Minimum Wage

Fast food workers are striking saying they need to have their wages doubled. They just can survive on what they make. Waaaaaaaaaa!!!!!


I have NEVER earned minimum wage. My first job was at Subway and I made a whooping 75 cents over minimum wage to close the shop. Minimum wage is a starting point (should be abolished anyways) and if you make yourself work more you will make more. It is for people entering into the workforce.


Now I hear about these people bitching about how they don't make enough and I laugh. My last paycheck was Oct 2011. Cry me a river. Don't like how much you make DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Work a second job, go to school, learn a trade, stop bitching and do something.

I am self employed, and if I looked at my hourly pay, I'd probably go postal. Just a tick over $7 an hour, take home...[facepalm]

Tenacious, or just stupid? I've been doing this for almost 17 years now, and didn't draw a paycheck for the first 4+....

Well the laugh will be on them ... double minimum wage and half of them will be instantly unemployed. Dumbasses.

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Originally Posted by TFOGGER

I am self employed, and if I looked at my hourly pay, I'd probably go postal. Just a tick over $7 an hour, take home...[facepalm]

Tenacious, or just stupid? I've been doing this for almost 17 years now, and didn't draw a paycheck for the first 4+....

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Sigh. I didn't want to hear that.


I WILL cut myself a paycheck this year, if for no other reason then to say I paid myself after one year in a fixed location....

I made minimum wage when I pumped gas and when I was flipping hamburgers at Jack-in-the-Box. Honestly, half my min wage coworkers at Jack's didn't deserve much more than $1/hr. Used to have this argument all the time in college, primarily with kids who had never associated with anyone who had worked for minimum wage much less done that kind of job themselves but wanted to feel good about supporting a "living wage".

Minimum wage is part of the command economy, the government is the last entity that should determine how much someone should be paid for a task. The employer should make that determination and if no one will that the job at the offered rate the employer will have to increase the compensation.

Like it or not they are doing something about it. They can demand more from their bosses and their bosses would say GTFO. So instead they take it public and rely on public opinion and sympathy to pressure their bosses (who should still say GTFO). I don't think they realize that they are rather low skilled workers and easily replaced.

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Originally Posted by tmleadr03

Sigh. I didn't want to hear that.


I WILL cut myself a paycheck this year, if for no other reason then to say I paid myself after one year in a fixed location....

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Talk to your accountant regarding a quarterly bonus, vs actual paycheck.

regarding "minimum wage" In some business if not most unless you bring a lot to the table your entry salary is no where near what a skilled employee receives. Should the entry workers demand higher pay too? This is akin to the college mentality of "i have a degree" i need to make $$XX starting pay.

Start at the bottom and either work your way up, or to a better paying job.
Today's young American worker is going to find them self in the same job market as younger folks in England, Greece & France. UNEMPLOYED.

I make WAY under minimum wage, being self empoyed.
Pres
COE
COO
foreman
QC manager
Accountant
payroll
Deliveries
material handling
purchasing agent


Oh well, let em bitch and then get a real job.

Get a different job if you don't like yours. Work harder, earn more.

I look back over my entire working life (I'm 44 and have been working pretty much solidly since I was 16) and I believe I've worked for Minimum Wage for only 2 months!

The first month at my very first job at 16 (was a Wendy's). After my 30 day probationary period I got a nickel raise. Then at my second job bussing tables at a Mr. Steak I had to start back at minimum wage again but after my 30 day probationary period I got a dime raise.

That's it, every other hour I've worked since then for the last 28 years has been at some rate higher than minimum wage.

I suspect my experience is pretty common.

My first real job, aside from mowing lawns, was my senior year in high school. I knew I was going to be studying computer science in college, so figured I'd do tech work at the big new store in town "Staples" to get my feet wet. I started at $7.25 an hour, as a sales associate and computer technician... this was almost 15 years ago... I think I started off strong, and haven't looked back.

I agree 100% that minimum wage is simply a starting point, that no one should ever expect to live on for an extended period of time. Do your job, do it well, and you will not be at minimum wage for long... solid letters of recommendation from my first 3 employers helped me get to where I am now, and that was only because of my character and work ethic, nothing else.

I agree a lot of people don't deserve more then minimum wage. Problem is you can't get an apt, car insurance and put food on the table for minimum wage. I have heard the average age for people to move out of the parents house is now like 28? Then a lot move back in by age 40. We are going the way of the multiple family's living in one house, thats gonna be the only way to have money soon. Everything goes up every year except my fucking pay check.

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Originally Posted by trlcavscout

I agree a lot of people don't deserve more then minimum wage. Problem is you can't get an apt, car insurance and put food on the table for minimum wage. I have heard the average age for people to move out of the parents house is now like 28? Then a lot move back in by age 40. We are going the way of the multiple family's living in one house, thats gonna be the only way to have money soon. Everything goes up every year except my fucking pay check.

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That is where the free shit army has the government cover those things.

