Is the Current 'Minimum-Wage' High Enough?

[tzs]

No. The cost of living keeps getting more bothersome these days. It socks having to struggle to get by every month even with a 2 income household. Add a child to the mix and it's nearly impossible to catch up!

[jford87]

If a person working for minimum wage cannot live above the poverty level, then it is not high enough.

[hawkeye3210]

If a person working for minimum wage cannot live above the poverty level, then it is not high enough.

If you worked full-time for a year at the federal minimum wage, your earnings would be $15,080, which is well above the federal poverty line of $11,670.

[BMaston12]

I say yes, yes it is ... no matter how low it is. If it's below the current cost-of-living, it's THE PRICE-SETTERS who need to adjust! 

(added Today (1-30) after 11:42:58 am ) Tell me what you think about THAT solution!

If the wage goes up, so does everything else. It is just a vicious cycle. I don't see the Middle Class winning this one. Too bad Corporate America has to be so greedy. Everyone loses!
BMaston12

[abbyjhill15]

What about the small business owner...?  I own a very small grocery store that I am lucky to pay all the bills within.  I have been in business for 1 year and 2 months and have worked the entire store by myself for 7 days a week for 1 year and 2 months except for Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Labor Day and partial days on my 2 children's birthdays, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve.  I would absolutely love to hire an employee to give my 67 hour a week self a break however, even to pay an employee minimum wage....which they are more than likely going to COMPLAIN about I would have to pay for Workman's Comprehension just to have that employee whether they use it or not.  This increases my already ridiculous insurance to nearly twice as much in case this unskilled, uneducated employee hurts themselves...so what do you do?  Hire someone who 'deserves more than minimum wage'...and then wonder how I am going to pay the light bill.  I don't know about whether it is high enough but from a potential employer's stand point it is plenty high enough because it costs a business to even have employees and employees who are just starting out do not know enough to make much more than minimum wage until they are skilled at that (or any) job.  This is my opinion from a business owners perspective.

[nadette]

What about the small business owner...?  I own a very small grocery store that I am lucky to pay all the bills within.  I have been in business for 1 year and 2 months and have worked the entire store by myself for 7 days a week for 1 year and 2 months except for Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Labor Day and partial days on my 2 children's birthdays, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve.  I would absolutely love to hire an employee to give my 67 hour a week self a break however, even to pay an employee minimum wage....which they are more than likely going to COMPLAIN about I would have to pay for Workman's Comprehension just to have that employee whether they use it or not.  This increases my already ridiculous insurance to nearly twice as much in case this unskilled, uneducated employee hurts themselves...so what do you do?  Hire someone who 'deserves more than minimum wage'...and then wonder how I am going to pay the light bill.  I don't know about whether it is high enough but from a potential employer's stand point it is plenty high enough because it costs a business to even have employees and employees who are just starting out do not know enough to make much more than minimum wage until they are skilled at that (or any) job.  This is my opinion from a business owners perspective.

You are self employed therefore, you know, or should have known
when you started that it would me much more than a full time
job. You made a choice. You have the satisfaction of working
for yourself. Good for you. You could be working for someone
else at minimum wage.

Minimum wage, as we all know, is never going to be enough.

It still keeps you at poverty level.

[abbyjhill15]

Nadette I agree with you to a certain extent because when I was making minimum wage (or close to) I didn't think it was enough and I said in my post I don't know if it is high enough or not but I also said from a business owner's perspective it is because it is one thing if you are making minimum wage at Wal-Mart or McDonald's or places along those lines; but I hear all of the time, "Well why don't you JUST hire someone."  Trust me I would love to, but for very small businesses you almost can't afford to hire someone with all of the state's depts. regulations and people that never own their own small business, never understand this.  I was simply saying from a business owner's perspective it is high enough because after I pay for insurance and the match for Social Security (which employees do not even realize an employer is responsible for) and everything else that's required I can't even afford that employee at minimum wage.  Just a different perspective! 

[nascar048]

leave it alone everytime its raised then my grocery bill goes up..

[nadette]

Nadette I agree with you to a certain extent because when I was making minimum wage (or close to) I didn't think it was enough and I said in my post I don't know if it is high enough or not but I also said from a business owner's perspective it is because it is one thing if you are making minimum wage at Wal-Mart or McDonald's or places along those lines; but I hear all of the time, "Well why don't you JUST hire someone."  Trust me I would love to, but for very small businesses you almost can't afford to hire someone with all of the state's depts. regulations and people that never own their own small business, never understand this.  I was simply saying from a business owner's perspective it is high enough because after I pay for insurance and the match for Social Security (which employees do not even realize an employer is responsible for) and everything else that's required I can't even afford that employee at minimum wage.  Just a different perspective! 

I got you. I know that a small business cannot afford to hire personnel
for all the reasons you mention. I am very well aware of it.
I think when the issue of minimum wage is raised, those politicians
do not have you in mind. But we agree that Walmart or Mc Donald
could do better. In your situation, (and I have seen it), it takes
a all family to be involved. I know it is not easy, but you work
for yourself and that is a plus.

Have a great day.

[sak4kat]

I believe minimum wage is high enough for students.  ie; high school first time job students.  However for those that go from job to job or can't find work because of criminal backgrounds, single parents who were making it by there skin of there teeth in a dual income... than no it's not enough.  However if people stuck with emploment the min slowly climbs.  As do the ranks of a position. 

[lennydeea]

  It's not wages that matter it's inflation that's out of control. Thing don't have to be so expensive today if we made it easier for people to get the necessary things in such as Food, shelter and medical help.   

[sarabtrayior]

I think the folks who voted it in need to live on it and it would show them that it is NOT ENOUGH...

[hawkeye3210]

I think the folks who voted it in need to live on it and it would show them that it is NOT ENOUGH...

Those aren't the people who have to pay the wages, so you're ignoring another important perspective.