Effects of the new minimum wage

[Schildog]

for the record i think. the minimum wage that is being put in place is too high. 

[ABC]

In California, it isn't one thing in particular that hurts, it is all the things combined.

High minimum wage? Check.

Absurd and excessive environmental regulations? Check.

High workers' comp premiums? Check.

Employment laws that are making attorneys rich and killing business? Check.

Viewing business as the enemy to be fought with every step of the way? Check.

No policies that provide for a tip credit toward the minimum wage? Check.

No geographical distinctions for minimum wages? Check.

And brain-dead liberals who think we aren't going far enough with the insanity? Check (in spades, for that matter).

 

All valid points.

 

As for enivro regs, I'm sure there are some nutty ones, but you have that with anything. Which ones in particular are the regs you are referencing?

[wopphil]

All valid points.

As for enivro regs, I'm sure there are some nutty ones, but you have that with anything. Which ones in particular are the regs you are referencing?

I am thinking along the lines of the regs/laws that result in such high gas prices; recent title 24 regs (which killed one of my clients and cost 50 jobs in the process); the regs that add tons of money to the cost to build a home; and the regs that result in us flushing trillions of gallons of water down the drain to save the Delta Smelt.

[NJHalo]

Just to play devils advocate, they said the same thing about Obamacare and that businesses would close, people lose jobs, costs would rise, etc.

Wake up, it most definitely has.

It has also cost lives. Don't get me started.

[mp170.6]

LOL at Bernie wanting to provide free college tuition.  The value of going to college further plummets with this dick move.

 

I think we're headed in a direction where teenagers and young adults will have 50% unemployment.  We'll have college graduates at age 22 who are unemployable because they have no prior work experience.  Not because they're lazy but because the competition for the remaining minimum wage jobs will increase by 1000%.

[Blarg]

Just to play devils advocate, they said the same thing about Obamacare and that businesses would close, people lose jobs, costs would rise, etc.

 

Costs for healthcare did rise. 

[Blarg]

source?

 

Really, you are that obtuse that you don't see that people that retired on a fixed income when their top wage was what the minimum wage proposal is takes a major hit in cost of living? It wasn't that damn long ago when Aerospace Engineers were capping out at $30-40K a year. Teachers at $25K. Fast forward to minimum wage being a $30K a year wage and you get the idea yet?

[AngelsLongBall]

In California, it isn't one thing in particular that hurts, it is all the things combined.

High minimum wage? Check.

Absurd and excessive environmental regulations? Check.

High workers' comp premiums? Check.

Employment laws that are making attorneys rich and killing business? Check.

Viewing business as the enemy to be fought with every step of the way? Check.

No policies that provide for a tip credit toward the minimum wage? Check.

No geographical distinctions for minimum wages? Check.

And brain-dead liberals who think we aren't going far enough with the insanity? Check (in spades, for that matter).

Excellent post.  It's not just one little thing, it's death by papercut in this state.

 

In regards to minimum wage, the lowest paid employees at my company are all paid above minimum wage.  That said, they are the lowest because of a couple factors, mainly experience and value (ROI).  What am I supposed to pay a 24 year old single mom who has no experience?  I started her at $12/hr answering phones.  She is now on a path to learn Accounts Payables, which helps us, and helps her. 

 

In regards to employment laws, they mandated 3 days sick pay last year.  What they didn't take into consideration was companies that already accrued paid time off.  So in addition to 2 weeks per year, now we just gave away another 3 days.  Not a huge number, but just goes to show that they don't care about small business.

 

We employ under 50 employees, but have always prided ourselves on providing health insurance to our employees.  Our employer covered premiums have risen 70% the last two years.  It is absolutely ridiculous, and if (when) it continues to increase, that benefit will most likely be removed since we're not an open checkbook.

 

I wish there was more common sense in the Legislature.  Everything they do is slanted heavily towards the employee.  I understand people have to live, but people have to have a job in order to live, and if a company can't break even or make money for an owner, then bye bye jobs

[tdawg87]

There are tons of people who have worked their entire lives to get up to $15 an hour. It doesn't sound like much but for these people it is. So if you raise the minimum wage to $15, which in the state of NH is roughly a 52% increase, do you also give those people who have worked for 15-20 years a 52% raise? Certainly not? 

 

I don't know a lot about economics, but even I can see the negative impact this would have. I do believe the minimum wage should be increased in some states (it's $7.25 in NH which is absurd) but it shouldn't be that significant, and certainly not "across the board". 

