If The Minimum Wage Becomes $15 A Hour...Would You?

rmattox

New member
Nov 26, 2014
6,786
886
0
Yep as always. There's a reason these people working minimum wage jobs aren't exactly the brightest or have a great understanding of basic economics.

The only thing that this will appease is the ego because everyone else is going to suffer because the companies are going to raise everything else to offset the increase not to mention these people are really just going to have their jobs eliminated all together.

What are the odds that a fast food place really just lays off a ton of people and then overwork the hell out of a few remaining or just create automated systems or close down the dining areas all together?

And if a food service employee can get $15 guaranteed then what should every skilled or educated person in a better job get? By that logic, you raise everyone's pay across the board, which won't happen.

If they'll pay me $15 per hour to flip burgers I'd do it just to supplement my income. That said, why wouldn't they hire a guy that has multiple degrees, has demonstrated himself to be responsible and reliable over some kid or hs drop out? There will be MANY unintended consequences such as this. Jobs that are not attractive to "better" employees will become so....leaving lesser paying jobs for the less qualified. Hey, maybe I'm for it after all :).
 
  • Like
Reactions: mashburned

MegaBlue05

New member
Mar 8, 2014
10,039
2,684
0
What are the odds that a fast food place really just lays off a ton of people and then overwork the hell out of a few remaining or just create automated systems or close down the dining areas all together?

Because that's easier than not paying the damn CEO $25 million a year, but I digress.
 

KingOfBBN

New member
Sep 14, 2013
34,436
3,278
0
Because that's easier than not paying the damn CEO $25 million a year, but I digress.

Which one is easier to fix? I definitely think companies waste an insane amount of money on BS upper level positions, who don't really even do anything at all. But how do you stop that?
 

starchief

New member
Feb 18, 2005
10,137
4,743
0
There is not going to be a $15 hr minimum wage for a loooong time, except in a few scattered places. That is just a high figure pulled out of the hat to make a $10 hr (a fair one I think) minimum wage seem more acceptable.
 
Mar 26, 2007
225,488
3,358
0
There is not going to be a $15 hr minimum wage for a loooong time, except in a few scattered places. That is just a high figure pulled out of the hat to make a $10 hr (a fair one I think) minimum wage seem more acceptable.
Yep. "$15" was absolutely a random figure. IIRC, the Seattle councilwoman responsible for it was originally gunning for a $20 rate, but ended up splitting the difference with some moderates on the council who wanted $10.

Edit: apparently it goes back even further than that. It was used by the union negotiator several years ago when SeaTac airport's workers were at the bargaining table
 
Last edited:

TransyCat09

New member
Feb 3, 2009
18,107
3,650
0
Waiters in Washington state already make minimum wage (~$10) and yes, I have adjusted my tipping.
 

Glenn's Take

Well-known member
May 20, 2012
12,411
697
113
The thing I don't get about the people that say raise the MW are the exact same people that talk about how much they hate the corporations. Raise MW to $15 and the only thing left will be corporations. I have a friend that has a pizza place and I can guarantee you that the second MW goes to $15 he's closing that day.
 
Mar 26, 2007
225,488
3,358
0
The thing I don't get about the people that say raise the MW are the exact same people that talk about how much they hate the corporations. Raise MW to $15 and the only thing left will be corporations. I have a friend that has a pizza place and I can guarantee you that the second MW goes to $15 he's closing that day.
That's why small businesses are typically exempt. The fights occur when it comes to franchises (like a Subway restaurant) that are part of a corporation but still operate on the franchise owner's bottom line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Glenn's Take

starchief

New member
Feb 18, 2005
10,137
4,743
0
I read on the internet that there is a new kinda super syphilis that is un effing curable. So I'm not sure I would tip my server who may have that. I'm sure there are studies that show that people with AIDs get tipped less than people without AIDS.

And thus the mysterious increasing number of AIDS cases among people who had no contact with homosexuals or dirty needles.
 
