is the chief beauty advisor.

When I started my job I was a cashier and then I was immediately transferred to the Cosmetics Department and I thought, are you kidding me? You know I was raised by a man. I do not know what I'm doing. I don't know how to do hair I don't know how to do makeup Everyone used to make fun of me when I was younger because I never wore nail polish and I never did eye shadow because I was raised by my dad I was like Dad, what am I? I'm going to do it, he said, you're going to take this job and you're going to do it and I'm like, okay, okay, your son will tell you he's already started his job, my dad is my best friend and when I say that I mean it from mialma, I'm the baby, he worked

hard

to get me and my brother where we needed to be in life, the most merciful and heavenly Father, we just want to thank you today, thank you, thank you for the family reunion.

DJ and Takita's family meet with his father. Calvin's apartment for Sunday dinner Calvin has cooked for everyone thank you thank you Lord we meet at church oh god but being away from church and just being able to enjoy each other's company thank you you keep us going every day and I just want to say thank you I am in the name of Jesus amen amen amen alright Calvin fought for custody of Takita and her brother after a court ordered them removed from the home of their mother and her abusive boyfriend. I have had a difficult life that my mother has gone through. domestic violence and the day they took me my dad was on his way to my house and he didn't leave us he went to all the court dates he made sure he had his house in order he went into debt just to get an apartment big enough yeah you don't have I sit, yeah, go ahead, you know how to go home and eat and you can't sit down.

I had my son when he was a senior in high school and I just didn't do it. I didn't expect it because it was my first time and I had gotten pregnant and I felt like I let my dad down. I feel like I let him down. I felt like he couldn't accomplish anything more than my dad. He's my backbone and um, he told me that no matter what happens, I'll always have you back like when I had my son. I went to a community college. I didn't have a job, but my dad took care of my son until John arrived. in the picture, the design started taking care of the party in 10 months, you know Dijon is not his biological father, but he never abandoned him, nothing he does for the Mayans, he does for damari, yes, yes, feed him, there you go, there we go.

Good job, come on, come on, you work for me, thanks DJ Takita and the kids have settled into his new apartment. I'm applying every day to get a better job, but I've decided to set a time limit for myself. My daughter's birthday is May 26. If I haven't gotten a better position at another company, then I'll go to the military because military insurance companies cover benefits for the rest of my life and ensure my children benefit for the rest of my life. of his life he would go to the army. I understand why he says that because it is very difficult to get a well-paying job. 626 What career should you have?

But I don't want him to go just for the money. You said flexibility. I'm sure she asks. me all the time are you sure this is what you want to do? The army is my last resort. I don't want to have to leave them, but I will do whatever it takes to make sure they have a great life. I'm not happy with that. No, I'm not at all, that's the only child I have and I don't want anything to happen to him. I'm going to get some tissues, we have military in our family, that's not a problem for me if that's something he chose. because he really just wanted to go to the army but to go to the army because I can't find anything better when you go to the army you leave everything and everyone and my granddaughter is daddy's daughter that's going to be a problem John what time?

Is it 640? Hey I love you the neighborhood isn't the safest like my girlfriend walking down the street let me be there just so I can see you okay go ahead the schedule is crazy it starts with Elizabeth waking up and being out of the home. 6 30. foreigner as soon as she leaves the house I wake up I get Aiden ready for school I guess if you have to stop the bus at 8 16 and then I'm in class I have to get back to the bus stop around 3 15 when Aiden gets off the bus around four o'clock, I head to Elizabeth's mother's house, I leave Aiden there with Elizabeth's kids here, hi, I'm five, I have to work out at a big lunch for Aiden for the next day, so I usually have four hours and then I get up and do it all again.

Have a good day. Thanks No problem. Unfortunately, the place where I work is very far away. I spend a lot of money on gas abroad. This is my favorite part of my trip. See you look at The Monuments um I'm about to be near the exit of my house okay so I can see you yeah I only see him when I wake up and he's asleep and when I'm you know he comes home I'm asleep . older couples say that's all you need Elizabeth and José live part of the week with their parents they needed my help my dad is undergoing chemotherapy right now and that's why he can't work so I had to come home and I paid twelve hundred dollars each month for your mortgage support person Elizabeth and José's wedding is in a week after spending more money than expected on the engagement ring they are not sure they can afford a reception well not you I don't know the numbers in my head 980 That It doesn't include drinks and stuff, soda disorder, they have cash bar, sometimes they reveal the first thing for free, that's not free, it's three dollars and 25 cents, okay, it's too expensive, the pictures are not cheap, yeah, Well, I'm not. the only one who has to think about that too is jose you know i don't make decisions on my own anymore jose says no so the answer is no i'm not saying anything i know you didn't say anything but i'm just saying that you know, i'm pretty sure you agree agree with me that it is too expensive to add a drink yes, no, I don't care, it's too expensive, I don't have the money, oh foreigner, knowing that it could lead to a higher salary Emilia attends a fine dining course despite your misgivings I've worked in places where people put you down when they ask you know expectations are very servant like I should be your servant I'm not the one you want to make sure you grab it so your finger is not on the surface of the plate they are Deadly fingerprints on the plate, if there is a bone, make sure the bone is facing away from the gas and make sure the protein is in front. at six o'clock it's all about perception, whatever you do out there, whether it's touching your face or leaning in or any negative connotation other than this or this, what you know or what you know, having your hands, none of this, You know, once you get out there, I'm getting on stage, that's my biggest obstacle.

