Fast Food Workers Most Likely To Say Their Job Makes The World A Worse Place -- Who Else?

They may feed millions of hungry consumers on a daily basis, but fast food workers say their job is hurting the world.

More than 40 percent of fast food workers say their jobs make the world a worse place, according to data analyzed by Payscale for The New York Times. Some of the other jobs where workers were likely to say their jobs are making the world a worse place? Bar tenders, attorneys, fashion designers and investment bankers -- though the share of workers in those industries expressing the same sentiment is only in the single digits.

Fast food employees may be concerned about the negative health impacts of their work, thanks to a wide variety of critics of the fast food industry that include nutrition experts and animal rights activists. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that being in close proximity to a fast food restaurant "significantly" increases the risk of obesity.

But some of the critics may be getting to the industry. McDonald's officials said earlier this month that they're going to require the eatery's pork suppliers in the U.S. to phase out crates that tightly confine pregnant pigs, a move that the Humane Society claimed would have a “seismic impact” on the fast food sector, according to the Associated Press.

Still, the fast food industry may be doing its part to keep workers' wages low. Bosses in the fast food industry are largely opposed to raising the minimum wage, according to Slate. That’s because they have to pay a large number of workers that wage, unlike full-service eateries that can pay their waitstaff less because they receive tips.

The industry is poised to shed jobs in the next 10 years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects there to be 19,000 fewer fast food cooks by 2020.

These are the jobs with workers that are likely to say their job is hurting the world, according to Payscale data.

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Comments

[dede4007]

03:26 PM on 03/01/2012

Instead of the fast food restaurants themselves alone, I would say it's the ADVERTISERS who are more to blame for our mental state on what we as Americans 'must have". They spent billions of dollars on research and advertisements to MAKE people think we can't live without "such and such" a product, whatever it was. They heaped guilt on us by the tons, saying we weren't sexy enough, not attractive enough, soft enough, smooth enough, smart enough, but especially NOT GOOD ENOUGH, if we didn't consume or use or wear THEIR PRODUCT. The advertisers have PROVEN that the use of their skills DOES change the way people buy. Even the music in stores changes the way people shop, so it's not the stores to blame by themselves. McDonald's has been around since the 60's/70's, and we weren't obese back then, but when they invented marketing strategies and jingles to put on television, people's minds were changed. Now it's a way of life, and it can be changed back, but removing something when it's already in place is always harder than if it had never been there in the first place. The first thing is recognition. People are getting desperate now, too, which is a bad thing.They look for escape, which man has done all down through time. We just didn't hear about it back then like we do today. We lived just fine without knowing everything, every minute of every day, and life had less stress.

[fortressfountain]

10:19 AM on 02/23/2012

Lawyers often become politicans.

[Ansdlmol]

06:35 PM on 02/22/2012

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. Nobody forces people in the USA/Canada to do anything. If people have a desire to eat crap they will go to Burger King and if they want to drink they will go to a bar. People sue at the drop of a hat in the USA so there are shyster lawyers at every street corner. A little known fact but true nonetheless is there are more lawyers in California than there are in all of Japan: a country with thre times the population of California. People are always looking for somebody to blame for their own shortcomings but the root causes always lie closer to home. America is the home of FAST; fast food, fast lawyers, fast (instant) gratification fast buck, so until Americans take a long hard look in the mirror and see exactly what is and where the problem lies nothing will change.

[crazyindc1984]

04:01 AM on 02/23/2012

Here is a better fact. There are more lawyers in the US than in the entire world combined!

[piceaglauca]

03:18 PM on 02/23/2012

Yes, that also goes for workers. If they don't, like the wage move on. There wilI aways be another Jack popping up. Fast food jobs for young people are learning posts. I'm glad fast food outlets hire them. They provide a service , some money, reduced food costs and the workers learn some life skills.

[fortressfountain]

04:59 PM on 02/22/2012

Do not use the cut rate insurance companies. They are not only more expensive but they do not want to pay for claims.

[Lahonda]

04:31 PM on 02/22/2012

Lobbyists to Congress? The very worst.

[pdxist]

02:51 PM on 02/22/2012

McDonald's, Burger King, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, all slowly killing off the American public for profit and putting a big smiley face on it.

[crazyindc1984]

04:02 AM on 02/23/2012

I never saw Ronald lining people up at gunpoint and forcing them into a McDonalds.

[MBinNYC]

09:23 AM on 02/23/2012

Try explaining to your 6 year old why they can't have the shiny colorful toy related to the movie they just saw because it's only available in a Mc'D happy meal.

I'd rather take the bullet than listen to the whining child

[pdxist]

10:16 AM on 02/23/2012

Irrelevant. McDonald's slowly kills Americans for profit. Still true.

