Times 12.Florida’s minimum wage on Jan. 1 will increase 12 cents to $7.79 an hour for the estimated 210,000 minimum wage workers across the state. Under a 2004 constitutional amendment, Florida’s minimum wage is recalculated every year and is tied to the inflation rate. Florida is among 10 states that will increase the threshold next week. The number of minimum wage jobs is a small percentage of the 7.5 million people employed in the Florida workforce. The increase is expected to increase annual incomes of minimum wage workers by about $370 a year, according to data from the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington D.C.-based think tank that focuses on low-income wage issues. Ninety percent of the low-wage workers are over age 20; 85 percent work 20 hours per week or more; 46 percent have at least some college education, the institute indicated.–News Service of Florida
I totally disagree on raising the minimum wage. In fact it should be lowered. Don’t encourage those to apply for a minimum wage paying job. Encourage those to stride and better themselves by continuing their education and learning a trade.
Seriously? Is that really what you believe? Lowering it is an awful idea. Think about the students who need to pay for their schooling. If you lower it, they won’t be able to afford schooling, and striding for something better would be nothing more that a dream. As it is, people already struggle with paying for schooling, which is what a lot of these minimum wage people use their wages for.
Deep South, the problem is that minimum wage doesn’t just affect “minimum wage” jobs. I realize that the most effective way to get a higher paying job is to complete high school, then college; however, what ever happened to working really hard, gaining some employable skills, and being able to live a quaint, modest lifestyle? My grandparents had that advantage. “Work at a factory or as a secretary, keep your job, and you’ll have it made,” was the mantra.
I worked at an office where there were three people with grad degrees, two with Bachelor’s and one with a two year degree, and we all made under $21,000 a year. That a bit over $9.00 an hour. I realize that skilled and educated workers are best suited to leave the local area, but that’s not always feasible.
Lowering minimum wage would reduce customer service and management skills, because why would anyone want to work 60 hours a week trying to minimize expenses and efficiently run a facility so that they can make a few bucks more than a non-existent minimum wage? Retail managers, customer service managers, and other hard working, skilled people would see their wages stagnate with a lower or non-existent minimum wage.
I purport that we don’t have as much of a job problem as we do a wage problem. When one person can carry the family, own a small home, and a car after having worked hard at one job for several years, there’s no need to get second jobs and no need for the spouse to go out and work full-time, or even two jobs.
How is $0.12 cents per hour suppose to compensate for the high cost of living expenses in this day and age? What the heck are these people inhaling? The president just ORDERED substantial salary increases for congress and federal workers. I guess minimum wage workers are the stepchildren and the president the evil stepfather!!!!
Pamala Zill says
I realize this. Is an unpopular subject. And, really smart people. Work all the time for nothing. HAT DOES A LOUSY 12 CENTS MATTER?
Deep South says
I totally disagree on raising the minimum wage. In fact it should be lowered. Don’t encourage those to apply for a minimum wage paying job. Encourage those to stride and better themselves by continuing their education and learning a trade.
Canadian says
Seriously? Is that really what you believe? Lowering it is an awful idea. Think about the students who need to pay for their schooling. If you lower it, they won’t be able to afford schooling, and striding for something better would be nothing more that a dream. As it is, people already struggle with paying for schooling, which is what a lot of these minimum wage people use their wages for.
devrie says
Deep South, the problem is that minimum wage doesn’t just affect “minimum wage” jobs. I realize that the most effective way to get a higher paying job is to complete high school, then college; however, what ever happened to working really hard, gaining some employable skills, and being able to live a quaint, modest lifestyle? My grandparents had that advantage. “Work at a factory or as a secretary, keep your job, and you’ll have it made,” was the mantra.
I worked at an office where there were three people with grad degrees, two with Bachelor’s and one with a two year degree, and we all made under $21,000 a year. That a bit over $9.00 an hour. I realize that skilled and educated workers are best suited to leave the local area, but that’s not always feasible.
Lowering minimum wage would reduce customer service and management skills, because why would anyone want to work 60 hours a week trying to minimize expenses and efficiently run a facility so that they can make a few bucks more than a non-existent minimum wage? Retail managers, customer service managers, and other hard working, skilled people would see their wages stagnate with a lower or non-existent minimum wage.
I purport that we don’t have as much of a job problem as we do a wage problem. When one person can carry the family, own a small home, and a car after having worked hard at one job for several years, there’s no need to get second jobs and no need for the spouse to go out and work full-time, or even two jobs.
Liana G says
How is $0.12 cents per hour suppose to compensate for the high cost of living expenses in this day and age? What the heck are these people inhaling? The president just ORDERED substantial salary increases for congress and federal workers. I guess minimum wage workers are the stepchildren and the president the evil stepfather!!!!
Lonewolf says
Whooo Hooo $0.12 !!! Guess those making the minimum wage can finally get that dream car !!