What gets me are people who flip burgers for that long... I've worked bottom level retail. And it's hard not to get promoted. Unless you're a complete idiot.
Indeed. Turnover in retail and fast food is insane. I'm sure someone who is flipping burgers for 10 years has to be working for someone who joined the crew after they did. I knew plenty of kids in high school that made assistant manager just by staying at the same job for more than a year. It's really not that difficult.
However, these are not well educated people. They do not make the connection that their wages ultimately decide the cost of the goods they help to sell. I'm sure if McDonald's thought they could get away with selling $20 hamburgers they'd be happy to pay everyone $15 an hour.