Nickel and dimed

Rent for a decent place usually takes up more than half of ones income leaving them without enough money for necessities such as food and clothing. Therefore, many must live in either motel rooms or trailer homes which they share with several others or resort to living in their cars. .
             Ehrenreich goes in search of different low paying jobs, accepting employment as a waitress, maid, aide in a nursing home and a Wall-Mart employee. It is shocking to see what it takes to become a low wage worker. Interviewers disregard knowing about ones education and experience but rather ask questions such as whether you smoke or have children, which aren't as important to the occupation. Some jobs hand out Accutrac personality tests where there are no wrong answers. These tests are given to show potential employees that they will hold no secrets from their employers. The two most .
             important factors in applying for a minimum wage job are that you do not smoke marijuana and that you are not a criminal. Therefore, almost all employers now require pre employment drug testing to detect marijuana while even more serious drugs like heroin and cocaine cannot be detected just three days after use. Ehrenreich is baffled by the mere concept that "Ones qualities, friendliness, reliability and willingness to learn can all be trumped by ones pee" (pg. 127) .
             Unfortunately, low income workers tend to be treated as subordinates. The right to use the bathroom while on the job was only guaranteed by federal law within the last few years. Research has discovered that a few years back, a factory worker, not allowed a break for six hour stretches had to live with the indignity of peeing into pads which she wore inside her uniform. Employers also refuse employees the right to drink water while they work and coerce them into working overtime without compensation. Employees are never given any encouragement, are always under constant surveillance and never trusted by those they work for.