Should minimum wage be raised to $15 per hour?

[jazzc]

The reason for a minimum wage, is to prevent the rich from driving wages so low that their workers
would be better off if they where slaves.

Clear your facts first. Employers can't set wages, the market process does.

 

[thetvnun]

they can't do it. it would destroy nanny/babysitting/gardening, move cubicle jobs overseas and create a new mexican goldrush.

 

[chriswick]

The minimum wage actually creates unemployment. But the government thinks it's better for you to be unemployed and on benefits, than working, gaining skills and experiences and earning your own money.

 

[Jobless]

No. Minimum wage increases unemployment, and reduces the spending power of those that worked their way up by increase prices down the road.

If everyone makes at least $15/hr, prices for everything will go up, not only to balance out the cost of labor, but because of the huge increase in purchasing power, so the whole thing becomes null anyway, and hurts those will okayish jobs to begin with (someone making $17/hr, for example, will have less purchasing power in a few years, people with jobs like these wont just get a $7.50 raise if the law were to change).

Not to mention only something like 2% of the work force makes minimum wage. It's just a stepping stone, anyone making minimum wage past 20 isn't going to do anything with their lives anyway.

The reason for a minimum wage, is to prevent the rich from driving wages so low that their workers
would be better off if they where slaves.

Except we have a free market. If somehow all businesses pay everyone a penny and a cracker per day, guess who doesn't have money to spend on the shit they're producing? Free markets work, and balance themselves out, most of the economic problems arise from trying to control something, and placing limitations, which usually have the unintended affect of hurting the little guys - both consumers and businesses.

 

[kvmcable]

It looks like many here never had a business course. I've employed workers for more than 20 years. I can count on one hand the number of good employees we've had.

I tried increasing wages for workers and it made no difference in their performance. If it did make a difference it was negative. I tried offering more benefits, again it made no difference in their performance. At one point I had workers making more money than I do, honestly all we got was lazier workers or workers that had more "emergencies" that required more time off. Higher wages don't make better workers.

At business seminars and local Commerce meetings other business owners exchange the same stories. The #1 hindrance to business growth are good workers. I even tried to outsource sales to independent sales people paid a commission of what they sold. They'd bust ass for a few weeks, work all their leads, bank some good money and then back to slacking off.

What I learned is people are raised with good work ethics or they're not. It's not something you can train as an employer. These good employees do their best work because they take pride in what they do. They want to make an impression. They want to do a good job. Of course they want a fair wage but their work doesn't vary on their pay. You offer them a fair wage so they don't leave.

Those that think fast food will absorb a doubling of wages for workers are foolish. Wages are a pass through expense to the product. The product prices will double and the market will stabilize. Fast food business will slow down, less workers will be needed but the franchise owners will still make their money. They'll just need much less production to reap the same profit. Doubling the wages will probably be a benefit in the long run. Instead of scurrying like ants to pump out 1000 meals a day to make their money they'll work at a much slower pace, with less employees, less meals and still bank the same profits.

This is the double edge sword of public business revealing their books, the employees always want the rich man's money. The real people that should be arguing for a doubling of wages are the employees of the oil companies. Their profit postings are insane.

 

[HeRBaR]

What do you guys think. Yes, No, Maybe So. We're all entrepreneurs anyway.

For what country are you talking about
In my country average salary is $250 - $300 / month
Most of the people barely pay their expenses in the end of the month.

 

[blackberry]

Very well said and absolutely true.

I have not employed people for 20 years, but for 12 years, but yeah same conclusion.

It looks like many here never had a business course. I've employed workers for more than 20 years. I can count on one hand the number of good employees we've had.

I tried increasing wages for workers and it made no difference in their performance. If it did make a difference it was negative. I tried offering more benefits, again it made no difference in their performance. At one point I had workers making more money than I do, honestly all we got was lazier workers or workers that had more "emergencies" that required more time off. Higher wages don't make better workers.

At business seminars and local Commerce meetings other business owners exchange the same stories. The #1 hindrance to business growth are good workers. I even tried to outsource sales to independent sales people paid a commission of what they sold. They'd bust ass for a few weeks, work all their leads, bank some good money and then back to slacking off.

What I learned is people are raised with good work ethics or they're not. It's not something you can train as an employer. These good employees do their best work because they take pride in what they do. They want to make an impression. They want to do a good job. Of course they want a fair wage but their work doesn't vary on their pay. You offer them a fair wage so they don't leave.

Those that think fast food will absorb a doubling of wages for workers are foolish. Wages are a pass through expense to the product. The product prices will double and the market will stabilize. Fast food business will slow down, less workers will be needed but the franchise owners will still make their money. They'll just need much less production to reap the same profit. Doubling the wages will probably be a benefit in the long run. Instead of scurrying like ants to pump out 1000 meals a day to make their money they'll work at a much slower pace, with less employees, less meals and still bank the same profits.

This is the double edge sword of public business revealing their books, the employees always want the rich man's money. The real people that should be arguing for a doubling of wages are the employees of the oil companies. Their profit postings are insane.

 

[blackberry]

Just $300 a month? Must be a third world country.

$300 over here wouldn't even last 4 or 5 days.

For what country are you talking about
In my country average salary is $250 - $300 / month
Most of the people barely pay their expenses in the end of the month.