Were Prison Treadmill Operators paid for their work?
Frequently Asked Question about the extinct profession: Prison Treadmill Operator
Prison treadmill operators, historically, were not paid for their work in the traditional sense. Instead, they were often subjected to forced labor as a form of punishment. The treadmill was used as a means of hard labor, and while some prisons provided minimal incentives or privileges, the operators did not receive wages like free laborers.