I approach the table in a panic. It's just a bottle of wine. I know, and the more relaxed you are, the more relaxed they are. You know, I looked at the Chicago Cut menu last week. having a five thousand dollar bottle of wine okay I don't want to be the one who breaks the cork 34 years 34 years 34 years I've been a waiter and I've always stayed where I'm comfortable you know even in At the Union League club I felt totally out of place even though I was there for two and a half years and they liked me.

I always felt like I didn't quite fit in, but that's also another thing: reevaluating what you really want. beliefs about your business model, okay, talk about it too, I don't want to tell the whole story, but you say, okay, this is the grace and the sellers Cabernet Sauvignon 2011. Yeah, exactly a little bit too far, yeah, because now your corkscrew would have gone through the cork. There are areas in my life where I don't have much confidence. I have low self-esteem. I always think people are better, but when it comes to my job, I know I'm good at it.

Diana has her first medical examination. appointment in the US at a community clinic hello foreigner as an uninsured pregnant woman qualifies for temporary Medicaid in California um okay Romero um Hilton failed her first attempt at the California food safety exam a requirement for promotion to junior manager Hilton's coworkers also failed the exam today they study with their manager for the make-up exam it's a ServSafe practice exam I mean this is something you can understand physical contaminants physical contaminants common objects that get into food Metal shavings from cans wood nails Staples Bandits glass Beverly what is going on is English for him he needs to accept that he has if he speaks English and he will feel better about himself.

Everyone knows that the thermometer we use is the bimetallic stem thermometer, but I don't know. I want to know that in Spanish. that would be called sexual he's a foreigner he teaches she teaches an art class it's like t-e-a-c-h-s yes yes exactly that's also one of the changes yes Hilton studies English once a week with her friend Ricardo they met at Hilton's first job in the US He had just arrived in Tijuana and I kind of saw myself in him. I told him I know some English. Maybe he can teach you some English. I know we have four categories of jobs.

Our website designer. Yes, office work. Okay, tell me another example of office work. I imagine you are. The boss, yes, the manager, yes, we would like to be very good friends and he was surprised that in such a short time I had a good savings account and three credit cards. He told me: Hey, I want to learn how to manage my money. Take care of my money the way you do I think he needs a father figure. There are certain things that he experienced that would depress him a little. In Los Angeles, abroad. Sometimes. Wow. Junior was very nervous and scared this morning around 10:30. he is in jeans and he is in the bathroom.

I said: Where are you going to the store? I need a shirt. I said: I'll be fine. I also need some shoes. Oh, anyway, he made it look good. Do you think so? My family 36. dollars we are gathered here to join José Mourinho and Elizabeth Bond giant hands please and they are going to repeat hi José hi José thank you Elizabeth thank you Elizabeth for my lovely wife for my legitimate wife for having to put up with having to host since this day forward from the state forward for better and for worse for better for worse for the richest for the poorest for the richest for the poor in sickness and in health in sickness and in health for as long as both We must leave while we both live the wedding.

The ring is a symbol of unity, an uninterrupted circle, without beginning or end, by the power and authority that best suit me. I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride. I am very lucky to have Elizabeth as my wife. She is a very strong person. strong woman, strong willed, can do it attitude, she will do it or if you let her do it alone you actually know so I just appreciate you being here sharing it with us and no I'm not pregnant so I love this man and I love him so much and I love Aiden for bringing so much joy into my life, especially with all of you here, you know, we try to save money in every way possible.

I made my invitations at work. I just bought a template online. for five dollars it was a 45 dress at David's Bridal because it was on sale we went to the Dollar Store to buy centerpieces for the 12 tables we had a table top it was a three thousand dollar wedding, something unheard of. The rings were the most expensive item, yes, I could have logged onto Amazon or I could have been really frugal about it. This is really, although I mean you're talking about restaurants, we're not talking about a psychology field, we're not talking about healthcare. I should be able to tell you where I worked, let the references speak for themselves, there are so many people, but it's a different field than it used to be in the last two months.

Emilia has applied for more than four dozen jobs and her financial situation. He seems more desperate than she ever was maybe I should become a nun Do you think they need resumes to be a nun? I don't smoke nor do you wear makeup on your face. That's why you need to go to university so you don't finish. in this place, this is where you have a very quick opportunity to sell yourself. Look, I don't understand. I mean, I have to do it. If I tell you here why I qualify. Why do I have to write that down there?

I have an iPad. Financially not me, I probably shouldn't have bought the iPad, but when it comes down to it, that's what it does. You are such a good boy. It's 587 dollars. Christmas money is already down and we catch up with Percy and Beverly Evans to watch their retirement dreams fade after losing their middle-class jobs. They're not looking for charity or anything like that. I want to sell cans before I go. Ask someone else to give me something.