Is now the time to raise the minimum wage?

Question

Why or why not? What pros and cons would happen if you raised minimum wages?

Bonus: What was the lowest wage you've ever earned?

Answer 1

A minimum wage increase would be good for workers (and the local economy), in theory, but really bad for businesses AND workers in many industries in reality. If businesses have to pay more to their employees, they'll need to cut hours to keep labor to a level they can afford, which means some people may lose their jobs and/or more workers will work less hours.



As for it being the time to raise the minimum wage, it's doubtful. The economy is bad pretty much everywhere. The good thing about a 'stimulus' of a minimum wage increase is that lower and middle class folks actually spend their money because they need to in order to survive. They put it out into the community and it helps to improve local business, revenue, etc. Again, though -- that doesn't do much good when businesses will have to lay off, fire or cut hours to compensate for a required wage increase.



These cutbacks with minimum wage increases were happening even when the economy was in better shape. I was working at a food service location in 2006 (I think) when we went from $5.15 to $6.95... We had to let three people go and everybody but management got their hours cut.



I think the lowest wage I've earned from an hourly job was either 4.25 or 4.35. It was construction, but I was really young and soon got bumped up to $8.75 at 18. Fat loot for a kid, especially 15 years ago...



There are three or four states that have a minimum wage below $7 an hour (some as low as $5.15/25). Not many individuals can figure out how to live on ~$150 / week, let alone couples or families. While I think raising the minimum wage would ultimately be bad, something needs to be done...

Answer 2

I think minimum wage should be enough for people to get by without needing a lot of help from the government / tax payer. I live in Ontario, Canada and the minimum wage is $10.25 here. I think it's a decent rate. Can't really think of any cons to raising the minimum wage, so long as it's within reason.



The lowest wage I ever earned was $7.50 an hour.

Answer 3

Yes, I think the minimum wage should go up. I know plenty of people who are barely making it.



When I became an adult the minimum wage was $3.35. I worked for a crummy temporary service that employed people by the day and paid by the day. They would drive you to your job site if you didn't have transportation but they would charge $2/day for it. I still have my pay stubs from back then, I came home with $19 per day. Not enough to live off of.

Answer 4

I think they should raise it. A gallon of milk costs $5.45 now. Gas here is $3.50. Cheap cheese slices cost $4.48. Even if you just go buy basics for food, you're spending around $30. At minimum wage, that's almost 4 hours just to buy cheapo basic groceries. No one is buying anything because prices are going up and pay is not.



Bonus- My lowest paying job was $5/hr but it was payed cash, no taxes (concession stand at a baseball stadium). Minimum wage was $5.25 when I started working.

Answer 5

Isn't inflation bad enough as it is? Haven't enough of our jobs gone to mexico and other countries?



Businesses are in business to make a profit. Why should they pay an American $7.25 an hour, plus worry about insurance, worker's comp, etc, when they can get someone in Mexico to do the same job for less than $3.00 an hour, without all the extra hassles.



My mother's factory job went to Mexico about 5 yrs ago.



Bonus: As a young teen I babysat for $1.50 an hour.



Minimum wage was $4.25 when I joined the work force as an older teen.

Answer 6

lowest wage i ever made was $5.25 an hour. whether the wages are raised or not, we're still screwed

Answer 7

over here the minimum wage is $15.50 unless your under 16, then I think it's around $14, we don't have the same problem as in america with waitresses and such, so over here no I don't think there is a problem, in america yes I think a pay rise would be in order but then I believe things are a bit cheaper over there than here, but that's just based on things I've heard here and I may be wrong.

Answer 8

They should require minimum wage to be paid across the board first. Servers and other workers who get tips are often paid like two dollars an hour and they can't make up the difference with tips, especially when the economy gets bad and people can't afford the meal and the tip both.



@JC - It's 7.25 in the US.

Answer 9

Yes.



Because people should be able to make a living without having to have a Masters degree.



People pay enough taxes and half a persons paycheck goes to taxes, so its only fair to raise minimum wage.



6.00 per hour.

Answer 10

MY 1st job @ Burger King in 10th grade, in 1983, I made $3.35 pr/hr.

Answer 11

minimum wage is unnecessary. if we didn't have it we'd be better off (if all goes well, we'd make more than now, and the worse case scenario is people make a dollar an hour, but everything would be so cheap that you could live on that)



also, most people who make minimum wage pay NO income taxes at all. in the US and Canada, no one pays 50% of their income in taxes.



also, when I was 16 I made $5.50/hour (in the late 70s that was the equivalent of about $25/hour). I cleaned out the inside of cement trucks.