[FreeSwingingSoul]

02:21 PM on 02/22/2012

It's not the workers in those industries that are making the world a worse place. Those workers are just earning a paycheck. Call out the corporations (remember "corporations are people" now) and the industries, not the laborer who earns a paycheck at that corporation or in that industry. What's next, blaming the US consumer for the financial industry collapse (that required corporate bailouts)? I truly resent the way this article makes the employee look like they are personally responsible for making the world a worse place to be. It's not the employee, but the employer who is making this world a worse place to live.

[84BADGER]

02:09 PM on 02/22/2012

I'd put republican speech writer at the top of the list.

[SolarPowerGuy]

02:08 PM on 02/22/2012

What, they didn't ask politicians? Used car salesmen? Lawyers themselves, and not just their assistants?

Otherwise, I pretty much agree with this list.

[Zillacabra]

01:43 PM on 02/22/2012

Insurance claim adjusters who work for Geico deserve their own special place inhell. I had a car that was hit and totaled by a driver insured by Geico who was clearly at fault, but Geico refused to pay for my damages, forcing my insurer to deal with them through arbitration. Apparently they do this with almost all claims made against them. Fortunately my insurer reimbursed me in full (including my deductible) through my collision insurance, but if I only had liability I'd still be waiting for this matter to get settled (accident happened 11 months ago). Even so I'm still out of the money spent on a rental car, replacing a child's car seat, etc. and may never see it due to Geico's stalling strategy.

[bl8ant]

01:36 PM on 02/22/2012

Bah, that's nothing. 70% of people in advertising KNOW their jobs make the world worse. The 30% left are account managers.

[deaddisnee]

01:27 PM on 02/22/2012

I think tobacco Lobbyist should be on that list....

[Spock]

01:22 PM on 02/22/2012

Fashion designer definitely belongs. That whole industry is full ethical problems.

[AmericanItalian]

01:22 PM on 02/22/2012

Fast food is not hurting the world. It's the people who eat fast food on a daily basis who are hurting themselves. Self control and moderation is the key, without that it's your own fault.

[pixie7684]

02:02 PM on 02/22/2012

Fast food does hurt the world - the animals and the environment (industrialized farming) and those who consume it. Yes, self-control and moderation is key; however, the fast food industry has left an indelibly negative mark on modern society as a whole by creating cheap food for the masses, anytime, anywhere.

[aristippe]

02:54 PM on 02/22/2012

Ever wonder that there is a shortage of fresh healthy food. Consider the square footage at a supermarket devoted to nonperishables with low nutritional value.

[AmericanItalian]

03:32 PM on 02/22/2012

And with the fast pace of society it is sad to say that fast food has become a necessity. Without it society would not function as it has. So you can call fast food a problem but in reality it is merely a bi-product of a non stop world.
As for animals. Well, we have always eaten meat.

[Riverman]

02:21 PM on 02/22/2012

So when corporations hire psychologists to help them get into your head is that strictly your fault? How about when they use their access to the government to get laws passed that again serve to limit your choices, is that just your doing? How about when they use their access to government to keep legitimate nutrition facts as far removed from the public as possible, is that too all your fault? Of course people make choice and those choices have consequences but your take on it completely excuses the industry when they are definitely working very hard every day to mislead people into making the wrong choices.

[AmericanItalian]

03:35 PM on 02/22/2012

Everyone knows fast food is not all that healthy. We have known for decades now. We choose to eat it. No matter what anyone is doing to try to mislead the truth is out there. Same as cigarettes, we know yet people continue to smoke.
So in short, yes it is our fault. We choose to ignore the facts and let the industry tell us what we should do or what we should consume. We are too lazy to decide for ourselves. hence our fault.

[crazyindc1984]

04:09 AM on 02/23/2012

So when corporations hire psychologists to help them get into your head is that strictly your fault?

You are weak minded if that approach works.

How about when they use their access to the government to get laws passed that again serve to limit your choices, is that just your doing?

Last I checked, there are plenty of healthy choices out there for people to consume. They just seem to want something that tastes the best to them, rather than what is good for them.

How about when they use their access to government to keep legitimate nutrition facts as far removed from the public as possible, is that too all your fault?

If you look at any fast food chains website, they have the nutrition facts posted for all to see. And you can also ask for a nutrition guide at most fast food chains.

Of course people make choice and those choices have consequences but your take on it completely excuses the industry when they are definitely working very hard every day to mislead people into making the wrong choices.

That is their job to try to get you to buy their product. It is called marketing!

[ernie61]

12:58 PM on 02/22/2012

Bartender? Really? They're the only group who make this existence tolerable! :)

[Lahonda]

04:32 PM on 02/22/2012

...cheap shrink.