this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2026
1076 points (98.5% liked)
Work Reform
16834 readers
299 users here now
A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
- Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
- Better and fewer working hours.
- Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
- Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
As other mentioned its social security and Medicare tax. Social security tax ends after a point and Medicare tax continues (1.45% I think), hence the 2.2% effective tax rate.
What's missing is also the employer taxes, which are mirrored, this the cost of carrying employees in the US is higher than the gross wage... So the effective tax and real wage is all masked. (Eg if my salary is $100,000 I pay like $12k in social taxes and my employer also does the same, meaning the cost to the employer to hire me is $112,000)
All this said, the limit on social security tax is fucking stupid and needs to be abolished.