If a person possesses a minimum wage skill and doesn't want to put in the effort to improve themselves then they shouldn't own an apartment, a car, or any more than ramen on the dinner table. They aren't entitled to anything.

When adjusted for inflation, Minimum wage is higher today than when it was initially instituted.

http://www.financialramblings.com/im...tion-large.png

What country is this again?

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/r1...706700fb99.jpg

Oh, New York.

Most McDonald's jobs were never meant to be a full time job.
When I was a kid a lot of my friends worked part time, and worked with seniors who were supplementing income, or just looking for something to do.
An entry level position at a fast food joint was not created to become a career.

One of the basic laws of economics is; Price Controls Create Shortages.

Its one of those things you're just not getting around.


Minimum Wage is a price control, and the shortage it creates is called unemployment.

I don't know of any fast food restaurants that pay minimum wage. They all are paying above minimum wage because they have a hard time drawing employees from other businesses, typically retail, because it's just not "cool" to work fast food. The people that have half a brain and some type of work ethic are able to get into management positions that they can actually make a decent wage (most will get a salary plus bonuses and benefits). What the other "I'm entitled" morons don't get is that if the businesses are required to pay them more, the money has to come from typically one of two places - either 1) fewer employees with increased production (good luck) or 2) the added cost of wages being passed on to the consumer. Since most of the fast food restaurants (McDonalds, BK, Wendy's) are running at a 3-4% net profit when running efficiently, they can't absorb added labor costs, therefore they will try a combination of both options of recouping the money they are paying out, but in the end they will need to increase the cost to the consumer for their products. The workers need to realize that they will be no better off as the increased wages directly increase inflation (at least through some businesses) and they will end up spending more of their money (that they will have to work harder for than before) on the same items they used to purchase for less before their pay increases.

I thought Obummer was gonna fix all dis?

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Originally Posted by Jamnanc

Get a different job if you don't like yours. Work harder, earn more.

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BINGO!

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Originally Posted by trlcavscout

I agree a lot of people don't deserve more then minimum wage. Problem is you can't get an apt, car insurance and put food on the table for minimum wage. I have heard the average age for people to move out of the parents house is now like 28? Then a lot move back in by age 40. We are going the way of the multiple family's living in one house, thats gonna be the only way to have money soon. Everything goes up every year except my fucking pay check.

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You do what you have to do to get by within the law and while using your moral compass. Just because most people move out of their parents' house after high school or college doesn't mean it's right for every individual. If you have to live with your parents until you're 32 to save up some money than so be it. If you have to live with 2 roommates for a few years, that's the way it goes. Ride the bus or your bike until you can get a car. Figured it out! This new generation of kids expects the same lifestyle as what they see people on TV or in People magazine living. Reality is the life you are living. Don;t like it?! YOU NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE. Hey kids (and some adults), LIFE IS NOT EASY AND NOTHING COMES WITHOUT A LITTLE STRUGGLE! Now get to work.

Very interesting. I've spent the last three weeks looking for good employees (wearing the HR hat in addition to all my other duties), and a lot of the people I've spoke with mention minimum wage - and their willingness to work at this level. I agree that minimum wage is a starting point and shouldn't be counted on to support you as a career, but if that is what the company is willing to pay for that job, that's what your time is worth there. Whether or not you agree with that is completely your choice, and you can look elsewhere - but you are by no means entitled to a comfortable living!

I have never work minimum wage, even in high school I was making $13.25/hr. I never chose to work where I valued myself or employers valued me at that level.

Problem is that in the current system if you get paid minimum wage (and many people will/can never make more) they have dependency on the system, lower it and dependency increases. This occurs in ways people don't even realize. Don't have $20 to get to the hospital, take a $800+ ambulance ride because an indigent program or medicare will pick that up!

Some people are going to be dependent on the system no matter what.

Government statistics on minimum wage demographics:

http://www.bls.gov/cps/minwage2012.htm

Only about 5% of hourly paid workers made minimum wage or below. Half of those are age 25 or below. Why is this a problem?

Feedback from the Economist:

http://www.economist.com/news/united...e-up-economics

Notably: "a higher minimum wage costs some low-skilled workers their jobs while helping those who keep them. Mr Neumark is particularly dismissive of the notion that a higher minimum wage can boost the economy, and indeed that is not a claim the White House makes."

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Originally Posted by tmleadr03

My last paycheck was Oct 2011.

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I don't mean to derail the thread...but how do you live with this kind of a situation? I've always wanted to start my own business, but the whole no paycheck thing is kind of a big hurdle (especially with small kids in the picture).

For 15/hr, here is what I'll expect with my next visit to McD's. I'd like to be greeted at the door with a smile. I'd like to be escorted to my freshly cleaned table where I patiently wait for a server to ask for my order. Then, they bring my 10 nugget meal, with ice cold coke, to my table while asking how many BBQ sauces i want. Yes, I do want more than 2 sauces. After the fact, Id like the server to come over, clear my tray , refill my drink and ask if there's anything else I would like. No more rude, incompetent workers. No more Spanish. No more forgetting stuff in my order. No more messy drink stations. No more crap on tables. Want to be paid more? Go earn it. Unions is the last thing we need here

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Originally Posted by PugnacAutMortem

I don't mean to derail the thread...but how do you live with this kind of a situation? I've always wanted to start my own business, but the whole no paycheck thing is kind of a big hurdle (especially with small kids in the picture).

