Minimum Wage and jobs.

[BOP]

Originally Posted by TPD

Here is a real world situation concerning minimum wage - happened to us with a grocery business we had 6 years ago when minimum wage went to $7.25. Being a small local business that had to compete with the big boys, we hired teenagers to bag groceries AND carry them to the car for our customers. When minimum wage increased, we could no longer afford to do that. NO 15/16 year old is worth $7.25 an hour to bag groceries improperly while texting, much less the then $6.50 per hour. It is menial jobs like this that small business owners have and gladly hire locals to do that will go away. How about someone on weekends during the spring just to load mulch at Lowes? Gone with higher minimum wage. So as a result, teenagers no longer get real world experience, and when they finally enter the work force at 26, no one wants them because they are clueless.

You have got me started now - I can keep going...

That pretty much describes most politicians.

[Curious99]

The GOP will make sure there is not a federal minimum wage increase (or any other wage increase).

House passes pay freeze on federal workers – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs

[abcxyz]

Originally Posted by garyt27

I'm saying that Mcd's might attract a better employee if the wages were higher, and don't say they cannot afford it.

They can, but the $1 menu is going to become the $1.99 menu. If it made law, they have to follow and then what?

You think McD's is just sitting on money and don't want to pay their workers more? Wrong! They report to shareholders, if they aren't getting value from McD's stock then investors are moving their money in to some thing else, then what?

$7.25 goes to $10- now my $10 person is going to want a 38% increase as well, up to $13.80. Great, they are all making more but every thing I sell is going to cost more to make which means I'm rasing prices to make up for that. Not going to shop with me? Funny, it is law and every one else is going to have to do the same thing.

This really has nothing to do with wages anyway. It is all about taxes, the more money people make, the more taxes are paid and the more Obama can try to spend.

[abcxyz]

Originally Posted by tommyjo

Good lord...another moron. What are you 12?

Listen, finish junior high and high school...go to college..while there take a class on labor economics...graduate...get a job...get some life experiences...start your own company....then come back here and talk about wages.

SECURITY ALERT!!!

There is no way this is the same tommyjo that has been posting on other threads!!

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Curious99

House passes pay freeze on federal workers

...except themselves.

[MarieB]

Originally Posted by frequentflier

Maybe some employers (like big chains ) can afford to pay people more- I certainly cannot. Unless I raise my prices; which I try to not do unless I absolutely have to.

Running a small business in the current economy is a juggling act and some days the balls stay up in the air better than others.

Agreed. I don't think people think about how much it really effects existing small businesses and those who are thinking about starting a business. This really is the backbone of the country.

[MarieB]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Its also based on the assumption that those who don't want to put forth any effort at productivity should make the same money as the person who busted their ass getting an education, learning skills, and making themselves valuable in the marketplace.

I am living proof that you can be anything you want to be in this great country, and so is FF. Neither of us came from money or an advantaged family, yet here we are: owning our own businesses, making decent money, not rich but not struggling hand to mouth. I don't know about FF, but I don't even have a college education.

20 years ago I was a single mother with two young children to support, making next to nothing. Instead of whining about it, I worked hard and learned how to do things that could make money and improve my family's quality of life. I didn't sell drugs; I didn't go on welfare.

So it can be done, you just have to want to get off your ass and do it.

I think it's wrong to assume that people making minimum didn't/dont bust ass or out forth effort.

I applaud what you've done but

It is getting harder and harder to do what you did (especially with our current economic conditions), and lets face it not everyone is equipped to do it. That doesn't mean that they aren't getting off their asses.

For the record, I don't believe that raising minimum wage is the right thing to do. I also believe that some executive salaries are outrageous, but it's not up to me or the government to decide what they are "worth".

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by MarieB

It is getting harder and harder to do what you did (especially with our current economic conditions), and lets face it not everyone is equipped to do it. That doesn't mean that they aren't getting off their asses.

Marie, I talk to people every day who are starting their own small business. You're right: not everyone is equipped to do it. But I believe everyone has a skill that they could be using to make money. I have never in my life met someone who didn't. Even the worthless welfare whore who lived next door to me 15 years ago totally missed her calling as a collection agent or repo chick. <-- I'm being totally serious about that, she could have gotten off her ass and made a pretty good living.

[MarieB]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Marie, I talk to people every day who are starting their own small business. You're right: not everyone is equipped to do it. But I believe everyone has a skill that they could be using to make money. I have never in my life met someone who didn't. Even the worthless welfare whore who lived next door to me 15 years ago totally missed her calling as a collection agent or repo chick. <-- I'm being totally serious about that, she could have gotten off her ass and made a pretty good living.

I agree and i believe you, but people dont necessarily see in themselves what you see in them. It's frustrating, but there is a reason that the cycle is hard to break. Perhaps they haven't had that trigger or definng moment that others may have had, and a small % may not even recognize it if it came along. Of course that's another ball of yarn

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by MarieB

I agree and i believe you, but people dont necessarily see in themselves what you see in them. It's frustrating, but there is a reason that the cycle is hard to break. Perhaps they haven't had that trigger or definng moment that others may have had, and a small % may not even recognize it if it came along. Of course that's another ball of yarn

The cycle is hard to break because people get set in their ways. They develop a pattern and that's pretty much that. Also because...they simply don't want to put forth the effort, for whatever reason. I know a lot of people who could bust ass and make all kinds of money with their talent, but life is pretty good for them and they're happy where they're at.

I want to be a career counselor in my next life. After I have my restaurant, that is.