Comments on: Calling on workers and bosses: Your view on minimum wage

By: Rickster

Rickster — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:35:19 +0000

Anyone want to guess how much of an increase we’ll seen in new unemployment claims over the next 2-3 weeks after the minimum wage hike?

By: CookMyOwnFries

CookMyOwnFries — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:29:55 +0000

How much longer before there will be self-serve kiosks and checkouts at fast food joints? Anybody see a “full service” gas pump lately? Self-service machines just require maintenance wages, not living wages. Wait and see how much self-service you end up doing in places where you’re getting full-service.

By: Jodie

Jodie — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:58:04 +0000

“The real minimum wage is zero.”
Thomas Sowell

Teenage unemployment rate already at 30%…. Brilliant

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:19:06 +0000

Whether or not the change in the minimum wage is a good thing or a bad thing is a moot point now that the legislation has been passed. But it will have ramifications. Labor costs are one of the biggest parts of most employers’ budgets. If you need to cut expenses, you can either cut unit cost (the hourly rate) or quantity (number of hours worked). Time will tell what the ramifications are. Without governmental intervention, employers will pay what they have to in order to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees and they will do so in the most cost-effective manner possible. That’s how they stay in business. And, of course, they have to abide by the law.

By: Wordwizard

Wordwizard — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:14:08 +0000

The problem with the minimum wage is “it’s all carrot and no stick”! There should be a tiered minimum wage. ‘Apprentice’ minimum wage applies if you haven’t earned your high school diploma or GED. This will significantly reduce the high school dropout rates and at the same time improve ‘ready-to-work’ skills of the employee base. Essentially, if you work at improving yourself you eventually get paid for it with higher minimum wage! This is a win-win solution for the employee, the employer and America! I’m so tired of the federal government making laws that GIVE away money without requiring something in return.

By: Up Chuck and Barf

Up Chuck and Barf — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:08:24 +0000

yvonne
it sounds like you business stink. you need help? you want the government to bail you out and yet you have the temerity to complain about a non-livable minimum wage. phu-leez.

restaurants fail at a rate of 80%+. don’t blame minimum wage workers on your poor judgement and business accumen.

By: Brad Steel

Brad Steel — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:01:26 +0000

Yeah, increasing the minimum wage will kill business and undermined America, just like it has NOT for the past 40 years. Just like mandatory seat belts and airbags did not kill the car business and the tobacco ad-ban has not killed Phillip Morris, the minimum wage arguments are BS that support a wage level that is, shamefully, not even livable.

THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE TAKING TO THE STREET TO DEMAND A
MAXIMUM WAGE !!!

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:35:07 +0000

Yvonne, actually if you pass along only the cents per hour the minimum moved instead of a percent increase, it will still be considered fair and will save your company money.

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:06:23 +0000

Well said, Carolyn. That is what our company is facing. When the minimum wage increases, recently hired employees benefit. To be fair, longer term employees who have had their pay frozen due to economics should also receive at least the same percentage increase.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:29:27 +0000

What many people don’t realize is that there is either a ripple effect or an internal inequity when the minimum wage goes up. If a grade 1 employee gets a 70 cent increase, about the employee currently making $7.00 after merit increases for 3 years? Does he just get 25 cents, wiping out all his merit increases? What about the employee is a higher level job in a grade 2 that has a minimum of $6.88 (which is 5% above the grade 1 minimum of $6.55)? Unless you pass the 70 cent increase along to all your employees, you have wage compression and an internal inequity. If you do pass it along, the cost skyrockets. Employees hate internal inequities.