[Angelsjunky]

Where do u see that the average worker makes 65K?  Profit sharing is a great way to fund retirement accounts for your employees as well as give them an incentive to work hard for your company.  

 

The Wikipedia page says that the average worker at Alvarado makes 65-70k. I think that includes profit sharing.

[Angelsjunky]

Back to minimum wage, I think it is a mistake to look at it in isolation. For instance, why has minimum wage stagnated? And why are more and more people seemingly relying upon minimum wage jobs rather than decent blue collar jobs? Could it be related to out-sourcing on one hand, and technological advances on the other?

 

Furthermore, this problem is only going to get worse as more and more jobs are phased out because of technological advances. Transportation is an example. I read somewhere that self-driving cars will erase 5% of all jobs in the US. That is huge. What do these folks do? Some can re-train, but doing what? Won't that put stresses on other industries? And might it be that eventually there simply won't be enough working joe jobs to go around? At that point we'll have to start thinking about ideas like a basic citizen's wage, not just free college and healthcare, but free housing and food.

 

So whether folks like it or not, these problems not only aren't going away but are likely to increase.

[Schildog]

Really, you are that obtuse that you don't see that people that retired on a fixed income when their top wage was what the minimum wage proposal is takes a major hit in cost of living? It wasn't that damn long ago when Aerospace Engineers were capping out at $30-40K a year. Teachers at $25K. Fast forward to minimum wage being a $30K a year wage and you get the idea yet?

 

yes notti obtuse. because. all min wage workers work 40 hours a week and the amount of minimum wage workers compose 70% of the population. 

[halobob]

Back to minimum wage, I think it is a mistake to look at it in isolation. For instance, why has minimum wage stagnated? And why are more and more people seemingly relying upon minimum wage jobs rather than decent blue collar jobs? Could it be related to out-sourcing on one hand, and technological advances on the other?

 

Furthermore, this problem is only going to get worse as more and more jobs are phased out because of technological advances. Transportation is an example. I read somewhere that self-driving cars will erase 5% of all jobs in the US. That is huge. What do these folks do? Some can re-train, but doing what? Won't that put stresses on other industries? And might it be that eventually there simply won't be enough working joe jobs to go around? At that point we'll have to start thinking about ideas like a basic citizen's wage, not just free college and healthcare, but free housing and food.

 

So whether folks like it or not, these problems not only aren't going away but are likely to increase.

Stop letting people into the country.  Heavy taxation on having kids rather than tax breaks for having kids.  

[Lou]

I'm sure there's an entire segment of the young, white male sector that is champing at the bit to get out in those fields and pick that produce.

[halobob]

I'm sure there's an entire segment of the young, white male sector that is champing at the bit to get out in those fields and pick that produce.

I didn't say deport anyone already here Lou but we clearly have a population problem in the United States.  

[ABC]

I am thinking along the lines of the regs/laws that result in such high gas prices; recent title 24 regs (which killed one of my clients and cost 50 jobs in the process); the regs that add tons of money to the cost to build a home; and the regs that result in us flushing trillions of gallons of water down the drain to save the Delta Smelt.

 

I don't get the smelt move. On the face of it the action seems wasteful. The other stuff I'm in favor of. LA was once smog city until enviro regs cleaned the air. 

[Blarg]

yes notti obtuse. because. all min wage workers work 40 hours a week and the amount of minimum wage workers compose 70% of the population. 

 

Schill they are unskilled labor, entry level. It is not an end game wage, it is introduction to the work force while you learn how to be a more valuable employee. If you are still sitting at the register at McDonalds two years later asking if someone wants fries with that, they haven't progressed to another more valuable level. It is incentive to be better, not be content. 

 

But raising their wage is raising the cost of living, this isn't a vacuum economy where nothing affects inflation. To pay unskilled labor more someone has to pay the expenses incurred. That is the consumer, which can be flexible while still in the work force but is handcuffed when retired on a fixed income.

 

Youth eventually, if motivated, moves away from entry level employment and moves into a standard of living commensurate to what they bring to an employer. So they are not in danger when they are the healthiest and best shape of their lives to endure some Top Ramen life to get by. 

Edited April 8, 2016 by notti

[Blarg]

I'm sure there's an entire segment of the young, white male sector that is champing at the bit to get out in those fields and pick that produce.

 

Most of the white boys go to Alaska to fish for crab thinking they will make $30k in 5 weeks. Vomit a lot, fake an injury after their first 16 hour shift and get kicked off the boat. Afterwards they get a job at in N Out.

[Blarg]

I would save a ton of money not tipping.

