Book Review: Nickel and Dimed

Serving in Florida is the first chapter of a book called Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting by in America (2001, Barbara Ehrenreich, Metropolitan Books). It tells the story of how the author decided to see what it would be like to live on a minimum wage. She moved into a mobile home and got a job as a waiter.

The author paints a bleak picture of the minimum wage lifestyle. Their options are limited. They usually have to work where the rich live, meaning that they can’t afford to live near their workplace. They can’t afford the bond for long term rent so have to pay the increased daily fees. They are constantly taking pain killers which they can’t afford.

While the employees are shown to be caring and hardworking people, the management is depicted as being an evil entity. They rule over their workers with little respect. They see the workers as being uneducated druggie thieves. In the job interviews the author attends, employers don’t look at past experience but instead ask questions such as “how much stolen goods did you buy last year?” and make people urinate into cups. Substandard equipment is provided and then management complains that work is not being done properly.

The management’s efficiency has resulted in cutting corners. The lack of staff facilities and a short time to complete tasks means that things are not as clean as they should be. No soap means that people can’t wash their hands properly when handling food. Difficulty operating vacuums means that floors don’t get cleaned.

The author makes many observations of people’s behaviour. She describes the retired cop that covers the hole in his throat to stop the cigarette smoke coming out. She also has gathered information and fellow employees through conversations.

The author appears to go through a type of grieving process. First she felt a shock and demoralisation plus some guilt for the way she used to treat people. She then comes to realise that many of the customers at her job are also workers in the same position. She seems to accept her situation and begins to take pride in pleasing the customers. She also makes friends with the other workers.

The chapter ends with author telling how one night everything goes wrong with computer systems messing up orders and customers getting upset. She blames herself for not being stronger. The next day she resigns. The other workers get on the lives as they always have, this gives a sense that she is disappointed that she was not able to make their lives better.