[OPE] In the USA it's official: consumers are workers (human beings with jobs)

One-third of U.S. consumers are worried about their jobs, a growing number that should be the latest sign of concern for retailers during the key holiday shopping season, a consumer research firm said. http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4B75QT20081208

That's equal to about 48 million worried workers, or about one in six US residents. Notice how this becomes a problem for capital accumulation.

Pew research found in April this year, that one in seven workers, or in total US 20 million adults, were worried about the possibility of being laid off. http://pewresearch.org/pubs/802/youre-laid-off

The fear is growing.

"A psychology of fear has gripped businesses and consumers and is likely to prolong the recession, said Lee Ohanian, a professor of economics at UCLA. "This one has a potential to be longer and deeper than other postwar recessions," he said. "People are very, very scared and worried. In my opinion the government has created much more uncertainty about the economy than it should have done. So it's really hard to tell how long this recession could last." http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-econ2-2008dec02,0,2587872.story

Pretty soon, they're going to be afraid of asking if they can go to the toilet (see below).

Jurriaan

Question: Is it lawful for an employer to charge employees to go to the bathroom or to make it unpaid time?
Response: Questions of pay for rest/bathroom breaks are not within OSHA's jurisdiction. The Employment Standards Administration, Division of Wage and Hour, has provided guidance at 29 CFR §785.18 (copy enclosed), but you may wish to contact that agency directly. State labor laws may also cover rest/bathroom breaks.
www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=24563

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Received on Tue Dec 9 04:37:30 2008