May 2, 2004
167,859
1,740
0
Here's a quick thought:

If you're someone who even spends a second of your day worrying about how you should tip and trying to justify lowering what you tip if the minimum wage is raised, which who in the hell knows how to quantify how that will affect servers and what they're ultimately bringing home, here's a piece of friendly advice: stay home, lard*sses. Just sit back in your la-z-boy chairs, pop open another bag of pork rinds, and chug some more Mountain Dew until you pass out. Leave dining out to people who can afford it and aren't counting out quarters on a pop-covered table.
I was wondering when the dumbest thing I'd read all week would happen...
 
May 2, 2004
167,859
1,740
0
If they'll pay me $15 per hour to flip burgers I'd do it just to supplement my income. That said, why wouldn't they hire a guy that has multiple degrees, has demonstrated himself to be responsible and reliable over some kid or hs drop out? There will be MANY unintended consequences such as this. Jobs that are not attractive to "better" employees will become so....leaving lesser paying jobs for the less qualified. Hey, maybe I'm for it after all :).
Same here. If they raise it to $15, I'm going to go apply for weekend shifts at Panera just to piss off these people that wanted a 100% pay increase for nothing. Who are they gonna give shifts to? The 30 something with a college degree and basic communication skills or someone who can't even spell croissant?
 

KopiKat

New member
Nov 2, 2006
14,015
1,790
0
Each time the minimum wage is increased all workers making more take a wage cut.
 

UKGrad93

New member
Jun 20, 2007
17,437
12,538
0
$15 min wage would be really harmful to employers that can only afford to pay that much for semi-skilled labor. I'm thinking some sort of light manufacturing type job. That could force those jobs to foreign countries and create an unstable workforce. Even with people in higher paying jobs, as several have mentioned, those people may be tempted to flip burgers to suppliment their income. There may be some that have $20-30/hr jobs that say eff this & go flip burgers (less stress).
 

larry the cable guy

New member
Apr 4, 2006
7,151
635
0
You must be a teacher.

For a server making $15 plus tips. The meals would have to be $40 a plate or more.

No, I ain't tipping them one damn cent if that is the case. Matter of fact, I'll ask them how much they are making, compare with my job that requires a master degree, and then quit and go into serving food.
 

mashburned

New member
Mar 10, 2009
40,283
18,584
0
Well, you just wait till Willy is in the presidential field. He's going to get **** right.
 

larry the cable guy

New member
Apr 4, 2006
7,151
635
0
My wife is a 1st grade teacher and when he said a masters degree was required I thought he might be in education too. I don't even have a degree and make more than she does with 6 years of education and she deals with snot nosed kids and their parents all day long. No thanks.
 

-LEK-

New member
Mar 27, 2009
11,787
12,233
0
My wife is a 1st grade teacher and when he said a masters degree was required I thought he might be in education too. I don't even have a degree and make more than she does with 6 years of education and she deals with snot nosed kids and their parents all day long. No thanks.
A lot of jobs require Masters Degrees. Also, do you have your summers off?
 

Comebakatz3

Well-known member
Aug 8, 2008
40,954
1,123
113
Kind of off topic and a little crazy and conspiracy theory-esque, but it has been touched on a bit here: Some people are very much against this raise to $15 an hour and one of the tactics people use to argue against it are to laugh when an employer such as McDonalds installs a kiosk. Yet, I personally don't find this funny at all because I see that almost all jobs could at some point, be replaced by a machine. We laugh because right now it is mostly the lower level workers like the Wal-Mart and grocery store employees being replaced by self-checkout, or McDonalds employees being replaced by ordering kiosks, but even some upper level jobs have been replaced by technology.

I'm an attorney and the prominence of the internet and computer software has decreased the need for attorneys. It has made our job much more efficient and cost effective for the partners, but the young attorneys don't have as many available jobs compared to 20-30 years ago. Accountants have become less important due to the increased use of self-filing software and websites. I am sure the list goes on and these things have only really happened in the past 10-15 years. Maybe I am just crazy and the world will never come to this, but to me it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility that many more people will lose jobs to technology, and we will struggle to put people into the workforce.