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Overhead, lease, ins, equipment (rental, or purchase) to name a few. i was self employed for 5 years. In that time taxes, SS etc took their more than fair share. Add to that cost of commuting , vehicle upkeep, , the list goes on.

You have a family, i suggest 3-5 yrs of saved money to cover income while you build your business. Include another 2 yrs of income for the unexpected, sickness, fire 2 buildings down takes out the whole complex, on & on.

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Originally Posted by Zundfolge

Well the laugh will be on them ... double minimum wage and half of them will be instantly unemployed. Dumbasses.

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Originally Posted by jim

Start at the bottom and either work your way up, or to a better paying job.
Today's young American worker is going to find them self in the same job market as younger folks in England, Greece & France. UNEMPLOYED.

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Yes.

Or, alternately, give it to them and the price of everything rises - putting them no better and likely worse off than they were. Oops! But hey, it is a bigger number!

http://youtu.be/4zNoxjUUyec



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Minimum wage is basically "I'd pay you less if I could, but I can't."

That said, minimum wage jobs were meant for high school and college students, people who were still living with their parents and with little to no bills. But with over 70% of new jobs in the past 3 years being minimum wage jobs, things have changed.

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Originally Posted by roberth

They aren't entitled to anything.

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If only that were true...

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

If only that were true...

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It is true. It's just not the case in the country right now...

Then it's really not true. We're sure spending a lot of money on entitlements that people aren't entitled to.

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

Then it's really not true. We're sure spending a lot of money on entitlements that people aren't entitled to.

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^This! And take that entitlement 'philosophy/worldview' and apply to every area of life: morality, spirituality, social, economic, you-name-it, and you end up with a big pile of mess. History shows us what this leads to, and it's all repeating again... This time, there may not be a 'resetting' of civilization, not as we've know it historically, anyway...

So these people earning $8 an hour go on strike for $15 an hour, I have a few questions.

What exemplary work did they do to demand such an outrageous increase (87.5%) for such a low-skill job? "Nothing, I deserve it" will be the idiotic answer.

Where do they think that additional $7 an hour is going to come from? My guess is that "the owner is rich" will be the typical, thoughtless, and (D) answer.

Will the quality of food and service improve in the eye of the consumer? I doubt it, in fact I'll bet the quality of both go down. The owner will seek to lower his costs thus impacting the product quality and the employee will feel emboldened to work even less.

Will my job give me a 87.5% increase just because I think I'm entitled to it? If I made such a ridiculous demand at my place of employment and I was serious about it they'd have me out the door in less than 2 or 3 weeks.

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Originally Posted by roberth

So these people earning $8 an hour go on strike for $15 an hour, I have a couple of questions.

What exemplary work did they do to demand such an outrageous increase (87.5%) for such a low-skill job? "Nothing, I deserve it" will be the idiotic answer.

Where do they think that additional $7 an hour is going to come from? My guess is that "the owner is rich" will be the typical, thoughtless, and (D) answer.

Will the quality of food and service improve in the eye of the consumer? I doubt it, in fact I'll bet the quality of both go down. The owner will seek to lower his costs thus impacting the product quality and the employee will feel emboldened to work even less.

Will my job give me a 87.5% increase just because I think I'm entitled to it? If I made such a ridiculous demand at my place of employment and I was serious about it they'd have me out the door in less than 2 or 3 weeks.

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Truth.

...and Atlas Shrugged....

These people are lucky to have jobs, not entitled to the "rich" owners money. Too bad they don't understand that and the union organizers tell them they "deserve" it...

I've been self-employed since I was 18 (I'm several weeks shy of 47 now) and while I've never had a minimum wage job, something my wife said regarding an unrelated matter comes to mind: 'you never fully know what someone else might be going through'. Although her statement was about someone who had a relative die and kept it to themselves, I think that sentiment can be applied to a great many issues.

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Originally Posted by PugnacAutMortem

I don't mean to derail the thread...but how do you live with this kind of a situation? I've always wanted to start my own business, but the whole no paycheck thing is kind of a big hurdle (especially with small kids in the picture).

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My statement is not to say I have not had benefits from the business. It has paid for daycare/school for my kids, and my tool collection has doubled in, if not size, cost as I picked up expensive shop equipment. And while I do not expect a steady paycheck I am looking at putting my oldest in a private school. Still less expensive then paying a wage to myself.

But I also have a wife who works. She is covering all the expenses for the house. Though she is starting to get cranky about that. Until I bring in a steady paycheck from it she is stuck at her current job so I am very motivated to make headway on making money.