"Businesses could be hurt by wage hike"

[dapper]

I believe in small businesses and support the little guy when I can.

About 20 years ago I started my first job. I made $5.50 an hour! If memory serves me correctly within a year I was making $7.50 an hour. It was your basic crap job but I worked hard. To know after those 20 years went by, prices rising, there are people still out there making less than $7.50 and hour is hard to believe.

I like to read the opinion pages. I like to get a feel for what people are thinking. Everyone has their own opinions and beliefs - some of them are in line with mine and others are way off the mark. This afternoon I was reading the South Bend Tribune and came across this one:

http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070201/News01/702010409&SearchID=73270860848472

I will quote the opinion and my response will not be quotes.

"As owners and operators of a restaurant in Mishawaka, we want to express our concern about the proposed raising of the minimum wage in Indiana. Although it sounds nice, this will only hurt the people employed by us who it is supposed to help."

Please, please, bring out the crystal ball.


"All of our full-time employees who are not students already make at least $7 per hour, most of them more than that."

Thank you. Grandma says it really helps defray the cost of the new Medicare/prescription plan.

"The only ones the proposed wage increase would benefit would be our 15-, 16- and 17-year-old employees."

Isn't that like age descrimination? Is that why Grandma can't work the after school, weekend hours? Because you would have to pay her over $7 an hour but you can descriminate against her Grandson by paying him $5.50?

"Supply and demand and competition already force us and similar businesses to pay our daytime help, those not limited to working around school hours, more than those working nights and weekends. "

Darn School, if it wasn't for those darn schools, you could get away with hiring teenagers and pay them less. BAN THE SCHOOLS!

"However, if we are forced to pay the 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds a substantially higher wage we will have to make up for the expense in other ways. Most likely restaurants and stores will have to raise prices. Those daytime, adult workers already making the proposed minimum wage will now have to spend more of their income for the same things. A second option employers have is to take away other benefits, including health care coverage. Employers may have to get by with fewer employees by cutting hours or eliminating some positions altogether."

I could have a good deal of fun ripping this one, however.... I decided to let Google do my handy work. All public info.
The writer owns a Franchise in which the website states the owner needs 300k to 500k in liquid assets. Starting up one of these franchises has an estimated cost of 175k. Using the Google Earth I see a nice house in a nice area. Someone is living high on the hog while Grandma and Grandson try to scrounge up some money to offset the price of medicine or college costs! But since "Business Owner" does not want to adjust their way of life to pay someone $1 or $2 more per hour (over the course of the next few years) "Business Owner" will make Grandma do twice the work, take away her health care, FIRE her and then to fill your fat pockets, you will raise your prices.

Coincidentally, I do not believe this franchise offers Health Care. Judging by the amount of employees, I would say that the business would not run very well if they used fewer employees or positions.


Lawmakers need to look at the effect this will have on small businesses and their workforce.

I will agree. Lawmakers should look at the whole picture. Take how much the business makes, minus cost and salaries and figure out how much business owners are making (non-business items such as a new car..etc not included in cost). If the business is really having a hardship, then great, we will give you a tax break. But if you are living high on the hog while breaking Grandma's back, can we just tax you more?

Hey, Making Money, that's the American way... but now it seems to be leaning a bit too much towards business owners and less towards workers. Have past increases to the minimum wage hurt? Does anyone not think that $5.50 an hour is REDICULOUS?!?!?

Just had to vent.... Let's give those less fortunate some assistance.



Dapper

[Captain Hilts]

1. Most small bizes exempt from Min. Wage regs. Hell, I worked for the NYMets and they were exempt!

I worked in their AAA ballpark in Norfolk...for BELOW minimum wage.

I worked at my university library for BELOW minimum wage.

[dapper]

2. actually I remember being offered a job in college

It was actually funny as I was trying to debate the dept head to allow me to get credits for my computer experience and he ended up offering me a job working in the computer lan for $2.90 an hour.

Although I love computers, I had to remind him that the wage was less than minimum wage at the time. I guess colleges are exempt too.

...but the Mets?!? With guys making Millions?... ugh!




Dapper
(former NY'er)

[PinkTiger]

3. Colleges are not exempt.

There are some exemptions to the law, but I'm not sure what the new ones are without seeing the information.
According to the previous law, there are exemptions to both the fair wage and the overtime rules for certain people, but colleges pay student workers at the prevailing minimum.

[Captain Hilts]

6. They used to be exempt. [80s]. I'm glad they're not now. nt

[whathappened]

4. have these same small buinesses

for gotten when gas was up in the 3 dollar a gallon range they did raise there prices , but for there working people this is a diff story , we will not be able to make it they say , i say stfu and make room for the people who run there buinesses well they are out playing , the mom and pop stores don't hire much anyways so they won't feel a thing

[jedr]

5. Soooo true;

all business cost have risen, fuel (heating , A/C), electric, and insurance cost. Not a peep about any of it. But pay someone a few more bucks....damn the world is going to end. Have never heard of a business going out because of a raise in minimum wage. The few extra bucks these people will get will be spent right at home and come right back to those merchants. What goes 'round will come 'round!

[depakid]

7. I hear this sort of tripe every time a minimum wage increased is proposed

And do you know what?

None of it's ever been born out, despite countless millions spent by libertarian "think" tanks and their stooges.

Impressive, isn't it!