First it will likely strike the lower classes and then move its way into the middle class jobs. So, how do we as a society deal with this and how do we find new jobs when almost all of the jobs could actually (at least at some point) be done through some form of technology rather than through the use of actual humans?

Anyway, just my random conspiracy theory thoughts for the day. Carry on.
 
May 2, 2004
167,859
1,740
0
Kind of off topic and a little crazy and conspiracy theory-esque, but it has been touched on a bit here: Some people are very much against this raise to $15 an hour and one of the tactics people use to argue against it are to laugh when an employer such as McDonalds installs a kiosk. Yet, I personally don't find this funny at all because I see that almost all jobs could at some point, be replaced by a machine. We laugh because right now it is mostly the lower level workers like the Wal-Mart and grocery store employees being replaced by self-checkout, or McDonalds employees being replaced by ordering kiosks, but even some upper level jobs have been replaced by technology.

I'm an attorney and the prominence of the internet and computer software has decreased the need for attorneys. It has made our job much more efficient and cost effective for the partners, but the young attorneys don't have as many available jobs compared to 20-30 years ago. Accountants have become less important due to the increased use of self-filing software and websites. I am sure the list goes on and these things have only really happened in the past 10-15 years. Maybe I am just crazy and the world will never come to this, but to me it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility that many more people will lose jobs to technology, and we will struggle to put people into the workforce.

First it will likely strike the lower classes and then move its way into the middle class jobs. So, how do we as a society deal with this and how do we find new jobs when almost all of the jobs could actually (at least at some point) be done through some form of technology rather than through the use of actual humans?

Anyway, just my random conspiracy theory thoughts for the day. Carry on.
You never saw Wall-E, did you? They're fattening our asses up so all we do all day is lay in a chair and suck down slurpees while the robots do all the work back on earth.
 

larry the cable guy

New member
Apr 4, 2006
7,151
635
0
The way the school year is now she doesn't get all summer either. By the time you account for the days it takes to tear her room down, do Professional Development and closing days and get her room back together plus the countless nights grading papers I can guarantee she works more hours than I do. I am currently up to 5 weeks vacation at my job and when I leave my day is done. Plus no student loans for me either. I know I am blessed to be in the position I am in as it isn't the norm but teachers are way under paid for the education requirement and what they have to do.

A lot of jobs require Masters Degrees. Also, do you have your summers off?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mashburned

larry the cable guy

New member
Apr 4, 2006
7,151
635
0
That is true. In 6 years she could have went into several areas of the medical field that would pay 3-4 times what she gets paid but she loves her job. I am thankful for people like her that do it.
 

UKserialkiller

New member
Dec 13, 2009
34,297
35,841
0
Hey Mav, if I'm lucky, I can get 5 old people in one day.

This is a re-enactment of a typical day in social work.

 
  • Like
Reactions: mashburned

roguemocha

New member
Jan 30, 2007
12,940
281
0
You all have no idea. Bar tending in Key West is a effing gold mine. I just started running a parasail boat too and I won't tell you what the pay is but I make more than I did nursing in the freaking ICU which is a damn joke and I work less. Given its not TGIFridays in Owensboro or whatever and I have one of the best jobs on the island and it's a resort destination for people with money.

When I slang drinks at Pazzos, walking out with $100-150 was awesome, that's childs play compared to this.
 

roguemocha

New member
Jan 30, 2007
12,940
281
0
Also I can take all the time off my heart desires. UK game...request off...Trip to see the family....request off...month long excursion on a boat two the Bahamas....request off.
 

Big_Blue79

New member
Apr 2, 2004
52,487
846
0
I'd hate to see what might happen if the minimum was ever pushed that high. Lots of low wage workers will be let go. Not sure why we even have a minimum. Let the free market dictate wages. Especially on entry-level and unskilled labor.

Race you to the bottom!