The Chamber of Commerce is calling attention to its ten favorites for the year [via Bainbridge, list can be found there]. Eight of the ten may ring a bell with those who have followed our coverage (goblin-toppler, helmet toss, undecillion dollars, man saved from drowning sues rescuers, California ADA serial filer, falls after seeing “Dexter” ad on subway, caught sleeping on camera at Yankees game, claims “Frozen” based on own life story), while two are new to us:
8. Minimum Wage for Court-Ordered Community Service? (New York)
9. Jimmy John’s Lawsuit “Sprouts” Hefty Payday for Lawyers – Vouchers for Victims (California)
4 Comments
I can almost see where the “minimum wage for community service” makes sense. My question is who did the work that people get assigned to for community service before there was community service? Were these paid positions that were eliminated by community service?
@Jim–
The community service is supposed to be a penalty. If you are concerned that penal community service workers will undermine wage scales for free workers, one could provide that the penal minimum wage be forfeited to a restitution fund or similar purposes.
I gather that many community service jobs are ones that in theory could be done by paid workers, but do not in fact rank high enough on a priority list.
I know that Hugo. I also know that in my area you have to pay a fee when you are assigned community service, that covers the administration costs. I was just wondering if this lawsuit was ever to become successful, would the SEIU try to organize them.
Fine then–instead of community service, sentence the thugs to confinement and then charge them the daily hotel rate for the taxpayer-provided lodging.