General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why should "small businesses" be able to pay people less than a living wage? [View all]NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)But I do think there is a big difference between elected members of congress and the real world on this one. Before I became a business owner, my best job and compensation was from a pretty far right winger. I worked pretty insane hours but I was well compensated. I made as much then as I do now as a small business owner. He was also very appreciative and fair. He believed that the compensation would get the most out of me and it did. I learned a lot and was very grateful for the experience. That was for a business that consisted of three people.
But in legislators across the country it is a left/right issue. It is clear that the elected righties don't really give a shit and don't mind people putting in 40+ per week and still not being able to afford simple necessities.
What I am saying is that in the real world of small business, compensation isn't about left or right. There can be very cheap people on both sides of the spectrum. Small business should never use minimum wage as a starting point to set wages. Should be that way in larger business but it is more understandable why they need to have a minimum target wage. That is why minimum wage must be brought up to a livable wage. It is the corps who have thousands of employees who use minimum wage as an excuse to keep themselves "competitive". If minimum wage was raised to a livable wage, their prices would go up, but not to the extent that their wages would be outpaced by the inflation it creates.
I am lucky to not have to concern myself with minimum wage when it comes to my employees. They are very valuable to me and need to know it. And lets be real, they are not here for their love of me. They are here to make a living for their families. And that is important to me.