Comments on: Minimum Wage http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:13:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: jooba http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-644 jooba Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:03:47 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-644 Nor are you supposed to... I think they tried it once though where all jobs received the same payrate. Lawyers got the same as bricklayers, CPA's the same as roofers. I think they called that system... communism. Nor are you supposed to…

I think they tried it once though where all jobs received the same payrate. Lawyers got the same as bricklayers, CPA’s the same as roofers. I think they called that system… communism.

]]> By: Mike http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-616 Mike Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:39:36 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-616 Perhaps, but these days it is more about the discrepancy between the level that minimum wage is at and what companies are paying for their goods. I wrote this article in 2007 before the recession of 2008, so I was perhaps anticipating that companies had a bit more leeway. Then again, in a free market it is difficult to stay ahead, stay in business, and keep workers happy. Perhaps our free market system is what needs to be changed. You cannot live on minimum wage. Perhaps, but these days it is more about the discrepancy between the level that minimum wage is at and what companies are paying for their goods.

I wrote this article in 2007 before the recession of 2008, so I was perhaps anticipating that companies had a bit more leeway. Then again, in a free market it is difficult to stay ahead, stay in business, and keep workers happy.

Perhaps our free market system is what needs to be changed. You cannot live on minimum wage.

]]> By: jooba http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-615 jooba Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:21:11 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-615 Higher minimum wage means companies have to charge more for their goods and services; society as a whole pays more. So, we could do that, or adults could just not work minimum wage jobs and leave them to high schoolers and college students, and not expect a minimum wage job to support a family. Sound good? Higher minimum wage means companies have to charge more for their goods and services; society as a whole pays more.

So, we could do that, or adults could just not work minimum wage jobs and leave them to high schoolers and college students, and not expect a minimum wage job to support a family.

Sound good?

]]> By: Mike http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-146 Mike Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:29:55 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-146 Jobot, Some of this I agree with, but in reality not everyone can afford to come to a city where life is better. There are language barriers also for many workers, who can only realistically get jobs at places like McDonalds that don't pay nearly as much as others. Ideologically, I agree with you... it would be great if we could all rely on our own devices, but the system is set up where the more needy amongst us don't have as many options. Actually, I did factor in taxes to the minimum wage ($7.25 x 4.33 weeks in a month x 40 hours per week is about $1,250 before taxes) Jobot,

Some of this I agree with, but in reality not everyone can afford to come to a city where life is better. There are language barriers also for many workers, who can only realistically get jobs at places like McDonalds that don’t pay nearly as much as others. Ideologically, I agree with you… it would be great if we could all rely on our own devices, but the system is set up where the more needy amongst us don’t have as many options.

Actually, I did factor in taxes to the minimum wage ($7.25 x 4.33 weeks in a month x 40 hours per week is about $1,250 before taxes)

]]> By: jobot http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-144 jobot Sat, 10 Nov 2007 20:47:10 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-144 Actually, you forgot about taxes. Federal income tax would be 10%, state (mn) is 5.35, and Social security is 7.65%. That's 23%; we'll say 20% to figure in tax breaks, etc. So $950 a month - 20% in taxes is $760. You need to redo is Mike, with $200 less. I think $100 for food is pretty generous if someone is really poor. I'd say $50-75. You can buy a lot of food for $50 if it's not a bunch of shit or pre-made stuff. That said, I don't see why anyone who needs to make to more than minimum wage can't. Rather than artificially raise the wages of jobs, money should go toward employment and training programs (which states already provide)to help people fill jobs of higher value to employers that are not filled. An exodus of workers to these jobs will lower the pool of workers for min wage jobs and those wages should increase. I'm tired of people sitting on their hands waiting for the government to fix everything and take care of them (Ron Paul for president in 08!). There's plenty of $8/hour jobs in Minneapolis--come here and take those jobs if you're making min wage. Actually, you forgot about taxes. Federal income tax would be 10%, state (mn) is 5.35, and Social security is 7.65%. That’s 23%; we’ll say 20% to figure in tax breaks, etc.
So $950 a month - 20% in taxes is $760. You need to redo is Mike, with $200 less.
I think $100 for food is pretty generous if someone is really poor. I’d say $50-75. You can buy a lot of food for $50 if it’s not a bunch of shit or pre-made stuff.
That said, I don’t see why anyone who needs to make to more than minimum wage can’t. Rather than artificially raise the wages of jobs, money should go toward employment and training programs (which states already provide)to help people fill jobs of higher value to employers that are not filled. An exodus of workers to these jobs will lower the pool of workers for min wage jobs and those wages should increase.
I’m tired of people sitting on their hands waiting for the government to fix everything and take care of them (Ron Paul for president in 08!). There’s plenty of $8/hour jobs in Minneapolis–come here and take those jobs if you’re making min wage.

