http://www.mises.org/story/2130


Discuss.

While I agree that minimum wage isn't a liveable wage, I don't think minimum wage should be increased. In my experience, and through the experience of family members, most minimum wage jobs maintain minimum wage rates regardless if you are a new hire or have a couple of years experience. The only pay increase you get is a bump from the federal gov't raising minimum wage yearly by a few pennies. It's no wonder turn-over rates in this industry is so high, there is very little incentive to stick around if all you are ever going to make is the bare minimum. Make it so 0 experience = minimum wage, 1-2 years = minimum wage + $0.50 to $1.00, etc and I bet you will start to see happier workers.

So you think it's the government's job to tell corporations what is best for them? :)

Lol, not quite. I just find it strange that the minimum wage industry is the only industry that doesn't follow a promotion system. Most, if not all "blue-collar" industrial jobs usually have a starting wage and your pay increases via promotions the longer you have been there. My "white-collar" experience thus far has done the same, and these are market driven, gov't has no real control here. It just begs the question why (most) restaurant and store jobs don't follow suit. Best case scenario with these places is you work long enough to get into a management position, but between the time you start and perhaps many many years until you are promoted, you will continue to make minimum wage. Not right IMO.

So you think it's the government's job to tell corporations what is best for them? :)

Judging by the bailout already given and the one that will end up being given here soon, I would say that apparently it is....

Instead of people bitching about not making enough at their minimum wage (usually part-trime) job, maybe they should set out to get a big-boy job, and maybe they should look at working more, or having multiple jobs.

I've been working 60 hour weeks at $13.35 for a few months now, it ain't a lot, but it's enough.

Instead of people bitching about not making enough at their minimum wage (usually part-trime) job, maybe they should set out to get a big-boy job, and maybe they should look at working more, or having multiple jobs.

I think this is what "they" are trying to say is too much. What I mean is most living wage jobs will pay you enough just to get by, so there really is no need to work multiple jobs. Minimum wage jobs, for the most part, won't let you just get by with only a single job, so it is out of necessity to work 2, 3, or more jobs at a time. Plus not everyone is able to work full-time either because of their shift (swing for example), or because of company policy (re: walmart).

My job is 6p-6a, three days one week, four days the next, rotating three day weekends, with more overtime than understandable. I make $13.35 an hour, I've been working mostly 60 hour weeks for a few months. I have a part time job at Walgreens.

If some is good, more is better.

I agree, but do you do the second job out of necessity to survive or because you just want to make more money?

I agree, but do you do the second job out of necessity to survive or because you just want to make more money?

If I had to do it for survival, I would, but I just do it for the discount. Every month, living with my parents, I put away what renting a 2br apt would cost. So I'm still not living easy, but I'm saving a fortune. I buy all groceries, and have enough left to build my FB, too.