alt Hacker News> billion dollar companies (like Starbucks killing mom and pop shop) have disproportionately more power over individuals or what are you saying?
They have zero power over individuals. They cannot make you work. They cannot prevent you from working for someone else. They cannot arrest you. They cannot confiscate things from you. They cannot tell you were to live. They cannot shoot your dog. They cannot evict you. They cannot fine you. They cannot tell you what to do after hours. You can quit at any time for any reason. Your rights are completely intact.
> Workers don’t work at will.
"at will" has a legal meaning, meaning they can work or quit or change jobs at any time. No law or company rule can prevent that.
Replies
> They have zero power over individuals.
What’s your net worth? How much do you own at moment? How much have you inherited?
> They cannot tell you were to live.
Yes, they can. If you don’t have money to pay for mortgage, you have to leave.
> They cannot shoot your dog.
No, but landlord can say “no dogs”, which will reduce your pool of rental options.
> They cannot evict you.
The banks and government will, right.
> They cannot fine you
So you going from $100k+ salary to, potentially, welfare isn’t a problem at all?
> They cannot tell you what to do after hours.
Of course not, they can just gaslight you under threat of pip to be on-call for extra hours.
> Your rights are completely intact.
Companies have responsibility to society beyond making money to shareholders and upholding legal laws.
> "at will" has a legal meaning, meaning they can work or quit or change jobs at any time. No law or company rule can prevent that.
No wonder “the American Dream” is dead.
Ah, there's your fallacy - you seem to think that when someone has a legal right to exercise some right, that also means they have a freedom (in the practical sense) to exercise that right.