I just found out one of my employees is living in his car. Problem?

Ah, capitalism. A guy is obviously having some serious problems and the main concern is whether his troubles might cost the company in some way.

Ask this guy what is wrong and what can you do to help him out. Be a human being.

car sleeper wrote:

I just found out one of my employees is living in his car. He makes just over $70K a year. This has to be some kind of red flag. My first thought is drug abuse. He hasn't shown any other signs of that though.

What should I do? Should I contact HR? Ask him about it?

I earn 1.6x more than your current employee and I converted a newer cargo van to live in. Thinking about gettin that solar panel on the roof (what what) to make it official. Projects like this have been fun on weekends if I am not out somewhere where everyone wishes they could be. I've been doing this for about six months now and saving a lot of money. I also came from a super elite set up at my last place so I went up the ladder to intentionally take a step down. My only takeback is I get lonely at nights without a lady.

Apply a litmus test: if the dude has a van he planned this. If he doesnt then it is unplanned. Proceed with caution

Precious Roy wrote:

Ah, capitalism. A guy is obviously having some serious problems and the main concern is whether his troubles might cost the company in some way.

Ask this guy what is wrong and what can you do to help him out. Be a human being.

Ah communism, where $70k isn't a livable wage, and where gambling and drug addictions should go without consequences.

GI Joe wrote:

Precious Roy wrote:

Ah, capitalism. A guy is obviously having some serious problems and the main concern is whether his troubles might cost the company in some way.

Ask this guy what is wrong and what can you do to help him out. Be a human being.

Ah communism, where $70k isn't a livable wage, and where gambling and drug addictions should go without consequences.

Do you mean socialism poster? Those on economic left want $70,000 to be a livable. OP never stated there is evidence of drug use or gambling. There are men who are paying several thousand dollars a month in child support and/or spousal support.

You are not so ... wrote:

GI Joe wrote:

Ah communism, where $70k isn't a livable wage, and where gambling and drug addictions should go without consequences.

Do you mean socialism poster? Those on economic left want $70,000 to be a livable. OP never stated there is evidence of drug use or gambling. There are men who are paying several thousand dollars a month in child support and/or spousal support.

The goal of socialism is communism.

Vladimir Lenin wrote:

You are not so ... wrote:

Do you mean socialism poster? Those on economic left want $70,000 to be a livable. OP never stated there is evidence of drug use or gambling. There are men who are paying several thousand dollars a month in child support and/or spousal support.

The goal of socialism is communism.

What does socialism have to do with a guy living in his car? There would be more housing set aside for middle class wage earners with a more socialism in U.S.. Why are you attacking the fella living in his car?

You are not so ... wrote:

GI Joe wrote:

Ah communism, where $70k isn't a livable wage, and where gambling and drug addictions should go without consequences.

Do you mean socialism poster? Those on economic left want $70,000 to be a livable. OP never stated there is evidence of drug use or gambling. There are men who are paying several thousand dollars a month in child support and/or spousal support.

Socialists are authoritarians who try to pretend that $70,000 isn't a livable wage.

Authoritarians will pretend that personal failings are the fault of the government. No lie is too small in the communist fight to destroy society in order to save it.

And foolish authoritarian communists like you have such little experience running a business that you think it is evil for a business owner to have concerns about keeping his business operational.

Communists/socialists are people who make bad decisions, and hate successful people for being more practical and productive. OP contributes much more to society than any communist, like you, and you hate OP for creating jobs and keeping his business afloat.

your point? wrote:

Vladimir Lenin wrote:

The goal of socialism is communism.

What does socialism have to do with a guy living in his car? There would be more housing set aside for middle class wage earners with a more socialism in U.S.. Why are you attacking the fella living in his car?

If the fella living in his car was making $500,000 a year, you would still pretend there's no evidence of a gambling or drug addiction.

Just like you pretend that people who stand on the street corner holding their testicles all day are unemployed because of capitalism.

And every single mother on welfare just ran into bad luck, not bad choices. And surely they didn't have kids as a career plan to milk the welfare system.

Oh, and every homeless person on the West Coast is a victim of capitalism, not drug addiction.

And if they had free health care, they could just get their opiates from their doctor, not a dealer.