]]> By: Mike http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-143 Mike Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:47:28 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-143 Definitely, and a lot of employees who receive tips get paid like nothing... it's all the tips. I believe there are a few states where it's ok to pay employees solely on tips if they are below a certain age or work a certain number of hours (I think Kansas is one of them.) About Nickled and Dimed - this may be true, but it's still a good read. I think the material is more important than the source in many cases. Definitely, and a lot of employees who receive tips get paid like nothing… it’s all the tips. I believe there are a few states where it’s ok to pay employees solely on tips if they are below a certain age or work a certain number of hours (I think Kansas is one of them.)

About Nickled and Dimed - this may be true, but it’s still a good read. I think the material is more important than the source in many cases.

]]> By: Scott Jackson http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-142 Scott Jackson Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:02:32 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-142 Nickel and Dimed is not a good source, the author didn't actually live the minimum wage "lifestyle," driving around in her BMW and living at a nice hotel. Nickel and Dimed is not a good source, the author didn’t actually live the minimum wage “lifestyle,” driving around in her BMW and living at a nice hotel.

]]> By: escapee http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-141 escapee Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:24:16 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-141 I've actually worked for *below* minimum wage before. I was a waitress and made around $2.01/hour back in the late 80's when I was a teenager. What most people do not realize is that people who are waiters in most cases are paid below minimum wage- you are expected to make the rest up in tips, which there is no guarantee you will get. Also- where I worked we were required to do "side work" which is stuff like scrubbing out iced tea urns, rolling silverware in napkins, wiping everything down, etc. The pay for this- $2.01/hr. Sometimes it would take me 2 hours to finish it all. This is why I HATE people who are bad tippers. Especially if they have gotten good service. I’ve actually worked for *below* minimum wage before. I was a waitress and made around $2.01/hour back in the late 80’s when I was a teenager.

What most people do not realize is that people who are waiters in most cases are paid below minimum wage- you are expected to make the rest up in tips, which there is no guarantee you will get.

Also- where I worked we were required to do “side work” which is stuff like scrubbing out iced tea urns, rolling silverware in napkins, wiping everything down, etc. The pay for this- $2.01/hr. Sometimes it would take me 2 hours to finish it all.

This is why I HATE people who are bad tippers. Especially if they have gotten good service.

]]> By: Mike http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-140 Mike Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:56:57 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-140 I've read excerpts from that book and they really resonated with me. At some point I'll sit down with it and read through it. We definitely have a problem on our hands that is more complicated than we may think. The minimum wage thing is solvable, but it will take a lot of time and sound decisions by our government. We'll see if they are up to the challenge! I’ve read excerpts from that book and they really resonated with me. At some point I’ll sit down with it and read through it. We definitely have a problem on our hands that is more complicated than we may think. The minimum wage thing is solvable, but it will take a lot of time and sound decisions by our government. We’ll see if they are up to the challenge!

]]> By: Victoria http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-139 Victoria Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:58:51 +0000 http://thegreatofficeescape.com/minimum-wage/#comment-139 That was a great book - very eye opening and a must read for anyone who naively thinks people can survive on the minimum wage. That was a great book - very eye opening and a must read for anyone who naively thinks people can survive on the minimum wage.

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