The minimum wage should not be raised. In the United States, there is a debate on whether or not to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15.00 per hour. The idea of raising the minimum wage was a result of the institution of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1933 and has been gradually adjusted since then over time as inflation increased or technological improvements occurred that reduced demand for workers with low skills of casati health.
1. The minimum wage was first introduced to help ensure people earn enough to maintain a certain standard of living in our society. This is why the government has introduced such measures as the Election Day Holiday, Slavery Abolishment Day, Teachers’ Day and Labor Day, all designed to free up workers from their jobs to participate in other pursuits and actions, including voting. The idea of having a national holiday on Election Day was that people would be able to vote without it having any adverse effect on their working hours or wages. It’s not uncommon for some employers to give time off or provide bonuses so that employees can participate in state-wide or even National elections.
2. Some prestigious corporate leaders have made the same points as Patrick R. Donahue, Secretary and CEO of the International Franchise Association (IFA). The IFA is a non-profit trade association with more than 400 franchise companies that employ some 7.5 million people in the United States and around the world. Patrick R. Donahue has said that: “There is no job loss related to raising the minimum wage.” His comments were endorsed by several other CEOs, including Richard Lenny of Dunkin’ Brands and Steve Easterbrook, CEO of McDonald’s Corp. Easterbrook pointed out that “McDonald’s shares a concern for our society and for individuals who need income support.”
3. The idea that there is no job loss and the cost of raising minimum wage to $15.00 per hour will not be passed on to consumers has been questioned by some leaders in industry. Dr. David Cooper of Economic Perspectives, a leading economic research and analysis organization, has written: “As prices are increased, consumers cut back on spending (higher unemployment) and begin to buy less expensive products or fewer products as they try to reduce costs (slower economy).”
4. To buttress his arguments, Dr. Cooper cited a study of fast food restaurants in Seattle, which is scheduled to raise its minimum wage to $15.00 per hour. The study found that “total payroll costs could rise by 36% and total restaurant sales could decline by 9%,” while another estimate is that the increased minimum wage would force nearly 40% of the city’s restaurants to close.
5. People in favor of raising the minimum wage have argued that these small businesses will just have to get by with fewer employees and make do with an older workforce that is less productive as experienced workers are forced out of their jobs and replaced with younger, less experienced workers who are willing to work for lower pay.
6. Whether or not people lose their jobs due to a higher minimum wage, the general sentiment is that the added cost will be borne by customers through higher prices. This means that those who are already struggling and on fixed incomes, such as retirees and those with disabilities, will have to cut back on their spending even more, a move that would be devastating to most American families if it happened.
7. In light of these potential negative outcomes of raising the minimum wage, leaders like Patrick R. Donahue warn about being “misled by a campaign based on emotion rather than facts. Raising the minimum wage would just increase costs for consumers, small business owners, and workers.” The IFA notes that “studies show that nearly 90% of those who earn the minimum wage are not the primary breadwinners in their family.” This means that raising the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour would put many people, who are already struggling to make ends meet, out of work, while others will face a reduction in their standard of living.
8. The minimum wage was first introduced to help ensure people earn enough to maintain a certain standard of living in our society. This is why the government has introduced such measures as the Election Day Holiday, Slavery Abolishment Day, Teachers ‘ Day and Labor Day, all designed to free up workers from their jobs to participate in other pursuits and actions, including voting. The idea of having a national holiday on Election Day was that people would be able to vote without it having any adverse effect on their working hours or wages. It’s not uncommon for some employers to give time off or provide bonuses so that employees can participate in state-wide or even National elections.
9. Many countries around the world have followed suit by implementing similar measures with similar results. In the United States, there is a debate on whether or not to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15.00 per hour. The idea of raising the minimum wage was a result of the institution of President Franklin D. Roosevelt ‘s New Deal in 1933 and has been gradually adjusted since then over time as inflation increased or technological improvements occurred that reduced demand for workers with low skills.