Invite yourself over to his place for dinner. Bring him a housewarming gift, like fluffy dice or some new car smell.

car sleeper wrote:

I just found out one of my employees is living in his car. He makes just over $70K a year. This has to be some kind of red flag. My first thought is drug abuse. He hasn't shown any other signs of that though.

What should I do? Should I contact HR? Ask him about it?

First, how do you know he is living in his car? Second, ask some questions. Third, go from there.

It's possible he just broke up with a girlfriend for a few days.

car sleeper wrote:

I just found out one of my employees is living in his car. He makes just over $70K a year. This has to be some kind of red flag. My first thought is drug abuse. He hasn't shown any other signs of that though.

What should I do? Should I contact HR? Ask him about it?

I hope you get fired

car sleeper wrote:

I just found out one of my employees is living in his car. He makes just over $70K a year. This has to be some kind of red flag. My first thought is drug abuse. He hasn't shown any other signs of that though.

What should I do? Should I contact HR? Ask him about it?

None of your business where he sleeps. He might just be frugal as others have said. Maybe he wants to retire for good by age 45. Maybe he is doing this a while to save a big down payment on a house. Maybe he's got some bills to pay. Maybe it's none of your business or maybe it's none of your business, or...maybe it's none of your business.

I am a Physician Assistant and live in my car three nights per week. I work out of town and want to save money. Trying to be frugal, pay off loans, pay for house and car. I shower every am in the gym after getting a quick workout. I know this will be frowned upon. It is funny that others care more about me living indoors Than I do.

I hope the guy is OK. It is not very safe to live in a car for many reasons. Getting to the bottom of why he is homeless and how the original poster can help should be the focus here.

America is a mix of Capitalism and Socialism. Neither is evil, but neither could work on its own. Is it likely that companies would collectively hire military, police, firemen, build roads, fund schools for a future educated work force, build ports, etc. for the common good if it were not required by the government? Unlikely, so we would not have those things. Then there would be no ability to do business because there would be no educated people with a safe place to life and safe passage to work. However, with those things Capitalism can thrive and people have jobs, pay taxes and keep the system running.

While unemployment is low, wages are low also. Wages have been roughly stagnant for 20 years in the US. This should not be the case in a "free market" as low supply and high demand should increase prices (wages in this case). There are a lot of people working hard and still struggling to meet their needs. This is a societal problem that will not be fixed by capitalists because it is not in their interest to do so. That is why it is incumbent on the people to correct it via government. Unfortunately, money buys elections. Money buys many of today's "news" sources also. Therefore there are many people who have been convinced that Capitalism is the only way and that the rich are benevolent givers of jobs. Those ideas have been paid to be on the airwaves for a long time. It is a bit more nuanced than that.

I did the same thing on the same salary.

Why?

Cost of rent: 1400

Car: 358

INsurance: 94

Phone: 110

Credit Card debt: 200 per month minimum

Student Loan Debt: 400 per month

Food: 600

I actually hate you for thinking 70k should get this guy in a home. Thats basically minimum wage for a college grad you a**hole

car sleeper wrote:

ohia wrote:

does he smell? is he not performing well?

No, he does not smell. His performance is acceptable, but it is on the lower side of the team he is on. There have not been any recent changes though.

It's weird but if it does not impact work performance and he comes to work presentable then it's really none of your business. I would also strongly advise against reporting it to HR as what he does in his personal life if it is not illegal or a violation of company policy is not something you or the company should be involved in.

Many possible reasons. Aince it doesn’t sound like you are his friend then mind your own business.

Ask yourself what Michael Scott would do and follow his example.

Pro Jogger wrote:

I did the same thing on the same salary.

Why?

Cost of rent: 1400

Car: 358

INsurance: 94

Phone: 110

Credit Card debt: 200 per month minimum

Student Loan Debt: 400 per month

Food: 600

I actually hate you for thinking 70k should get this guy in a home. Thats basically minimum wage for a college grad you a**hole

the 200 in credit card debt and 358 for new car, 110 phone bill are the problems, not your salary.

Used car for 200 a month, no credit card debt and a phone plan commiserate with your current financial status and you'd be in much better shape.