Today, almost every job can be done remotely… even a cashier’s.
Wait, what?
At Sansan Chicken and Sansan Ramen in New York City, customers are greeted by Filipino cashiers via Zoom.
While some customers enjoyed this novelty, others felt uncomfortable about the implications of this setup.
For one, many aren’t keen on the disparity between how much these cashiers are paid vs. the minimum hourly rate in New York.
Many are also concerned that this trend could take away jobs from New Yorkers, with AI-driven automation not too far behind.
Also, ordering food from someone on a screen from far away feels jarring.
So, what does this mean for remote workers in the Philippines? Let’s find out.
The Economic Implications of Outsourcing Cashiers
It’s no secret that cost efficiency is one of the main reasons why companies outsource to the Philippines.
Since they’re in an online work from home setup abroad, their employers aren’t bound by New York City’s USD 16 (PHP 912) per hour minimum wage law.
Instead, they’re compensated with far less, since the monthly minimum wage back in the Philippines is only USD 186.97 (PHP 10657.29).
This allows restaurant owners to cut costs amidst inflation, but many are concerned that they might be exploiting these remote cashiers.
According to Happy Cashier, the remote cashier’s management company, they’re being paid USD 3 (PHP 171.02) per hour.
Although this isn’t even a quarter of New York’s hourly minimum wage, Mr. Chi Zhang, the owner of Happy Cashier, said that this is double what similar roles are paid in the Philippines.
There’s also the tipping policy, where remote cashiers get thirty percent of the pooled total each day – even if they’re not onsite.
Will Virtual Cashiers Replace On-Site Ones?
Another issue is that remote cashiers might take away job opportunities for New Yorkers.
After all, if it’s much cheaper for companies to outsource key roles, why should they hire on-site talent?
This potential trend can be problematic for many inhabitants, as New York is one of the most expensive cities to live in.
Then there’s the question of automation.
Many are concerned that remote cashiers are the first step towards replacing human cashiers altogether.
Not only are AI seen as more efficient than their human counterparts, but they’re cheaper too. Some customers even thought that these remote cashiers were AI-driven.
The Lack of Personal Connection
For some customers, interacting with a remote cashier feels disjointed due to the lack of face-to-face interaction.
Aside from the awkwardness of talking to a person on a screen, some customers also found it challenging to communicate with their remote cashiers due to internet problems. This shouldn’t be surprising, as internet speeds outside developed urban areas in the Philippines remain relatively unstable.
There’s also the issue that some remote cashiers didn’t seem to have a good grasp of the restaurant’s menu, according to a reporter from the New York Post.
May I Take Your Order… From Half a World Away?
Most people used to think that cashiers could only work onsite.
However, the NYC restaurant challenged this belief by employing remote cashiers to greet their customers and take their orders.
Although innovative, it’s not without its detractors, as we’ve just discussed – and with many remote workers in the Philippines debating about whether they’d accept such a gig or not, given the disparity in minimum wage between New York and the Philippines along with the timezone differences.
Fortunately, you can avoid these issues on your next work from home job by working with a legitimate outsourcing company like Remote Staff.
With over sixteen years of experience in the business, we’re the experts in matching applicants with the right clients.
Aside from this, we also offer a payroll guarantee and assist in resolving any issues or misunderstandings between you and your employer- so you can both make the most of this unique working arrangement.
Although our jobs list doesn’t have openings for remote cashiers (yet), we have available positions for online transcription jobs, online design jobs, and many more.
Ready to start your online career? Sign up here.
