Business Owners React to 2018 Massachusetts Minimum Wage Increase
Posted by:
John A Rowen
John A. Rowen Stringed Instruments
Entry-level jobs, especially part-time employment should be paid at rates that reflect the true value of the work performed, the local demand and supply of workers, desirability of the position and the overall strength of the economy. Minimum wages were never meant to be a "living wage". Small businesses, especially family-owned, neighborhood or niche-market shops usually cannot afford to pay an arbitrarily high hourly rate. Family members often fill these positions and make these enterprises successful. The market should determine the value of labor. Government can dictate workplace rules for health and safety. Those in this country illegally must not be employed to artificially depress wages. To put things in perspective, My first part-time job paid 50 cents an hour to stack firewood. I was, as a teenager paid 4-1/2 cents a pound to pick blueberries. $1.00 an hour was fair for me at the time to pump gasoline, check oil and wash windshields. Although inflation and prices for everything have risen, the proportional value of labor has not. Reasonable pay offered for work will be answered by willing workers.
Well said John, when I was growing up we were not poor, we had shelter, food and clothing, along with all my friends. We did not have a tv, did not go out to eat very often. As we went on we became better educated, learned a trade and did things to better our self and were compensated with a raise because we helped our employer improve his business. To be given a starting wage without any skills is the norm, you are an apprentice learning skills. I was always told when I was young, learn or you will only become a dishwasher with no future but to be a dishwasher. We do need dishwashers but we all need to learn, grow and contribute to society. Sometime I think they want to raise the Minimum wage so the government can get more taxes and justify their high salaries.