My Thoughts On Talia Jane’s Open Letter To The CEO Of Yelpfeatured

The whole issue sparked a huge debate with one side sympathising with Talia (and contributing to her GoFundMe) while arguing that large companies should pay employees the living wage. The other side has been less understanding, suggesting that rather than writing angry open letters, self-entitled millenials need to work harder and stop expecting everything to be handed to them on a plate.

Personally, I’m sitting on the fence of the matter. First of all, I think that companies such as Yelp / Eat 24 should certainly be paying employees the living wage rather than a salary that is just below poverty level. I think this is particularly needed these companies are based in cities that are expensive to live in. In a follow up post, Talia does raise some valid points about unfair salaries and the cost of living: “Call me entitled, but I don’t think you should be barred from growing and exploring and taking risks because your income isn’t in proportion with the cost of living in your area.”

However, as frustrating as Talia’s situation may initially sound, considering her largest expense is the apartment she rents alone, surely her living costs could be dramatically reduced if only she shared a place and split rent and bills?

It’s also worth noting that the job at Yelp that Talia took was an entry-level position that did not require a college degree. Many people who snap up positions like that fully expect to be paid less than they’d wish for because it requires lots of learning on the job. You’ve gotta start from the bottom and work your way up.

Why didn’t she side hustle? She could have worked in a bar or a coffee shop at the weekends or she could have walked strangers’ dogs and babysat kids. Alternatively, she could have polished up her CV and applied for jobs with more appropriate salaries.

Earlier today I read a counter-article written by writer Stefanie Williams. It made me think about how important it is that we take responsibility for our careers and incomes. Equipped with anecdotes of the lengths she went to in order to climb the career ladder and make more money, Stefanie’s article argued that Talia is simply in no position to complain about her financial circumstances when it seems as though she’s made little effort to rectify the situation like an adult.

Stefanie says: “Had you ended your whole whining disdain about full health coverage and expensive copays by saying you had taken a job at Starbucks, or a waitressing job in order to make money while you were on the search for a new job that requires the basic knowledge most teenagers with a Twitter account hold these days, I’d have maybe given you credit.

“Saying you moved in with several roommates to cut costs, tried to budget in a way that was more practical, and applied for jobs that were more about salary and growth than bragging rights and trends, I’d say hey, she’s making an effort.”

I certainly think low salaries need to be addressed in both the US and the UK. I also really feel for Talia considering the overwhelmingly negative and often savage backlash she’s faced as a result of her article. While some people express constructive criticism that probably needs to be heard, the majority of comments are just downright nasty. Many commenters seem to forget that they too make mistakes. Many also criticise the millenial generation as a whole as if young professionals today aren’t faced with tons of student debt and an unrealistic salary to living costs ratio.

But despite the testing financial circumstances that face millenials today, I can’t help but also agree with Stefanie’s sentiment. It’s a shame someone else didn’t give Talia such a straight-to-the-point pep talk (privately) before she took to the internet to voice her frustration about a job that could have led to her dream career over time.

My first full time job paid a little over minimum wage. I was still studying for an MA in journalism and couldn’t afford to rent a place so I lived with my parents for a while. Although the salary was low at first, I appreciated the opportunity I was given to make a start in the world of digital marketing. I worked hard, learnt as much as I could, and did extra work for the company at weekends. After a few months, my pay was bumped up to £16,000 a year. It was only then that I could really move out.

I moved into a rented flat with a couple of friends. We would have loved to rent a trendy apartment in Manchester’s Northern Quarter but our budget saw us moving into a small one on the outskirts of the city centre. Looking back, we were pretty lucky as we managed to find a place that was reasonably priced compared to other places nearby.

Talia’s article suggests she expects a certain standard of living that is way beyond what she has earnt at this point. Far too many people (and I’m not talking about millenials exclusively here) expect good money handed to them on a plate. Sure, employers should pay a fair wage in the first place but you have to know your limits - ie. don’t go renting an expensive apartment when you’re on an entry level salary.

You can’t go through life blaming the world for your problems. You have to take responsibility for them yourself and make the best of the cards you’re dealt. You have to share your home with other people and live in a shitty area if necessary. You may have to accept opportunities that are thrown your way even if these opportunities are ‘beneath’ you and you may have to accept help from family members (if you’re lucky enough to be offered it). You may have to side hustle and even take on a second job. You have to work hard at your job until you deserve to earn more. You have to ask people to give you what you deserve (nicely, not in the form of an open letter). You also have to know when it’s time to quit and go somewhere that respects workers and pays them enough to live to a reasonable standard.