 

My sister, many years ago, was a waitress down by Disneyland. Many of the customers were from out of state or from another country. The waitresses would be pissed once they heard an Aussie accent at their table knowing they wouldn't tip no matter what the service. So they generally got shitty service. 

[wopphil]

In another thread it was mentioned how expensive Australia is to travel, and it's true. A burger at a sit down place is usually $15-$20. A bottle of soda is $4 at 7-11.

They have a "living wage" in Australia so you can work at McDonalds and not starve. But partly as a result, the costs of goods and services is way high. But that's a given, that's going to happen here and it's not my point.

In Australia, people get paid enough to survive, and knowing this, people don't tip.

I'm proposing that if the minimum wage increases to $15, people should stop tipping altogether. No reason to supplement someone income that already makes enough to live. It's not going to have an impact on Joe McDonalds or Jane Receptionist, but if you work in the service industry no way am I paying you any more, you will already make pretty good money for bringing me food.

This will happen more and more. No longer will compensation be based on performance (e.g., for providing good service). Instead, we are working toward reducing everyone to the lowest common denominator. It has already happened with piece rate workers.

The Democrats who run this state are simply hell-bent on eliminating incentive. Which makes sense - in a true socialist society, doing more and working harder doesn't give you any additional benefit. I am convinced that is what most on the left want to see happen here (guys Luke Bernie and AJ are very open and honest that that is what they want to see happen).

[AngelsLongBall]

Most of the white boys go to Alaska to fish for crab thinking they will make $30k in 5 weeks. Vomit a lot, fake an injury after their first 16 hour shift and get kicked off the boat. Afterwards they get a job at in N Out.

I did this, minus the gig at In N Out

[wopphil]

Back to minimum wage, I think it is a mistake to look at it in isolation. For instance, why has minimum wage stagnated? And why are more and more people seemingly relying upon minimum wage jobs rather than decent blue collar jobs? Could it be related to out-sourcing on one hand, and technological advances on the other?

Furthermore, this problem is only going to get worse as more and more jobs are phased out because of technological advances. Transportation is an example. I read somewhere that self-driving cars will erase 5% of all jobs in the US. That is huge. What do these folks do? Some can re-train, but doing what? Won't that put stresses on other industries? And might it be that eventually there simply won't be enough working joe jobs to go around? At that point we'll have to start thinking about ideas like a basic citizen's wage, not just free college and healthcare, but free housing and food.

So whether folks like it or not, these problems not only aren't going away but are likely to increase.

AJ, jobs are being outsourced because labor costs and environmental regulations are killing business. Anyone with half a brain can see that. Just look at all the businesses leaving California for Texas. Until your side recognizes that these policies are bad for business, the trend will continue.

[ten ocho recon scout]

I'm sure there's an entire segment of the young, white male sector that is champing at the bit to get out in those fields and pick that produce.

"tanner farms produce"

[ten ocho recon scout]

I would save a ton of money not tipping.

My sister, many years ago, was a waitress down by Disneyland. Many of the customers were from out of state or from another country. The waitresses would be pissed once they heard an Aussie accent at their table knowing they wouldn't tip no matter what the service. So they generally got shitty service.

this is true. I waited tables and bartended as a kid at a tourist place. Aussies, canadians, new zealand...some others...dont tip. Abd you know that as soon as they sit and you realize its going to cost you money to serve them (because you still are taxed as if they tipped 50 percent)

[Crampknees]

I don't understand why people with minimum wage jobs have an expectation that they should be able to raise families or live in expensive cities with minimum wage jobs. This is a fairly new concept and became inevitable when we turned a blind eye to the import of the mostly uneducated or those who arrived without a trade. Now, we are raising the minimum wage to, in effect, subsidize jobs which will at some point be priced to extinction and taken over by robots and scanners.

I appreciate phil including me in this conversation but dude really?  They may have expectations of raising a family in a city because they were born there and I know you want them to move to the picking fields but it isn't that easy.  And who the hell is going to serve you your In-N-Out at the drive through or the all you can eat shrimp and chocolate fountain at golden corral?  Can you imagine Strads budget when his servers are making $80k a year because all the expectation people left a metropolitan city and only high earners are left?   

 

Now I do agree with you and have said many times, trades are out there for our young people, however, colleges push for degrees and trades are ignored.  There is a lack of trade people in this country and young people could spend a couple years at a trade school, or just work at one within the industry and there are $100k jobs out there to be made with some hard work.  Part of it is we don't manufacture as much and sublet it out but it is still there.