Recently there had been a newspaper article on a burger chain “giant” placing self-serve kiosks in stores this year. I took issue with several things within the article and, as is my habit, sat down and wrote those feelings down. Looking it over, I was taken by the message and tone of what I’d written, those I wanted to share with all of you. It is spot on in its criticism of automation and the loss of jobs for humans and what I see as profits over people. For this reason I wanted to share it with you here.

‘In an article describing increasing automation in a fast-food burger chain, the terms ‘labor costs/savings’ was mentioned three times. As well, it referenced ‘young people’ several times and in it the company asserted this demographic preferred to use these kiosks. One wonders if these ‘young people’ correlate their use of self-serve kiosks with a loss of jobs for themselves?
As well, the C.O.O. also spoke of eliminating labor hours and bemoaning wage inflation to investors. Topping it all off, labor was indirectly insulted by suggesting that kiosks were “always courteous and showed up on time”. The greed and demeaning condescension toward their human labor was apparent in the article and only served to convince me that they, and no doubt others, look upon their employees as a necessary evil whose hours and wages need to be slashed in order to increase profits for themselves and their investors. I find this kind of business model and attitude towards labor reprehensible.
While it is fine and understandable that people go into business to make an income to support themselves and gain success, if that ‘success’ comes at the cost of caring and respect to their fellow man and puts profit at a higher premium than humans and their interactions with each other, then what kind of ‘success’ is that?
How much profit then, how much money will be their folly when everything is so automated that there are no jobs left for people (who continue to procreate) to afford the things which these companies produce? What is their or any business’ moral obligation to the planet and its societies from which they consume and produce waste into? Are the planet and its masses only here for a businesses never-ending quest, and unquenchable thirst, for money? What about the lives and welfare of their fellow man? Do they not also need and want a better life and security too? Does business not understand this or is greed the only thing anymore? What has happened to society where ‘profit over people’ is the mantra instead of caring and looking out for your brothers and sisters who share God’s green earth with you?
Sadly, this business model underscores the truth that, if we do not proactively shop from conscientious companies, those which put people as high up on their list of priorities as money, we will then be, ironically, the only ones to blame for the demise of that ‘better life’ for ourselves.’