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The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

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Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#21

Post by pydry »

bloqs wrote: post #9
pydry wrote: post #7

This paper is a good rebuttal to talking points like this tweet that crop up from time to time: https://i.redd.it/b57t1w5jllb61.jpg (I was trying to look up a similarly awful article referencing EMTs earning $minwage + $2 I saw a while back but googlefu is failing me)

I must be missing something because to me that's literally the point - the minimum wage should cause other, more complex work wages to rise?

Yes, the tweet above presumes that they wouldnt and that it would be somehow unfair if a minimum wake hike meant that a teacher got paid minimum wage.

Most arguments against raising the minimum wage are bullshit but they all get trotted out regularly because profits are at stake.

Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#22

Post by folkrav »

teekert wrote: post #12
pydry wrote: post #7

This paper is a good rebuttal to talking points like this tweet that crop up from time to time: https://i.redd.it/b57t1w5jllb61.jpg (I was trying to look up a similarly awful article referencing EMTs earning $minwage + $2 I saw a while back but googlefu is failing me)

It's shocking how little we pay the people that spend so much time with our kids.

This is one of the main reasons why I left the field before even graduating (elementary education, left halfway through the degree). The amount of bullshit you have to deal with on top of the terrible compensation and how little people seem to value the profession despite its importance played a big part.

I'm not even 5 years out of school as a dev (and not even as a college level graduate), I already make way more than I would have been 15 years into my teaching career (max salary!), my schedule and quality of life are orders of magnitude better. I don't regret my decision other than the impact having a man teacher can have on some of those kids.

Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#23

Post by cowpig »

shockeychap wrote: post #15

I found this to be many words with little information. It largely boils down to "when Amazon increases wages, other employers follow suit, to varying extents." There was almost nothing about the myriad of other effects, including things like inflation, effects on already higher wage earners, effects on automation, and more. They touched on the increase in unemployment from competitors, but that was it.

The article just looks like a presentation of some data, whereas the other effects you're talking about would require analysis or speculation.

Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#24

Post by mdorazio »

stavros wrote: post #14
xyzzy4747 wrote: post #10

When people get paid more, the prices of everything go up, including other people's wages. Inflation is often a self-reinforcing cycle.

This assumes that the company can't absorb the raises.

As an example, average restaurant profit margins are between 2% and 6%. They cannot absorb labor rate increases without raising prices or going bankrupt. Margins tend to be similarly low for many other industries as well. Tech is a massive outlier in its ability to absorb large wage increases.

Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#25

Post by criddell »

teekert wrote: post #12
pydry wrote: post #7

This paper is a good rebuttal to talking points like this tweet that crop up from time to time: https://i.redd.it/b57t1w5jllb61.jpg (I was trying to look up a similarly awful article referencing EMTs earning $minwage + $2 I saw a while back but googlefu is failing me)

It's shocking how little we pay the people that spend so much time with our kids.

I think it might be out of date. I just looked up the salary scale for the Texas school district my kids went to and a new teacher starts at $50,900 for ten months of work. That doesn't seem too bad to me.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RrA-OUnfVui8ACFEusfDSzRzL4w...

Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#26

Post by dahfizz »

tyingq wrote: post #13
giantg2 wrote: post #3

This seems to be missing some details. Are they comparing to only other large retailers, or non-Amazon employers across industries? Are they only comparing wage increases for minimum wage? The reason I ask is that the increases could be diluted by including non-minimum wage jobs, or jobs in other industries. A .6-1% increase is way less than inflation. I suppose it's better than 0%, but still not a good thing. It see…

>could be diluted by including non-minimum wage jobs Wouldn't there be a stair-step effect eventually? For example, licensed vocational nurses are typically in the next tier up, with ~$20/hour entry level pay. But it's hard work. If you aren't paying more than the jobs that used to be minimum wage, but now aren't, you won't be able to hire anyone. Then rinse and repeat that for the 3rd tier.

Yes, that is called inflation.

Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#27

Post by ethanbond »

shockeychap wrote: post #15

I found this to be many words with little information. It largely boils down to "when Amazon increases wages, other employers follow suit, to varying extents." There was almost nothing about the myriad of other effects, including things like inflation, effects on already higher wage earners, effects on automation, and more. They touched on the increase in unemployment from competitors, but that was it.

Or the most critical consequence: rent. Rent goes up. Landlords get richer, minimum wage earners go back to poverty.

Pretty obvious cycle. High paying employer moves somewhere? Rent goes up. Normal employer pays more? Rent goes up.

Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#28

Post by RankingMember »

stavros wrote: post #11
pydry wrote: post #7

This paper is a good rebuttal to talking points like this tweet that crop up from time to time: https://i.redd.it/b57t1w5jllb61.jpg (I was trying to look up a similarly awful article referencing EMTs earning $minwage + $2 I saw a while back but googlefu is failing me)

"No it does not. Raise teachers' salaries."

Yeah, what's the deal with this crabs in a bucket mindset that underlies memes like that? It's like the creator wants to perpetuate stagnant wages.

Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#29

Post by vultour »

pydry wrote: post #7

This paper is a good rebuttal to talking points like this tweet that crop up from time to time: https://i.redd.it/b57t1w5jllb61.jpg (I was trying to look up a similarly awful article referencing EMTs earning $minwage + $2 I saw a while back but googlefu is failing me)

This is one of the worst arguments one could ever make. Literally the same as telling someone your salary and they go "wow, you're so overpaid, I make less than half that!". No motherfucker, you should be making more money. It's insane that instead of advocating for higher salaries people will attempt to drag each other down.

Re: The Effects of Major Retailers Raising Their Minimum Wages

#30

Post by mensetmanusman »

folkrav wrote: post #22
teekert wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's shocking how little we pay the people that spend so much time with our kids.

This is one of the main reasons why I left the field before even graduating (elementary education, left halfway through the degree). The amount of bullshit you have to deal with on top of the terrible compensation and how little people seem to value the profession despite its importance played a big part. I'm not even 5 years out of school as a dev (and not even as a college level graduate), I already make way more t…

You can still volunteer with the kiddos, maker spaces!
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