Most union vs non-union arguments are fought by people who’ve never run payroll

Steven
Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:45:29 +0000
Labor Rights

Arguments are driven by theory rather than operational reality. Surveys show that the majority of workers and activists have never managed a business, while over 90% of U.S. firms are small businesses where owners personally handle payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance.

People who’ve never run payroll often underestimate fixed costs—employer-side taxes (~7.65% in the U.S.), workers’ comp, health insurance, overtime rules, and cash-flow volatility—which directly shape what wages and benefits are feasible. As a result, debates tend to frame employers as withholding value rather than balancing thin margins, irregular revenue, and legal risk. This gap in firsthand experience explains why arguments often prioritize moral claims over financial mechanics that ultimately determine whether jobs can exist at all.

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